Back Door Cellars

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Grand Crus Brut Blanc de Blancs 1996

The final bottle for our annual Valentine’s Day and carbonara tradition (this time one day early). We skipped last year as my wife was pregnant, nice to be back. Very good, but definitely in an advanced stage - the nuttiness really comes through. There is still great acid, lemon curd, crispness, soft bubbles.

After the full case, I’d say the ones from 2021-2023 were the best.

On to Krug 2004 next year!!
— a month ago

Lyle, Somm and 15 others liked this
Somm David T

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Definitely 96 color these days. Cheers! 🥂

Azienda Agricola Fontodi

Flaccianello della Pieve Colli Toscana Centrale Sangiovese 2016

Medium ruby . Quite reserved , spiced red fruits and mineral hints . On the palate this is really concentrated and mineral but really quite young and intense . Lots of high acidity and grippy tannins , very saline and mineral on the long vibrating finish . Come back in 5-10 years and will last well a further 10 . At Vinous Icons NY , Pier 60 , Feb 2025 — 7 months ago

Dave, Jan and 18 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1966

From back when Mouton was still a Second Growth. Decanted prior to service; enjoyed over the course of several hours. This bottle of the 1966 pours a garnet color with significant rim variation; medium viscosity with light staining and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated red and black fruits: cassis, blackberries, green pepper, tobacco, leather, old wood, organic earth 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 medium. This was a good showing for the ‘66 and certainly has life left in it however, there’s no need to hold out. Drink now. — 9 months ago

Jan, Dave and 19 others liked this

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

Hermitage Syrah 2001

It’s been a couple of years since I last encountered the 2001 vintage of Chave’s Hermitage. That bottle was a library release from the domaine and so is this example. Splash decanted directly before service. The 2001 pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous and a total umami bomb: Koji beef broth, dried and baked brambles, dried purple flowers, black pepper, Kalamata olive, organic and inorganic earth along with fine 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. Looking back on my notes from 2024, there’s a common theme: the 2001 is all about dat bass. Drink now with some patience and through 2041. — 2 months ago

Brian, Lyle and 15 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

Deep ruby garnet , thin garnet rim . Just beginning to show some development, with grafite tinged , pipe tobacco, cassis , spicy herbal hints and oyster shell notes. On the palate this still comes across as very young , dark cassis , blackcurrant fruit and a very long , detailed mineral and saline length. Sweet but grippy tannin , and fresh acidity. Tobacco and oyster shell return on the long finish . Needs time but has a great future . Come back in 5 -10 years , will last well a further 25 . Apologies for the silly stock photo , don’t think I took one having been so excited by both the 2016 and 2010. A huge , vast improvement on the rather chunky , forced and flat 2009 had at Vinous Icons Miami in Nov 2024. At Vinous Icons NY , Pier 60 , Feb 2025. — 7 months ago

Tom, Dave and 14 others liked this

Hill Family Estate

Red Door Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2019

Excellent! Great balance with plum and some darker sweeter fruits, some woodsy notes, so good with food. — 9 months ago

Tom liked this

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

From magnum. Medium deep ruby , thin ruby rim . Deep and perfumed , floral with violets , iris , summer fruits , spicy notes and warm embers . Quite rich and ripely fruited , cassis , blackberry , sweet cherry . Good freshness and ripe , very fine tannins . Long and detailed , so elegant on the palate . Balanced Red currant , cassis tinged finish , mineral and saline hints . Come back in 5-10 years will show well over the next 10-15 years . This shows pretty similar to last year , a really elegant and refined edition of this wine. — 9 months ago

Jay, Scott@Mister and 20 others liked this

Billecart-Salmon

Brut Rosé Champagne Chardonnay Blend

Wow, very nice wine!! Crisp and flavorful. Light rose petal flavors and herbaceous. A light citrus on the back end. Well balanced with a great finish! — 3 months ago

Andrew liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

1989 vintage. From a 375ml. Opened not decanted. Great top shoulder fill. Used a Durand. Pristine cork. Throwing slightly less sed than anticipated. Dusty and earthy nose. Tasted 30 minutes and 1 hour after opening. Light-medium body throughout. Front palate a bit thin and watery but back end had some gamey/meaty notes intertwined with dirt clods. Despite the descriptors, maintained elegance for the duration. Seems to be holding the line here for a spell in the 375ml format. 10.17.25. — 5 months ago

Ted, Shay and 12 others liked this

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1970

This was back when André Tchelistcheff was making wine for BV. In fact, it’s because of Tchelistcheff that the Georges de Latour Vineyard was bottled separately in the first place. Decanted prior to service; enjoyed over the course of several hours. This bottle of the 1970 pours a garnet color with significant rim variation; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with a mix of tart, ripe and dried mostly red fruits: red currants, lingonberries, Bing cherry, tobacco, Poblano pepper, old leather, dry gravelly earth, and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. After enjoying the 1981 vintage a couple weeks ago, this is stunning leap in quality. The 1970 is evergreen and stole my heart. Drink now through 2040. — 9 months ago

Jan, Dave and 18 others liked this
Severn G

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I love that bottle, I think the 1970 was one of the most perfect BV Cabernet's I've ever tasted, even better than the '68.