School House

Alexander Valley Vineyards

Reserve Alexander School Single Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Last night for Turkey Day dinner with my boy. We are still deer hunting. Joshua bagged a deer today. Special day. — 15 days ago

School House Vineyard

Mescolanza Syrah Blend 2017

Bing cherry, prominent acid, 13.2%, nice wine. Will save the rest for a bit. Love School House. — 3 months ago

Turd and Dylan liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1997

Opened about four hours prior to service and allowed to breath. Two bottles were opened tonight from the same cellar and one of the corks showed some small signs of seepage but both wines showed equally. No formal notes. The 1997 Opus One pours a fairly youthful looking deep ruby color with moderate signs of sediment and a near opaque core. The nose exhibited powerful aromas of dark fruits, organic earth, tobacco, leather, horse blanket (brettanomyces?!), and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry and the structure remains quite firm but the texture is plush and almost chewy. The notes on the nose are confirmed and the finish is long and satisfying.

But the tasting notes only tell half the story here. This was consumed alongside a 1990 Chateau Mouton Rothschild. Had these been served together double-blind, I would have absolutely understood if someone called both as left-bank Bordeaux. Yes, the texture was plush and yes, the color was dark(er), but only just. It was just waaaay more Old World leaning to me with the earth and presence of brett. Which makes me wonder, why hasn’t brett been noted very often in other TN’s for this wine? Only (Charlie Carnes and OneFive) really address it directly and maybe this is what most are getting at when they mention “Bordeaux-like” and all the Pauillac vibes. What I can confirm is that these notes were consistent between two bottles from the same case, still in their tissue paper, so I’m reasonably confident that this is characteristic of the 1997 Opus One. I digress; I liked the wine. There, I said it. It was a bit of a one foot in Old School Napa, one foot in New School Napa, handled with an Old World touch. I liked it even better side-by-side with the ’90 Mouton, especially considering the relationship between the two. That being said, folks that can’t get down with a little brett will be turned off by this vintage of Opus. In my case, I would enjoy another opportunity to drink the 1997 some time. Great now with some air to stretch its legs and should be enjoyable through the next decade.
— 5 months ago

Peter, Jae and 11 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

2001 vintage (great Napa cab year). Good, upper-shoulder fill. Dryish cork. Decanted with plenty of sed. Lots of color. Tasted immediately. Smoky plummy nose. Still medium-heavy body. Showing well with plenty of front-palate richness evident in the gums. Overt "oakiness" gone with only complimentary, flattering oak framing the composition at this point. A hint of tannins on the finish but you've got to know where to look. Summer-school hedonism. Slightly better than expected. 11.30.23. — 9 days ago

Jan, Bob and 11 others liked this

Mud House Wines

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021

Very good, easy drinking. — 3 months ago

School House Vineyard

Mezcolanza Zinfandel Blend 2007

Tom Elliot
9.3

Still fresh and great with Osso Buco. — 3 months ago

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1975

Drinking well at 48 yrs. Old school style of Bordeaux from an owc showing red & black fruit, cedar, leather, savory spice & tobacco. — 21 days ago

David, Jan and 19 others liked this
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The Vineyard House

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Happy Birthday to me x’s 2!! 🎉🎉 — 2 months ago

Wes Bretz
with Wes
Wes liked this

Mud House Wines

Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020

Pale-medium ruby color.
Aromas of red cherry, strawberry, raspberry.
Dry. Flavors of red cherry, raspberry. Light tannins, high acidity, higher alcohol.

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 1/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5
— 4 months ago