Super smooth and flavorful Chardonnay — 9 months ago
It’s time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here's a delicious one from Saint Emilion.
Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim.
Fruity nose of blackcurrants, black plums, vanilla, dark coffee, oak, chocolates, fresh herbs, tobacco leaf, light black tea and black pepper.
Full-bodied and soft with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, peppercorn, tobacco, chocolates and dark coffee.
Nice length on the finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a very tasty Merlot based red blend from Bordeaux. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel.
Good right out of the bottle and better after 2 hours of airtime.
I had it a year ago, and it is drinking much better now. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.
Tasty and spicy. Rich and elegant.
I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
A blend of 68% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in French oak barrels (30% new).
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$50. — 4 years ago
Donum customer appreciation party at their Sonoma Carneros estate.
2018 Russian River estate chardonnay
2018 Russian River reserve pinot
2018 Anderson Valley pinot
2018 Three Hills Carneros pinot.
2017 Carneros Estate pinot.
2018 White Barn Carneros pinot.
Amuse bouche to go with the wine at each wine station and a Salumi carving station.....Yum!! What a beautiful 75 degree morning in Sonoma!! — 5 years ago

Delicious and bold — 7 years ago
A very enjoyable, and very complex, 21 year old red blend from Pessac Léognan, Bordeaux.
Showing red and black fruits with earth, chocolates, tobacco, dark peppercorn, dark coffee, forest floor, green vegetables, graphites, vinaigrette and spices.
Needs 3 hours to open up properly and show the complexity.
Peaking now, and will be good in the next few years. What a treat. This is so delicious.
Wine Advocate 93 points.
I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.
13% alcohol by volume.
94 points.
$200. — 7 years ago
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Strong fruity nose of black currants, plums, cooked cherries, light cedar, earth, herbs, chocolates, black pepper, eucalyptus and black tea.
Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruit forward on the palate with black plums, cherries, black currants, peppercorn, cola, light wood, spices, coffee, dark chocolates, earth and tobacco leaf.
Nice length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 9 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain in Washington State is drinking beautifully now.
Elegant and nicely balanced, with nice complexity and mouthfeel. Rich and extracted, fruit forward and smooth.
Drinking at its peak now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years. I had this vintage 5 years ago, and it is drinking much better now.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 30 minutes of airtime.
Bold, delicious and good by itself as a sipping wine. Will also pair nicely with a nice piece of steak. I paired it with a charcuterie board and it paired beautifully with the Italian prosciutto.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged in (93% new) French Oak barrels for 22 months.
15% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$55 (at release). — 2 months ago
Exceptionally smooth, balanced and medium bodied. Pairs well with aged Filet Mignon & Lobster or charcuterie board. — 3 years ago
This is a delicious Bordeaux blend from Columbia Valley in Washington State.
Very dark in color, and looks very young.
Full-bodied, smooth and bold, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, raisins, dried figs, vanilla, cedar, licorice, cola, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices, earth and coffee.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.
This 8 year old is peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.
Smooth and elegant. Rich and extracted, with a great mouth feel.
Good by itself or with food. A great wine to sip on and talk about.
Robert Parker 94 points.
Needs 3 hours to open up properly, but good right out of the bottle as well.
I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
A blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Petit Verdot, 17% Merlot, 7% Cab Franc and a splash of Malbec. Winemaker is Philippe Melka.
15.4% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$65 (current vintage). — 4 years ago
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley.
Dry and fruity on the palate with nice complexity, although still young.
Full bodied with medium acidity.
Showing black fruits with cedar, vanilla, chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, licorice, vegetables, light wet leaves, herbs and earth.
Earthier than expected from a Napa Cabernet. Feels like a left bank Bordeaux with a new world twist. Unique and interesting.
Will age nicely in the next 10 years. A good quality wine. Good by itself or with food.
Will pair nicely with BBQ Meats. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$75. — 5 years ago
Time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here is a nice one from Napa Valley.
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Fruity nose of blueberries, black plums, black cherries, spices, cedar, vanilla, earth, coke, chocolates, dark coffee, black pepper, pencil lead and light vegetables.
Full bodied with medium plus acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, light vegetables, pencil lead and earth.
Medium plus in length on the finish, with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.
This is a very enjoyable Merlot from Napa Valley. Nicely balanced and fruit forward with a great mouthfeel. Showing nice complexity with more vegetables notes than I expected.
Still young and needs three to five years to mature, but already very yummy.
Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up (90 minutes).
I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
14.4% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$36. — 6 years ago
This was also relatively open but more complex than the Zotovich. It was my favorite Pinot of the evening. We also had the 2017 Pisoni but I failed to get a pic. The Pisoni was more complex like the Drum Canyon but I feel it will be better in the long run.
Paul Lato was in town and I had the chance to spend some time with him and taste through several of his new releases. His wines are great across the board. — 7 years ago
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Deep purple in color with a reddish rim.
Beautiful nose of black plums, black cherries, red currants, light cedar, coffee, light earth, herbs, light vegetables and black pepper.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.
Very dry on the palate with black plums, black currants, coffee, oak, light cloves, earth, tobacco leaf, bitter herbs, peppercorn, light licorice and green tea.
Tangy finish with fine grain tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a delicious Merlot from Napa valley. Showing nice complexity with an elegant mouthfeel.
Needed 2 hours in a decanter to open up.
This 8-year-old Merlot is still drinking beautifully. Lost some of its fruits, and it is very dry now.
Drinking at its peak, and will not get any better from here. Really loved the nose at this point.
Good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with barbecue meats or burgers. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
14.4% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$65. — 6 months ago
Excellent. Cork & Board. — 2 years ago
It’s time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here's a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend.
Full bodied with medium acidity and elegant.
Dry and very fruity on the palate.
Showing blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, cola, light herbs, Mediterranean spices, peppercorn, chocolates, tobacco, graphite and light dark coffee.
This is a wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Elegant, thick and fruit forward.
Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime.
Showing great complexity, although still young, and drinking very nicely right out of the bottle.
This 2016 was a great vintage and it is definitely showing. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.
Soft and smooth. Rich and extracted. Delicious . I just love these Napa Bordeaux blends.
I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses, and will also pair nicely with a nice piece of steak.
A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc and 15% Merlot. Made by Russell Bevan.
15.2% alcohol by volume.
96 points.
$300. — 4 years ago
Le bernardin 6/17 — 6 years ago
It's time for some #MerlotThursday. Here is a fruit forward Merlot from Bordeaux.
Showing black and red fruits with wood, vanilla, earth, vegetables, spices, tobacco leaf, wet leaves, black tea, black pepper, spices, dark coffee, earth and leather.
Medium finish with firm tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is still young and a little harsh, even after opening up, with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel. Needed 3 hours to open up.
Showing great potential. This is from a great vintage, and will age nicely in the next 20 years. I would suggest not to touch it for another 3 years.
I've had the 2012 last year, and although this is much younger, it is much tastier already.
Robert Parker 94 points.
I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
A blend of 84% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$100. — 7 years ago
Boris Mathiszik
Solid cab. Equally good as previous vintages. — 2 months ago