Black Dog Cellars

Dog Point Vineyard

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2025

John Howard
9.2

@Delectable Wine said it best. — 25 days ago

Tom, Doug and 3 others liked this

Black Stallion Estate Winery

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Big but still pretty restrainted. — 25 days ago

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 1995

This had the classic la mission character showing red & black fruits, plum, cedar, leather, spice with cigar box & tobacco leaf — 16 days ago

Lyle, Jeroen and 11 others liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

Decant for sediment (lots of chunky/fine sediment) and pour. A stunning medium ruby red color with little signs of aging. On the nose: big inviting notes of dark fruit/currants, worn leather, herbaceous, smoked meat, funky earth, menthol. Taste: silky, evolved, expressive structure with brambly plum, currants, old leather, dark chocolate, graphite, and a black raspberry-iron-dried herb long finish. YUM! It's what's you want in an aged Napa cab, and glad to have just acquired 3 more bottles. — 19 hours ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Deborah and 12 others liked this
Paul T HB

Paul T HB

It’s not an issue either, but it’s always in Tom’s reviews so just curious why?🤷🏼‍♂️. I see sommeliers post but they don’t comment on sediment either. Just curious what I’m missing here?
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

I always check my reds (especially if the have any bottle age) for sediment before opening and decant (or rinse bottle and double decant) if there’s any. Sediment can haze the color (whose clarity I enjoy) and can affect texture, especially the last half of the bottle when a non-decanted red with sediment can get progressively grittier. When a tasting note comments on the color being hazy, that tells me nothing about the wine’s inherent quality (unless the notes otherwise indicate a flawed bottle) and instead says to me only that the wine should have been carefully decanted before drinking.
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Another tip: I keep a bottle in the fridge to pour decanted sediment dregs into, and use it (except for the muddy bottom part) for cooking. That way my coq au vin or daube is braising in really good stuff from my cellar!

Agharta Wines

Black Label Syrah Blend 2004

Joe Carroll
9.3

A bit too much oak for me but otherwise great. Also drinking much younger than its 21 years — a month ago

Rob, Ceccherini and 1 other liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2003

So rounded and glossy. High toned with black cherry and some mocha and good acidity. Excellent stuff. — 7 days ago

Rick K
with Rick
Jay, Shay and 10 others liked this

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2013

2013 vintage. Sweet fill and cork. Trashy label. Slightly less sed than expected. Big nose on the decant. Tasted after 1 hour open and 5 hours open. Medium heavy body. Roasted nuts, earth, plummy fruit and grilled beef nose and flavors. Finishing palate added a finely ground black pepper note. Consistent throughout and absolutely delicious. 05.23.25. — 2 days ago

David, Bob and 10 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1986

Dark and brooding. Tangy plum fruit, roses, blood and dried herbs, iodine. Very intense and serious. Blackcurrant and black pepper with plum and black cherry. Long and quality. — 8 days ago

Bex GreenMajor-General Sir William Biddles CurranDavid Schachter
with Bex, Major-General and 1 other
Mario, Shay and 12 others liked this

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Red and black fruit, leathery tannins. — 3 days ago

Tom liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

Somm David T
9.5

It is really no surprise that this 05 is incredible and yet still extremely youthful. This 05 will out live almost anyone 50 years old. It is good for another 45 years.

I had their 16 La Dame last weekend & commented it should not be opened for another 10 years.

The core on the nose is dark velvet black currants. There’s a bit of melted dark chocolate-mousse. Ripe but subtle blackberries, black raspberries, black plum-plum pudding, very dark cherries, some mulberries, mocha powder, dark, rich earth, dry river stone, limestone, anise, mix of dry/fresh herbs, fine, undertone of baking spices, moist grey clay, slightly dry tobacco, sandalwood, mild, elegant spice, just the slightest hint of mint, very, slightly candied, dark, withering flowers & red roses.

The palate is rich, round with velvety M+ tannins. The core is dark fruits blended in melted dark-mocha chocolate. Blackberries, black raspberries, both plums w/ heavy skin, dark cherries, poached to slightly baked strawberries & raspberries over the top. Dry bay leaf-sage, moist clay, rich, dark, turned earth, dry river stone, limestone powder, stem inclusion, red licorice/cola, anise to black licorice candy, sandalwood to soft cedar, slightly moist tobacco, used leather, mild, dark spice, a touch & just a touch of tomato leaf, hints of cardamom, dark/red withering flowers with just a touch of violets, perfect acidity and a very well knitted, tensioned, balanced, structured, elegantly polished finish that last two-minutes and lands on nice earthiness & softly muddled spice.

Paired w/ their bone-in Ribeye. Best steakhouse steak that I’ve had out and not made by friends and or myself. Rich fat, tender and nice flavor. Lacks a bit of char and Napa Valley Rub from wholespice.com.

Open in another 15-20 years.

A real shot at a 💯 in another 15-20+.

@Delmonico Steakhouse Las Vegas
— 16 days ago

Peter, Paul and 22 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

The Montrose stuff is a true force of nature. That'90 vintage will outlive us all combined. Ridiculously fresh once you get past the brett.