Above & Beyond

Realm Cellars

Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

So we are tasting the 2007 side by side with the 2005. Both decanted and both are singing. This is a difficult call and I am giving both a 9.6 rating, not willing to rank one above the other. Deep and complex flavor profile. Incredibly smooth. Fantastic wine — 3 months ago

Billy and Eric liked this

Dupont-Fahn Raymond

Chaumes des Perrières Bourgogne Blanc Chardonnay 2020

Wine geek wine! From a vineyard above Perrieres that was filled in and as a result this wine has to be called Bourgogne. Very stony, somewhat austere, but tasty. — 2 years ago

Billy, Bob and 5 others liked this

Domaine Didier Fornerol

Côte de Nuits Villages Pinot Noir 2018

Really a nice drinking Burg that drinks well above its price. Consistent with my prior notes. — 3 years ago

Rob, Ira and 4 others liked this

Mas de Boislauzon

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2019

McCarthy & Schiering, $50

Bittersweet occasion and went way above my budget to celebrate my birthday and also mourn Grandma Julie's passing. She loved CdP so thought I'd splurge on one. I've only had a couple but have loved every one I tried. This was a bit different, I'm used to bright fruit forward but this was very muted cooked dark fruit with a lot of emphasis on the baking spice and earthy tobacco notes. Incredibly complex - licorice, coffee, clove, tobacco with an underlying subtle dried/cooked dark fruit. Crazy smooth, but I'm comparing it to sub $20 wines that I'm used to, and you can barely tell that it's 15% alc. Nice tannins but I think it would benefit from a touch more acidity. I'm being picky since I paid so much for it but in summary it's one of the best made wines I've ever had, but not among my favorites. But it's still a great experience and I don't regret the purchase
— 5 years ago

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2004

Sublime. Iron fist, velvet glove and all that. Beyond doubt that this cuvée rocks when Capo not made. Decant briefly and sip away slowly. — 6 years ago

Eric, Dave and 25 others liked this

Château Poujeaux

Moulis en Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Dark rubi robe, discrete nose of plums and black fruit. Very smooth and medium length on the mouth, another one that punches above its weight. Really good now but absolutely no rush. — 7 years ago

Adriana Pagliano
with Adriana
Anthony liked this

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2011

Mushroom Forrest floor and safety from the war above hiding in the caves being fed by the French - Rachel’s descriptors nailed it. — 7 years ago

Emily Heyward
with Emily

Elena Walch

Beyond the Clouds Alto Adige Bianco Chardonnay Blend 2023

Interesting blend of mostly Chardonnay adding Gewürztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc, medium vibrant lemon yellow color, with aromas of complex fruits, nutty and floral notes. On the palate flavors of pineapple, apricot and citrus with cinnamon, honey and floral spice. Long finish ending creamy with juicy fruit, almonds, citrus and mineral notes. Will age a bit, but nice now! — 8 months ago

Daniel, Andrew and 1 other liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Hommage à Jacques Perrin Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2005

Talk about an enormous wine. The 2005 is downright youthful and packed to the gills with fruit and character. Dark fruited with anise and black pepper. It was just so dense that everything seemed locked up right now…and we can thank Mourvedre for that. This was very tasty with cassoulet, Toulouse sausage and duck confit. If I were going to open another one of these, I would probably hold until 2030 and this will probably last for another 25 years beyond that. A massive wine with a long future yet ahead. — 3 years ago

Severn, Juan and 6 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1953

Performing way above my expectations. Brilliant color, strong fruit and fabulous balance. — 4 years ago

Ira, Ted and 10 others liked this

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1975

That was one tough cork to remove. Took me 15 minutes and several tools, but managed. Of course I kept this bottle too long, this is beyond its peak. That said, still a lovely Bordeaux and I am curious how the air in the decanter will help. A great wine and fantastic it kept that long — 6 years ago

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Vintage 2000 / A wine that delivers after twenty years. Refinement. Espresso. Pine scent. Mocca. Cassis. A hint of peat but above all fantastic balance. — 7 years ago

Willem, Iwan and 22 others liked this

Corison Winery

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Paul J
9.2

Very nice, but getting up there in price.

