Trail Mix

Seavey Vineyard

Caravina Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of 90 minutes. The 2015 “Caravina”pours a deep garnet with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of mostly ripe, dark fruits: cassis, blackberries, tobacco, poblano pepper, a mix of red and purple flowers and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+.

At ten years young, the 2015 is showing brilliantly; squarely in its prime. Drink now through 2035.
— 18 days ago

Paul, Ceccherini and 9 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Underrated winery.
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Very much underrated. They also used to be underpriced. After the 2021 vintage, that has changed.

Marchesi Mazzei

Mix 36 Toscana Sangiovese

Very nice Sangiovese, mix of 36 parcels. Nicely aged — 6 months ago

Edo, Mike and 8 others liked this

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2020

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course two days. Consistent throughout but the rotundone seemed most prominent on the nose, Day 1. The 2022 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe red and black fruits: mixed brambles, grilled meat, black pepper, garrigue, red and purple flowers, a touch of barnyard and a balanced mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, rich and spicy. My early assessments indicated this 2020 vintage to be a banger. It’s still early days and checking in at year five seems to confirm the trajectory. A wine of distinction. Drink now (and best with time to enjoy the transformation in the glass) and through 2050. — 7 months ago

Alex, Scott@Mister and 13 others liked this
Raun Kupiec

Raun Kupiec

Was just at Pegau two weeks ago. Highly recommended. They were so nice, and the tour of the domaine and cellars was great.
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Raun Kupiec that’s a visit that remains very high on my list

Kapcsándy Family Winery

Estate Cuvée-State Lane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Poured into a decanter directly before service and enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2012 Estate Cuvée pours a deep garnet color with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of mostly ripe, and some desiccated, red and black fruit: blackberry, black plum, crème de cassis, dried red and purple flowers, pipe tobacco, leather, varnish, a mix of organic and inorganic earth and some soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Drink now through 2032. — 2 months ago

Douglas, Ira and 11 others liked this

Château La Grange

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

Somm David T
9.2

Nose is bright dark fruit and bright red florals. Dark core of black currents, blackberries, dark cheeries, strawberries, black raspberries, raspberries, light baking spices, melted, dark chocolate, baking soda, dry tea leaves, dry pebbles, black rich earth, stems, some mid berry licorice, almost candied dark flowers with red & pink roses.

The palate reveals the elegance of St. Julien straight away. It’s beautiful. Core of black currents, blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries, black raspberries, raspberries, light baking spices, melted, dark chocolate, dark spices, clove, some cinnamon, vanillin, baking soda, dry tea leaves, dry pebbles, black rich earth, stems, moist tobacco, used leather, barrel shavings, mix of dry & moist clays, volcanic minerals, some mid berry cola/licorice, dark, almost candied dark flowers, red roses. Excellent acidity with beautiful elegance, well balanced, nicely tensioned/structured finish that lands on florals, ripe fruits and nicely resolved earth.

You can drink now with a good decant and will last 2+ decades. Better things lie ahead in 5-8 years. 92+ in time.
— 6 months ago

Jay, Rob and 11 others liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1983

Shay A
9.3

(Two previous 1983 vintage wine reviews never made it on here, so copying from CT).

My experiences with 1983s has been fairly positive, and this PL certainly is among the better I’ve had from the vintage. Holding color nicely with deep ruby and slight bricking around the rim. Started off a bit dense and muddled, but hit stride about 30mins later with a mix of red and black berry fruit, cassis, a streak of herbal green down the middle (something I always get with PL). Excellent example of the fruit showing lots of flavor without being overly ripe. Leather, sweet pipe tobacco, graphite, and still some vibrancy at the finish with tannin structure. Clean and elegant at this stage. Showed well over the course of two hours. Drink up and enjoy.
— 8 months ago

Scott@Mister, Jan and 34 others liked this

Purple Cowboy

Trail Boss Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Per
8.9

Velvety red with nicely balanced strawberry, blackberry, and peach flavors. A great wine to drink on its own.  — 2 months ago

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2014

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2014 Classico pours a slightly hazy garnet with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing. Initially showing notes of stewed red fruits, however with about 30 minutes of air, the fruits freshened up. Morello Cherry, macerated strawberry, dried roses, tar, leather, gravelly earth, and a pleasant mix of cool spices. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium plus; grippy and savory. An often maligned vintage in Piemonte, particularly in Barolo (though some outstanding examples exist). However, in Barbaresco, there was more success and this is an example. Drink now through 2034. — 5 months ago

Lyle, Daniel and 15 others liked this

A. Rafanelli

Unfiltered Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2014

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2014 pours a garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe black and red fruits: blackberries, raspberries, tobacco, black pepper, licorice, gravelly earth and a pleasant mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. The 2014 is in a really beautiful spot right now and doesn’t seem to be losing strength anytime soon. Drink now through 2034+ — 7 months ago

Peter, Jan and 11 others liked this

Raul Pérez

Ultreia Saint Jacques Mencía 2020

Something around a mix of blueberry and raspberry but jammy & with some black pepper. — a year ago

Gillian Koh
with Gillian
Ron, Doug and 2 others liked this