Cabernet Shiraz Blend

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

Medium deep ruby , quite thin garnet rim . Quite a lot of cassis, herbal grafite notes , touch of blackberry , scorched earth , a bit for floral after a while in the glass. On the palate this shows more sweet dark fruit, touch of spicy oak, blackcurrant , dark cherry and cacau . Balanced acidity and sweet slightly grippy tannins , just balanced alcohol . Spicy sweet blackcurrant, grafite tinged finish , decent length. This is still young and quite fruit driven but is enjoyable now with food . Better in 5 years or so and will last well a further 8-10. — 9 days ago

Somm, Rob and 10 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

This is not a knock on anyone or this producer. For 10 years a friend of mine was the Assistant Winemaker at Opus. He is now back in Bordeaux, rebuilt & raised the quality of Clerc Milon. Now is in charge of all Rothschild properties. This is just me thinking out loud. I have been to this property many times and bought a glass of their Cabernet to take to their top deck and take in a spectacular view of the Napa Valley. Enjoyed many of their vintages in those very nice moments. However, knowing the quality of 2012 vintage and their price point, I and I think most expect & want more than a 92 point wine. Which begs the question, how long can they push bottle price with this level of quality? At what point does the quality price ratio kick in? To a bigger picture, how sustainable is the high quality respected producer wine economic model going forward? To me, a fascinating question going forward.
Andrew Cullimore

Andrew Cullimore Premium Badge

Yes @Somm David T , this was actually served blind , the only wine at lunch ..and we had plenty of time to get to know it before the big reveal . I was trying to evaluate the quality in the glass without the distraction of the label, which is always an illuminating experience . It’s a good wine, and went very will with our steaks but it certainly doesn’t represent good value nor is it a stellar example of 2012 . I would be perfectly happy to have it again mind you , as long as I wasn’t paying .

Continuum

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2011

Paul J
9.3

This wine is so inconsistent it’s annoying!!

1hr+ decant. Dark red, dark maroon color with slight bricking. Caramel, alcohol, absinthe, and cedar on the nose. Fruit is more prevalent on the palate and very deep wine. Finish is okay with some tea elements.

Not my style, but I’m sure some love it.
— 21 days ago

Brooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Brooke
Tom, Tom and 5 others liked this

Harlan Estate

The Maiden Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

#AgedWineTuesday

Inky in color with a short purple rim.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Showing blackberries, cooked cherries, dried fruits, cedar, vanilla, Mediterranean spices, tobacco leaf, light earth, herbs, chocolates and black pepper.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This 15 year old still feels young, but drinking beautifully now. Nicely balanced and powerful, yet elegant.

Needed 5 hours to open up properly, but was good right out of the bottle too.

Rich and extracted. Fruit forward with nice complexity. Showing a great experience at this point.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$300.
— a month ago

Juan, Paul and 14 others liked this
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Nice.
Jose Lorenzo

Jose Lorenzo

Beautiful

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009

Vintage 2009 | Has everything a Grand Seigneur promises: beautiful mature smell with tobacco, pencil shavings, leather, autumn forrest. Warm and comforting taste with great structure. A beautiful wine! — 2 days ago

Martijn, Anthony and 14 others liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2014

We think something has changed at Montrose after the departure of Jean Bernard Delmas. Its not a bad wine by any means but the style is modern and extracted. At ten years this ie very drinkable and great quality but does not speak to its terroir as it used to. Hope its just one year… — 14 days ago

Jose Roberto Palazzoveronique paillardAdriana Pagliano
with Jose, veronique and 1 other
Adriana, Daniel and 10 others liked this
Jay Kline

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The most recent vintage of Montrose I’ve had was the 2000 vintage but I’ve have enough experience with the estate going back to vintages in the 1960’s. If it has changed, that’s borderline criminal.
Alexandre Pagliano

Alexandre Pagliano Premium Badge

We have same experience, pretty much all vintages from 1966 to 2009. This 2014 is a good wine but little resemblance to our experience in so many vintages. We hope its a one off, but we dont really know. To your point if they changed, well its criminal indeed...

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

1 hour decant(some chunky/fine sediment). A splendid dark medium garnet with little bricking. On the nose: expressive perfumed nose with dark plum/cherry, currants,milk chocolate, baking spice, floral, wet forest floor, touch of roasted meat. Taste: silky, balanced, elegant wine that is singing at 20 years with dried red fruit, earth, chocolate, cedar, minerals, saline, and a spiced-tobacco-green bell pepper long finish. YUM! — 20 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Paul and 13 others liked this
Deborah M

Deborah M

Nice!

Marchesi Antinori

Solaia Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2017

John W
9.8

Deep, dark ruby coloration. Almost black. No translucency. Heavy tearing. On the nose, dark cherry, blueberry, blackberry, currant, tobacco, forest floor and florals. On the palate, full body, lush mouth feel, strong minerality, with jammy black currant, anise, pepper, followed by a long finish of chocolate, forever, and hints of mint. Nicely balanced tannins. Outstanding wine. — 8 days ago

DAD liked this

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia

Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Rosso Merlot Blend 2015

Bordeaux style blend of Merlot (64%), Cabernet Sauvignon (17%), Cabernet Franc (10%) and Petite Verdot (9%). Dark ruby/purple color with a garnet rim. Aromas of dark berry fruit, graphite and dusty earth. Flavors of blackberry, black cherry, ripe plums, kirsch, black licorice and iron. Full bodied, long finish and intensely structured. Beautifully integrated acidity and tannins. Great combination of power and elegance. — 12 days ago

Bob, Tom and 2 others liked this

Casa Lapostolle

Clos Apalta Limited Release Carménère Blend 2010

Boldly burst out of the glass with Sharp Ruby flavors. Blackberries, blueberries and raspberries with chocolate and a hint of leather. 15 years and just reaching out for life! Has many years left. — 2 days ago

Letha Phillips
with Letha
Rick, Shay and 4 others liked this

Penfolds

Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet Shiraz 2022

A penfold’s classic, 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Shiraz, an amazing combo that provides the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon with the richness of Shiraz. A great example of the striking balance of fruit and oak, this version of Bin 389 highlights the approachable mid-palate Penfolds is known for decades. Grapes are sourced from 5 different regions, on the nose, it is rich with deep tones of mahogany and cigar leaves. Mellow spices are quite integrated with a dusty and textured mouthfeel thanks to the amount of cocoa powder, tannins are firm but impactful. Smooth and delicate after 90 mins of breathing. Tasted at immediate uncorked and after 1.5 hours and the difference was noticeable!
— a month ago

Daniel liked this