Anchors Away

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1997

Earthy and not giving away much initially, was worried after 20 mins. By 30 it blossomed, full on cassis and vanilla tannins, undergrowth. Dark red fruit, Rutherford dust. Notwithstanding a Bordeaux vibe there was no mistaking this for anything but a high-end Napa cab. Awesome one at that. I wouldn’t wait much longer… — 2 months ago

Ira, ESF and 24 others liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Delectable Wine
9.4

The 2006 Latour shows some reduction on the nose, although it soon blows away to reveal pencil-shaving infused black fruit, wild hedgerow and light cassis aromas. The palate offers up a mixture of red and black fruit. This has a firm grip with an uncompromising backbone. Dense yet refined, it is refreshingly saline toward the finish, yet there are a few hard edges to be addressed. Tasted blind from double magnum at a 20-year retrospective at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2024)
— 9 months ago

Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé

Cuvée Vieilles Vignes Musigny Grand Cru Pinot Noir 1991

bought on release, given away compared to current pricing, opened tonight. Gorgeous wine from the get go with room to run, super nose of iron, a bit of meat, licorice, dark fruit, all echoed on the palate, dark fruit and plum, hints of smoke, just gorgeous. Silky palate. Wife rarely has more than a glass or so, but tonight kept pace with me the entire bottle, emptied too quickly. 91 reds are a forgotten vintage, far better than considered when released in the shadow of 90. — 2 years ago

Jan, Josh and 7 others liked this
Severn Goodwin

Severn Goodwin Influencer Badge Premium Badge

This is a great bottle!
Agreed on '90 dominance, can't say I've had any '91's yet, but I'll find some with careful storage. 🤞
Ira Schwartz

Ira Schwartz Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Alan Weinberg I have enjoyed ‘91 burgundies

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia

Bolgheri Red Bordeaux Blend 2027

Still a bit too young. I’ll keep the other bottle tucked away for maybe two or three years. — 2 months ago

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2004

Delectable Wine
9.2

The 2004 Léoville Las Cases has a noticeable mintiness on the nose that actually complements the red fruit, though it deviates away from what you might call Saint-Julien typicité. After ten minutes, it coheres with ash and black tea aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a rounded texture on the entry. The 2004 shows fine acidity and is lightly spiced with cracked black pepper towards the finish. A little conservative, but it acquits itself well considering the vintage. (Neal Martin, Vinous, June 2024)
— 7 months ago

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2011

It was Father’s Day and I had decided on grilled rack of lamb for dinner so I selected this bottle of 2011 Chateau Musar rouge from our cellar. According to Musar’s records, the 2011 vintage was one of the most challenging since the early 1990’s. It was ultimately a late-maturing vintage with harvest taking place on October 13th, the latest since the 1983 vintage!

I decanted this bottle about eight hours prior to dinner. It should be noted that immediately upon opening, the bouquet was strikingly gorgeous with powerful aromatics that were obvious from several feet away and this trait carried through until dinner time.

In the glass, the wine presents a deep garnet color. Slightly turbid with a near opaque core. On the nose, black plums, blackberries, cassis, tobacco, organic earth, exotic spices, leather, spiced meat, and pomegranate. I detect a touch of VA as well. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the nose with an added bit of red rope licorice. Lovely, long, savory…amazing. This was a brilliant compliment to the lamb (which was served with beets and goat cheese and fattoush) and everything I wanted in a Musar tonight. Drinking well now with a hefty decant and I expect well cellared examples to drink well past 2035.
— a year ago

Ira, Brian and 18 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1971

1971 vintage. Top shoulder fill. Used a Durand but fully saturated cork still required some clean up on aisle 7. Decanted and tasted after 5 minutes. Threw much much less sediment than expected. Decent color with a little browning. Tertiary nose gave way to similar flavors with it being very slightly brickish. In a holding steady phase where there is no shining light to chase after-everything is consolidated and filed away so you're tasting the interpretations of history. Instructive. 6.13.24. — 7 months ago

Lyle, "Odedi" and 14 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2012

Usually not a huge fan of Italian wines, but yeah, have been buying some Sassicaia over the years. As I put away some wines I stumble across this 2012 that should be ready to drink, so I bring it upstairs to decant it. Great nose and typical flavor profiles emerge. Nice acidity and a some background menthol flavors that remind me of some great Chateau Musar vintages. This is a vibrant wine with tannins still strong, but integrated; better on day 2.
Not one of my favorite wines, no surprise, but a solid well-made enjoyable Bordeaux blend
— 7 months ago

Brooke liked this

Domaine Catherine Cuchet-Béliando

Cornas Syrah 2008

🔥🔥🔥. Old-school, brawny Cornas with an obvious Chaillot imprint. Granite, woodsmoke, ash, savory spice, pepper, leather, truffles, dried black fruit, menthol, graphite. The minerality is profound. Tannins and acid match the cooler vintage, firm and postured but incredibly textural. Cork was perfect. Day 2 is meat, soy, cocoa, and a juicier fruit profile coming through. The whole cluster had shed away and the umami is really showing. Glad to see this drink this well tonight! — 3 years ago

Aravind, Daniel and 3 others liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2018

Upfront I need to say I realize I should have waited on this. But I have several bottles stored away and was able to find a half bottle this week so I was curious. It was very good but definitely tight. You can sense it will broaden into something magnificent but for now it’s merely a solidly enjoyable wine. Rich bouquet but you can feel it’s holding back. Better after some decanting and the finish lingers nicely. I am looking forward to the revisit maybe 5 years from now. — 3 years ago

Jan, Shay and 15 others liked this