Benchmark Drinks

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2007

Impressive depth after a previous flawed bottle. Baking nose with firm length. PdB benchmark. — 5 months ago

Andrew, Andrew and 7 others liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2011

Tried 3 years ago, and it was a tannic bottle of disappointment, it's changed for the better.

2 hour decant(some chunky/fine sediment). A splendid dark purplish magenta color. On the nose: dark fruit, cocoa, pencil shavings, floral, cigar box, menthol. Taste: soft, elegant wine with some black/red fruit, currants, crushed stone, and an earthy black tea lean medium finish. Not the depth and power of a great year, drinks well now...not sure how much more this will improve.
— 2 years ago

Brenda, Shay and 19 others liked this

Las Vertientes

Benchmark Red Blend

Love this wine - Christina — 5 years ago

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Drinks on pop & pour if needed.
Easily available so no problem trying one early,
— 6 years ago

Robert, Tom and 31 others liked this
David L

David L Influencer Badge Premium Badge

I have to get them credit. The last three vintages have been very good. 
Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

I was trying to compare the 2016 Mondavi reserve to this. This is fruit forward whereas Mondavi has kept its old world style.
Eric

Eric Premium Badge

And they still price responsibly.

Château Calon-Ségur

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Great fragrance of dark berry, stone fruit and dark cherry. Drinks quite smoothly with a silkiness on the palate. Has flavors of dark cherry, currants, stone fruit with a hint of pepper. A little rich but very nice to drink! — 7 years ago

Boris EpsteinAnne Nauber
with Boris and Anne

Benchmark Wines

Criterion Chablis Chardonnay 2017

A little sugar and Chablis — 7 years ago

Paul liked this

Benchmark Wines

Criterion Collection Central Otago Pinot Noir 2015

First New Zealand Pinot...really enjoyed it! Light body and finish, but very flavorful and a bit spicy. — 8 years ago

Grant Burge

Benchmark Shiraz

A fortified wine [Tawny]. Wow, smooth, not overly sweet - absolutely delicious. — 6 months ago

Jacques Selosse

Lieux Dits Les Carelles Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay

Disg. 2/14 (07 base)…Always my favorite of the Lieux-Dits and without question one of the very best Blanc de Blancs Champagnes on the planet, it’s particularly special to have with some bottle age. It’s absolutely as stunning as hoped—rich and powerful with crazy depth to its layers with a deep, complex core of caramelized orchard fruit, roasted nuts, old rum barrels and candied white flowers, all with seamless integration. The palate is generous and detailed, with racy acids, waves of saline laced, chalky Le Mesnil minerals and a finish that just stays with you. A BdB benchmark, legendary bubbles. — 10 months ago

Tom, Dave and 7 others liked this

Château Cantemerle

Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 2017

Don’t stop now....my word. Parker was right. It drinks beautifully early. Wow. — 6 years ago

Benchmark Wines

Criterion Collection Reserva Mendoza Malbec

Quite good, earthy notes with lovely color — 6 years ago

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2011

Absolutely outstanding performance by the 2011 Opus One. Dense and concentrated with a mesmerising complexity, a fresh and vibrant core that keeps the wine very much alive with a penetrating sensation through an everlasting finish. The nose shows an multidimensional complexity, ranging from cassis, blackberries, lavender, through cedar, pencil shavings, coffee, cocoa powder before finishing with a gravelly sensation. The palate is marked by its high, yet powdery tannins with a good acidity with an athletic stamina that holds the complex profile a length that lasts for minutes. Drinks well right now but with plenty of life ahead. — 6 years ago

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Somm David T
9.4

I corvined this last weekend and put it back in storage for tonight. I had a very different experience & thoughts on this wine last weekend un-decanted. This is wine comes from a period when I loved Caymus. After 2011 when they started picking later and at higher brix’s, they lost me but, got higher Parker scores and rave words from people that like sweeter Cabernet that drinks young.

Last weekend without a decant, very dominate bright cherries and vanilla.

Tonight, the nose reveals, dark, slightly syrupy currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, creamy, black raspberries, blueberries, black plum with lots of skin dominate, baked strawberries, black licorice, vanilla, some clove and a touch nutmeg, underbrush, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, volcanic minerals, black tea, touch of black coffee expresso, liqueur/dark berry cola, used leather, hints of graphite with ruby, fresh, dark, fresh, dark, red, blue florals with violets.

The body is full, sexy, gorgeous and voluptuous. The structure, tension, length and balance are at the start of its high point with another 7-10 years of good drinking ahead. Dark, slightly syrupy currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, creamy, black raspberries, blueberries, black plum with lots of skin dominating, baked strawberries, black licorice to deep anise, vanilla, some clove and a touch nutmeg, caramel, mocha, dark chocolate, dark spices with just a touch of palate heat, underbrush, used leather, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, volcanic minerals, black tea, touch of black coffee expresso, liqueur/dark berry cola, used leather, hints of graphite with ruby, fresh, dark, fresh, dark, red, blue florals with violets. The acidity is like a needed waterfall shower. The long finish is, deep, dark, well balanced, elegant, ruby, ripe, polished and persists endlessly.

It’s been awhile and I’ve missed it. This is a very good example of why I used to adore Caymus.
— 7 years ago

Ron, Paul and 23 others liked this
P A

P A

@David T David you have a good weekend as well. Regarding the basketball game I am from Canada. Cheers 🇺🇸🇨🇦
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

@P A Yes, that thought popped into my head after hitting send. It just might be their time/year.
P A

P A

@David T All good, according to the sports news 4 million Canadians watched the game on TV. But our real sports are hockey 🏒and drinking Canadian Beer 🍻 Have a great weekend Cheers 🇺🇸🇨🇦

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1974

Magnum Format and 51 years later it drinks like the complex wine it is — 7 months ago

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano

Beautiful tempranillo led wine with 10% graciano from one of the benchmark vintages in the past 25 years. This Gran Reserva has legs for the long run but perfectly approachable now! — 9 months ago

Theodore, Jan and 2 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend

1996 vintage and drinks amazing. Smooth — 4 years ago

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2006

Has a cool vintage personality to it, the acid is elevated and tannins are still firm albeit softening from the wines upbringing. Im a fan, there’s a lot of complexity on the nose, taking this classically-styled Rioja beyond what archetypal things might come to mind with this benchmark wine. Soulful and almost old school Bordeaux-like. Current, dried raspberry, stewed plum and dried black cherry, gravel pushing into graphite, tobacco, sous bois, wet leaves, juniper, leather, American oak, pipe smoke. Considerable freshness for such a tertiary wine. The elevated VA could be a problem for some, I enjoyed the lift. — 6 years ago

Arden, Shay and 23 others liked this
Vanessa

Vanessa

Ah, love your notes!

Château Malescot St. Exupéry

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend

An early evening HH at home with a fabulous Bordeaux wine. Color is a dark brown especially on the edges Red fruit and dark plum with a subtle barnyard lingering on the nose. Tastes of black fruit, currant and leather with earthy and smoky flavors and a sweet finish; tannins are mild and drinks smoothly. — 7 years ago

Shay and Laura liked this

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Diamond Collection Black Label Claret California Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

HIGH QUALITY wine that drinks very expensive and has an amazing fruity nose but finishes dry and velvety like a Bordeaux with blackberries and currants. A little “alcoholy” but overall an amazing bottle. Worth a 9.0 from total wine for $14 but more like an 8.8 for $19 from Publix aka ripoff central! — 7 years ago

Sony liked this