Ace & Able

Armand de Brignac

Ace of Spades Gold Brut Champagne Chardonnay

Cena xon carlos gaytan y david wolf con los winegeeks el@paso jrz — 3 months ago

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2002

The years have been kind. Solid and superb. A true treat to be able to taste this beauty again. Thanks so much J! — 2 years ago

Brent, Peter and 11 others liked this

Armand de Brignac

Ace of Spades Brut Champagne Blend

Post event photo dump to rate a few favorites.
This had the highest concentration of bubbles in any champagne that I have tried. New oak Chardonnay is added following second fermentation. Very interesting - good, but not worth the price IMO.
— 4 years ago

Allison, Shay and 6 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

Seemed a bit light was able to guess St Julien. While acceptable would not be my choice of wine — 5 years ago

Ira liked this

A. Rafanelli

Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1988

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over period that lasted a few hours. After removing the capsule, cork was revealed to be completely saturated and moldy at the top. It was positively nasty. After wiping it down, I was able to extract the cork intact, with the use of a Durand. The 1988 pours a deep garnet with near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment even after decanting. On the nose, the wine is a vinous mix of ripe and desiccated black and red fruits: brambles and currants, with tobacco, bell pepper, leather, organic earth and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and so delicious. Brilliant. The ’88 is ready to drink now with a short decant but has plenty of stuffing to drink well for at least another 10+ years and well-stored examples will be alive for much longer. — 9 months ago

Ira, Paul and 7 others liked this

Matassa

Ace of Spades Les Myrs Carignan Mourvedre 2020

I think this could benefit from a year or two in bottle at the moment. A little primary but the stuffing is there for it to develop into something much better. — 3 years ago

Beaulieu Vineyard

Reserve Tapestry Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2014

Don’t let this score away you. This is a wonderful wine. Very well balanced, tons of complexity and down right nice to drink. I called it wrong in a blind tasting but was so glad to be able to finish the glass. — 5 years ago

Château de la Font du Loup

Le Puy Rolland Vieilles Vignes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2020

There’s something here, but I’m not able to pinpoint it. — 9 months ago

Tom and Lyle liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

From magnum. No formal notes. The fill was top-shoulder. Underneath the capsule, the top of the cork looked nasty which I wiped down as best I could. About four hours before service, using a Durand (which is almost essential with old bottles) I was able to pull the cork completely intact and decant for sediment. The cork was completely saturated but appeared to have done its job! At this stage in its life, the 1990 Chateau Mouton Rothschild pours a garnet color but it doesn’t appear particularly tired and the nose supports that. While it’s certainly a vinous wine, there is a lot to like: a mix of red and black cassis, rip and desiccated cherries, tobacco leaf, cedar box, old leather, damp earth, some mushrooms and baking spices. The structure is still sound and while the tannins have integrated and the acid is keeping this very much alive. In fact, this seemed to brighten with air and almost get a second wind! As I find with all great Bordeaux wines once they enter this stage, they seem to live forever. This was a lovely pairing with a Prime, Niman Ranch porterhouse served with corn, squash and porcini. This is squarely in the “drink now” window, not that it will be falling off a cliff anytime soon. Decant for sediment and enjoy through 2030+ — 2 years ago

Bob, Daniel P. and 18 others liked this

Ace Wineco

Leviathan California Red Blend

Pretty good. Got me drunk. — 5 years ago