Central Valley Merlot
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia
Le Volte Toscana Sangiovese Blend 2022
Medium Ruby red color with berry fruit, fragrant spice and earthy floral notes, blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, aged for 10 months on used oak. On the palate flavors of blackberry, cherry, and tobacco with notes of herb pepper spice and tangy mineral feel. Fine tannins, medium+ finish ending with tobacco and cacao wrapped in an earthy spice character. Will age a bit! — 20 days ago
Château Montrose
Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1990
A big brooding breast. Intense and slightly feral. Powerful deep fruit, ferrous notes, pepper and a hint of band aid. Really present and powerful but still refined. A great wine — 20 days ago
Marchesi Antinori
Villa Antinori Toscana Sangiovese Blend
Juicy Tuscan red blend with medium tannin and acidity enjoyed with steak salad at Willow and Ivy, Lennox Hotel, Boston — 25 days ago
Château Duhart Milon
Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot Blend 2022
2nd of Grand Cru Bordeaux. Great wine with incredible aging potential. Cheers. — 3 months ago
Harlan Estate
Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend 2022
Two things were true tasting this 2022, it wasn’t their best bottling & it was no near ready to drink. Hard to tell which is more true. Maybe, it improves in time?
2022 Napa Cabernet’s more than less boil down to when did you harvest, before or after the 10 days of intense heat during the harvest window. #
2026 Taste of Oakville. — 5 days ago
Sea Smoke
Southing Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir
Solid non-California-tasting California Pinot Noir. Fruit and earth. Had a nice pop of fruit in the glass but lingers with some earthy aftertaste. — 17 days ago
Opus One
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2022
Been a bit since my last but still do not think much of the style of their Cabernet. Especially, given its price point.
2022 Napa Cabernet’s more than less boil down to when did you harvest, before or after the 10 days of intense heat during the harvest window.
2026 Taste of Oakvile — 5 days ago
Château Lascombes
Margaux Merlot Blend 2005
So much lighter than the CA wines but delightful. Possible WOTN. — a month ago
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia
Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Rosso Merlot Blend 2023
fun bottle - will be great in 5 years. nice pre-ripe black currant on the finish — a month ago
Château Lynch-Bages
Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1999
1999 vintage. Nice fill. Used a Durand. Solid cork with approx 50% saturation. Decanted and tasted after two hours. That decided Lynch-Bages medium heavy bod. Has dropped some, not all, of the overt primary fruit load. Pleasant spices and feminine characteristics easily noted and cataloged. Pretty harmonious now tho with a little chunkiness/tannic blessing as more of a fleeting kiss vs a big hug. Could easily go another decade in this ensemble. 6.14.26. — 9 days ago
Justin Vineyards & Winery
Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon
Gibson’s Chicago outdoor bar — an hour ago
Emmolo Winery
Napa Valley Merlot
Love it. Had it at the Rusty Pelican in Miami trying to match seafood and steak. Dark fruit flavors of plum and cherries. Oak/vanilla hints. Well balanced wine with a long finish. — a month ago
J. Lohr
Seven Oaks Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
Buttered popcorn. — 22 days ago
Pine Ridge Vineyards
Clarksburg Chenin Blanc + Viognier Blend 2022
Our distinctive white blend marries the crisp honeyed citrus fruit of Chenin Blanc (80%) with the plush body, soft floral and juicy peach notes of Voignier (20%) for a lush, versatile and delicious wine. — a month ago
Ray Vanderhoff
Another excellent vintage of “Second Label Sassacaia.” Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) and Merlot (40%). Aromas of black fruit, baking spices and cedar wood. Flavors of black cherries and currants, woody herbs, black licorice and those sweet baking spices. Long finish highlighted by beautiful freshness. Well softened tannins, bright acidity and a silky texture. Simply elegant and at its peak. Part of a June 2026 KZ Tasting. — 22 days ago