Best Vineyards

Leeuwin Estate

Art Series Margaret River Chardonnay 2020

The oak seems more pronounced than the last I’ve tried one. Still one of the best chards from Australia that I’ve had. — 13 days ago

Ira, Eric and 2 others liked this
Ed Chin

Ed Chin

@Eric Urbani hey Eric things are going ok. And yourself?
Eric Urbani

Eric Urbani Influencer Badge

@Ed Chin great - it’s been ages it seems. You should consider joining my wine group. I’ll send you an email
Ed Chin

Ed Chin

@Eric Urbani sounds good. I hope the times work.

Salon

'S' Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Brut Chardonnay 1996

Really pure and light and lifted. Soft floral notes and a steely spine underpinning it. Long and tense and perfectly balanced with a purity and deftness that is gorgeous. The best 96 I’ve had from them. — 2 months ago

BOT Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with BOT, Matt and 1 other
Tom, Jan and 9 others liked this
Alan Weinberg

Alan Weinberg

I bought a bunch on release—$200–and love this wine. Guy in NY bought 500 six bottle cases on release—imagine it’s a daily drinker for him. Amazing stuff.
Alan Weinberg

Alan Weinberg

It was Rob Rosania.
Conrad Green

Conrad Green Influencer Badge Premium Badge

That figures. Good for him. I have a few bottles but it’s always been too tight when I’ve tasted it to think of opening it. It’s singing now though

Château Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Not the best Haut Brion. Very tight. Lots of sediment and lots of time needed for this to even start to open up. Decanted 4+ hours. Dense and thick. Ripe dark fruit. Strong earthiness. I liked it but it never found the top gear. — 3 months ago

Tom, Paul and 19 others liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1998

David T
9.4

1998 not the best Napa Cabernet vintage. However, good producers still find their way through difficult vintages. Joseph Phelps is the rule rather than the exception.

This was poured out of magnum and drinking beautifully by their Hospitality Manger.

Nicely ripe, lush juicy fruits of blackberries, blackberries, both plums, some purple & blue fruits. Dash of spice & lead pencil, anise-black licorice, soft baking spices, caramel notes, some dark chocolate, fresh dark flowers, round acidity and a well balanced, softened structure & tension, elegant, nicely evolved finish that lasted a full minute.
— 25 days ago

Shay, Paul and 18 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Best best with steak ! Had it at Prime in Ventura CA — 2 months ago

Skip, Oltjon and 1 other liked this

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)

La Tâche Pinot Noir 2000

This was the best LT tonight for me & groups favorite, need to find more — 2 months ago

Juan, Scott@Mister and 6 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 1988

Birthday year wine for me! Might not be the best Tig vintage, but nothing to scoff at. The ‘88 is getting to be almost last prime, this time bottle showing well. Rusty red with strong aromas of cigar box, leather, and pencil shavings. Drinks slightly thin, and im not getting much fruit. Still, it’s tasty and a special vintage to me. — 2 months ago

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

David T
9.2

Had to try it. Used to love their work prior to 2012. After that, their style changed to picking at higher brix levels thus creating a much sweeter profile. SS was one I’d hoped they’d left alone and they did not. Not quite as sweet as their regular Cabernet but sweeter than before. I made the pitch to the property to make Caymus Classic along side their new sweeter style wines. The 94 Special Selection was one of their best. — a month ago

Ming, Tom and 6 others liked this

Merry Edwards

Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Bebido em 2024. L: the best — a month ago

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1986

1986 vintage. Ripped through six bottles (one corked) for a 1986 BDX dinner @ Mister A's-San Diego. All bottles appropriately aged fill and decent+ corks. Double decanted and tasted over the course of 5 hours. Mix of powdery and stubborn (non-chunky) sed amongst the 6 bottles. Light-medium body throughout. Somewhat muted experience overall. None of the bottles (with variation) shone/sung. Wine is firmly on the downside of the bell curve with best days behind it (based on the 5 + corked bottle examples). There was none of the usual P-L flavor markers but the body hung in there. Pains me to say this but drink up now unless you've got a larger format bottle. Maggie (+) would probably yield a higher score. 3.14.24. — 2 months ago

Paul, Lyle and 8 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

Oh 😥. Sounds like a bust.
David T

David T Influencer Badge

While I respect, own many vintage from them, as well as, one of my favorite non 1st growth producers and love the style of 80’s Bordeaux (82, 86, 89) I don’t believe this vintage from them ever lived up to expectation or critics reviews.
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

@David T To be fair, had a few examples of this particular wine and vintage that ticked off the 9.6 mark for me. Don’t rate anything above a 9.7. When it was at the top of the bell curve and just on either side of that summit, it didn’t suck. Life rolls on.