Bande Apart

Spottswoode

Family Estate Grown St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

David T
9.3

This 09 was upgraded to 100 points by Lisa Perrotti formerly of Robert Parker in 2020. I didn’t taste a 💯 & the first time she & I have been this far apart.

This 09 was velvety, smooth, beautiful & elegant with nicely ripe fruits. But, it really lacked the depth & complexity I have come to expect from this producers bottling.

Touched into 94 with a few sips. Decanted a 1 1/2 hours & enjoyed over the next two hours.

@NepentheBigSur If you haven’t been there, well worth the time to visit.
— 2 months ago

Daniel, Ira and 14 others liked this

Pago de los Capellanes

Joven Roble Ribera del Duero Tempranillo Blend 2027

This 2021 is the freshest Pago I can remember. Expressive nose, with red tones, apart from the plums and blueberries. Good acidity and length. Pleasant. — 2 years ago

Faunus

Sirah Nero d'Avola Blend

Had this for $23? At Al Giardino in Taormina Sicily. A bargain and a different blend. We thought it was great for the price/value consideration. Dark berries and plum. A bit of leather with the tannins just fine. You can pick apart the two grapes in the blend. — 2 years ago

Robert Biale Vineyards

Old Kraft Vineyard Zinfandel 2011

Nose has ripe blackberry, fresh black cherry, cherry jam, mashed cherries, toasted anise seed, sweet smokey cedar, cherry liqueur. Rich and beautiful.

Palate has bright black cherry, old milk chocolate, cherry jam reduction, ripe fig, dried fig, black currant jam, moist garden soil, licorice and grape Jolly Rancher candy. Rich palate with mild tannins and long finish. This wine is in an outstanding spot with years ahead of it still, enjoy 2024-26, in proper storage. Decanted 6H.

Paired with pulled pork sandwiches, a Superbowl Sunday tradition for us. A local pork shoulder (Mill River Farm, New Marlborough, MA), dry spice rubbed and rested for 24H, then 10H in the slow cooker; it's just falling apart...so beautiful, our kitchen smells amazing! Garnished with our garden bread & butter pickles, homemade barbeque sauce, pickled red onion and a dash of cilantro, all a worthy combination.
— 4 years ago

Eric, Paul and 32 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Sounds like a real event!
Severn Goodwin

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Yes! Party of two humans trying to have dinner, while defending the pulled pork from four hungry cats!

Seven Apart

Expedition Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Nice tannis and smooth finish! — 8 months ago

David, Eric and 2 others liked this

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2007

Okay … cork completely fell apart on opening. Wine seemed unaffected though. Deep color but not yet dark. It was not as thick as I would have expected for 16 years. It was a bit underwhelming vs expectation. Not lengthy in its finish and missing the array of tropical flavors but was still good. Just not great. — a year ago

Tom, Milissa and 23 others liked this
Eric Urbani

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@Vino Joe looks oxidized … that cork issue could be the culprit.
Vino Joe

Vino Joe Premium Badge

Yes. Strong possibility.

Bernard Faurie

Hermitage Syrah 1987

Tannins that we’re falling apart, smoky/meaty, high acidity — 3 years ago

Domaine Olivier B.

Les Amidyves Côtes du Ventoux Grenache Blend 2017

Smells like a spiced pastry

Lively! Red stars dance across the tongue for only a meaty mingling moment, before the tannins start smacking every part of the mouth, up, down, left, right, Jab, Jab, Ka-pow! Those knock out tannins longer on and on.. and on..
Wish I had bought 2 bottles, this needs at least 5 years to relax those teen tannins.
I mean, don’t close your mouth for too long on these tannins, as they act like a vacuum and super glue. You’ll never get your jaws apart..
— 4 years ago

Daniel P., Tom and 4 others liked this
Trixie

Trixie

Great description! A good bottle from your notes. Cheers!🍷

R. López de Heredia

Viña Bosconia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 1981


Medium garnet wide watery rim . No oxidation whatsoever , really quite floral and enticing on the nose , dried strawberry raspberry fruits , truffle , spiced old wood notes . On the palate lovely freshness and elegance with those red fruit, truffle and spiced strawberry, earl grey tea notes . Good length , just slightly drying on the finish now , apart from that this wine really does show well . Very elegant and precise . If you have the bottles open over the next 5 years or so . @ Rockpool Sydney , great suggestion from the sommelier even if I did really want to stick to Australia !
— 9 months ago

Jan, Jeroen and 6 others liked this
Andrew Cullimore

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Haha , yes Bob that is the only regret I have about that choice ! Though in fairness my first choice (Jasper Hill , Emily’s Paddock 1993) they had just sold out of ! Their list is really quite fantastic in its depth , and not just of Australian wines . The steak was pretty good also !
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

Yes, I remember going there to tick off wines from the “1001 Wines to Drink before you die”. I think much of it came from an American collector and was strong from the USA and across the board. I remember having a Pride Mountain (Napa) and a Numanthia (Spain) on various visits. Sadly they had the odd fake like a DRC RC 1945 for $75,000 which was removed from the list. Rudi strikes again?
Andrew Cullimore

Andrew Cullimore Premium Badge

I can imagine it would take quite some time to go through that list ! Yes , the American partner in Rockpool had purchased quite a lot of Rudy fakes he ended up suing his insurer for $18 million and…. he lost.

Cantillon Brewery

Fou' Foune Lambic 2020

I may have given other sour beers a 10, but this takes the cake. Insanely well balanced. What sets this apart is the underlying creaminess with tannin. I wonder if it’s from apricot pits. Huge apricot flavor and sour complexity. Perfect bubbles coat your entire palate. I was not expecting to buy into the hype of this so hard. Would love to do an apricot sour tasting to see what others (SARA, Rare Bareel) are like next to this. — 4 years ago