The nose was the best part! Very complex, with smoke, earth, and fruit. Wine had good fruit, but wine is beyond its prime. Shortish finish.
— 7 years ago

Brooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Brooke
Shay, Mike and 2 others liked this

Jones Family Vineyard

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

Somm David T
9.8

I have posted a number of older vintage Jones Family Cabernets. Many 20 yrs and older. Three to four 97’s…none better than this one. I give few wines a score above 96. This is different. It is so close to perfect. Some might give it a 100. I struggle to give a wine a perfect 100. I have only done it 4 times in an estimated 25k wines tasted or bottles I’ve enjoyed. One was a port made before 1886 and tasted in Oporto at Taylor Fladgate’s tasting room in 2015, it was their Scion. Only sold there and at the time 5k at bottle. You end up there purchase the Scion taste regardless of the current cost. They put on a tasting show for you. I am half tempted here to give out a 100 but will refrain.

I am not sure what to add to that but will attempt to do so.

The nose is a beautiful, perfectly evolved Napa Cabernet. Nothing overpowers any of its singular components. I think the word I am looking for is harmony. Lush, plush, ruby dark currants/cassis. The best, mid, subtle/gentle/soft, dark spice box I certainly can remember, lush blackberries, both plums, dark, not quite liqueur cherries, a mix of subtle purple fruits, poached to baked strawberries, some light hints of raspberries, dark sweet tarriness, melted dark chocolate, anise to black licorice, steep fruit tea leaning into black tea, sweet/soft leather, moist tobacco, sandalwood, dark, rich forest floor, sweet graphite, hints of dry twig, a flutter note of eucalyptus, dry, withering & slightly candied florals that are; dark, red & blue & framed in light lavender with more pronounced liquid violets.

The palate wire to wire is even & stupidly, gloriously, grand. It mirrors the nose very closely. Lush, plush, ruby dark currants/cassis. The best mid, subtle/gentle/soft, dark spice box w/ some light palate heat, best I certainly can remember, lush blackberries, both plums, dark, kirsch not quite liqueur cherries, a mix of subtle purple fruits, poached to baked strawberries, some light hints of raspberries, dark sweet tarriness, melted dark chocolate, anise to black licorice, steep fruit tea leaning into black tea, beautifully layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanillin, caramel, sweet/soft leather, moist tobacco w/ a hint is ash, sandalwood, dark, rich forest floor, dry, crushed rock powder, dry top soil, crushed limestone powder, sweet graphite, hints of dry twig, a fluttering note of eucalyptus, dry, withering & slightly candied florals that are; dark, red & blue framed in light lavender with more pronounced liquid violets, perfect, rainfall acidity, extremely well balanced, even & subtle tension-structure that stands up on the long set, refined elegance with a finish that goes on and on and eventually lands on spice & beautiful, refined earthiness.

What a bottle! 98 that leans into 99. I paid somewhere between $80-$90 on the secondary market for this bottle.
— a year ago

Paul, Andrew and 14 others liked this

Claude Dugat

Bourgogne Pinot Noir

Approachable now with red fruit aromas, cranberry, cherry; modest structure and acidity. Clean medium long finish. Good quality and drinks above its level. — 5 years ago

Château Cantemerle

Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Plenty of time in the bottle but still somewhat of a rowdy teenager. Deep red, bordering on purple in colour, relatively savoury in flavour with dark fruits, minerals and a liquorice undertone. There’s still quite a bit of tannin and acidity but neither are overpowering. The issue is that all of the above features have not yet fully blended together and although the finish is restrained it is also a bit rough around the edges. I think this will smooth out over time and there are still many years in this. — 7 years ago

Ted, Kirk and 15 others liked this

Santa Margherita

Riserva Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend 2015

Very enjoyable, above average and affordable Chianti ($21). 2015. Perfect pizza pairing. — 7 years ago

Beyond Ordinary

Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Solid blend for the price point. Definitely give it a try. Let it open a little bit for it’s full potential. If I find it for $12 again, I’m buying at least 2. — 8 years ago