Black Sea

Sea Smoke

Ten Estate Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

A lovely wine. Raspberries, black cherries, and plums. I slightly prefer the 2016, but this is still an excellent wine. — 17 days ago

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

Dark dark ruby. Tannins holding strong, a bit tight at the open, but loosens up to a wonderful silky mouthfeel. Black fruit in balance with minerality. Lovely wine but tonight I preferred the Pape Clement. — 19 hours ago

Joe, Ira and 1 other liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with aromas of black cherry, cassis, and distant notes of vanilla. Is more of a velvety feel on the palate, with flavors of dark chocolate and espresso — a day ago

Sea Smoke

Southing Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir

Nice nose but very tight:closed. Hugh perceived acid. Pleasant but not great. — a month ago

LM and Nicolas liked this

Sea Smoke

Ten Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir 2011

The anticipation and patience displayed holding this for 10 years was amply rewarded. Clear, brick-ish color, tight nose that eventually opened to loads of red fruit, Burgundy like in its combination of lushness and reserve. Subtle and layered even after all these years. — 23 days ago

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1975

This had the classic LB nose showing mostly black fruits with currant, cedar, leather, menthol, spice box, cigar ash & tobacco leaf. — 19 days ago

Aravind, David and 20 others liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

Shay A
9.2

Annual birthday WWC hosting. As normal, 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert, all presented blind.

Fun to open birth year wines around your birthday, especially when you can do a Bordeaux and Napa side by side. While not a great vintage, this held up well after a few hours and presented as expected. Clean and zero Brett. Great color! Deep ruby with hardly any bricking. Leather, cassis, vanilla pipe tobacco on the nose. Sporting a good bit of dusty red and black fruits (mostly tart raspberries and blackberries), there was a little savory truffle note mixed with an herbal and mocha finish. Still quite grippy. Pretty.
— 12 days ago

Pinotman, Tom and 18 others liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2006

Age is this bad boys friend. Rich black fruit on the nose. Smooth and buttery tannins. Blackberry is dominant Macerated black olive on the mid palate with eucalyptus on the longer finish.  — 15 hours ago

Shay, Bob and 3 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2007

This wine has aged so beautifully! Smooth tannings, subtle aromas of black cherry, plum, black currant, pencil shavings, dried herbs, chocolate, vanilla, caramel and a hint of mentol.
A wonderful wine for a special occasion.
— 24 days ago

Joel, Bob and 13 others liked this

Wynns Coonawarra Estate

Black Label Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

50 year Wynn’s Black Label celebrating my friend Lucille’s 50th birthday. Cork was in good shape and the wine was too. Very brown but still showing some purple tinge. Fruit all but gone but wonderful tertiary characters of leather, spice and earthiness. Drank beautifully over hours and did not fade. — a month ago