Chapel Down

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2022

Somm David T
9.2

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
— 6 days ago

Paul, Peter and 13 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

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@Jay Kline @Somm David T — Love reading the dialog!
Jay Kline

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Thanks @Tom Casagrande I love and appreciate my fellow Somm, @Somm David T ‘s perspective greatly so I too enjoyed the dialogue

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Hands down best Bordeaux value. Might as well be a 1st growth. Great vintage too. Tasting incredible. Villa @ Secrets Moxché — 6 months ago

Tom, Brandon and 9 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

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Yah. Feel likewise. So pure.

Sine Qua Non

Turn the Whole Thing Upside Down Grenache 2009

#AgedWineTuesday

Deep purple in color with a short, cloudy purple rim.

Strong nose of black currants, black plums, stewed cherries, dried figs, raisins, ginger, oak, eucalyptus, spices, green beans and peppercorn.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruit forward on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, tobacco, licorice, peppercorn, chocolates, herbs, spices and coffee.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 16 year old Grenache from California feels like it peaked a few years ago, but still drinking beautifully. Elegant and rich.

The Syrah notes are very dominant, especially right out of the bottle.

Complex and interesting, with a beautiful nose. Extracted and fruit forward.

Robert Parker 96 points.

Needed 2 hours to open up, and delicious by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of 84% Grenache, 11% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre.

15.6% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$330.
— 8 months ago

Paul, Tom and 14 others liked this

Domaine Chapel

Beaujolais-Villages Gamay 2021

Crunchy, mineral. Nice. — 4 years ago

Milissa liked this

Dark Horse Wines

Double Down California Red Blend

For the price, this is a very good/every-day table wine. — 5 years ago

Chapel Down

Tenterden Bacchus 2018

Waitrose. Delightful English white. Melon and peach, grassy and zesty freshness to it, slight acidity to cut through things but without lingering. — 6 years ago

Chapel Down

Vintage Reserve Brut White Blend

Dry and crisp refreshing wte — 7 years ago

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Tasted blind . Médium deep ruby with medium wide ruby rim , slightly younger looking than the rest. Quite spicy dark fruits , touch of pain grillé , mineral , grafite , cedar . On the palate this has a lot of grip and density , but also great balance . Spicy dark fruits , touch of grafite and earthy cedar . Quite rounded mouthfeel. Balanced acidity and grippy ripe tannins . Long balanced finish . Overall this showed well , with a roundness and balance , lovely fruit still , really quite open and fresh . With more time this show a floral character with lovely precision . Of all the wines this though very young is probably showing the most today . Even better in 5-10 years and will last well a further 10-20. Had this down as Haut Brion . This took the silver medal . 96
— 2 months ago

Tom, Somm and 2 others liked this
Somm David T

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Nice notes on what must have been a splendid night of 05 1st Growths.

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2006

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2006 pours a deep straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of slightly bruised apple, white flowers, lemon curd, brioche, slivered almond and a mix of chalk and limestone minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and creamy. I wish I could drink this all night long. Alas, only a single 750mL and not a Methuselah. Drinking well now and will only be taking on more secondary and tertiary character. But if that’s your thing (and I can get down), this will deliver well past 2036. — 5 months ago

Tom, Zach and 15 others liked this
Ely Cohn

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@Jay Kline I’ve been saving this same bottle same vintage. Great review!
Jay Kline

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Thanks @Ely Cohn If your bottle is anything like this one, I think you’ll be in for a treat!

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1995

Classic lunch bags. Inky sour cherry and stony grippy fruit. Really straight down the line bordeaux. Classic. — 2 years ago

Paul Woolls
with Paul
Juan, Iwan and 15 others liked this

Domaine Chapel

Charbonnieres Fleurie Gamay 2020

This wine was an excellent Beaujolais. It was very rich and strongly flavored, tasting of cranberries and pomegranates. I believe it is underrated here, although I also recognize that Beaujolais is not to everyone’s taste. The wine was very smooth, and had an excellent fruit nose. A top Beaujolais. — 4 years ago

Ted, Brent and 3 others liked this
Turd Ferguson

Turd Ferguson

Exactly correct. This wine is fantastic

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2016

Paul K
9.4

Wrapping up a long weekend in Miami celebrating with friends.
Really good. The fruit is round. Get the Malbec and Petit Verdot. Classy finish that shows off the Cab Franc. This will improve with time as fruit settles down.
— 5 years ago

Daniel P., Tom and 31 others liked this

SLO Down Wines

Broken Dreams California Chardonnay 2013

Whole Foods, C Golden, apple, pear, nice acidity — 7 years ago

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

1st wine. Medium garnet with quite thin , garnet rim . Some herbal touches , with earthy terracotta note , touches of dry spices, grafite . On the palate this has good freshness and of tobacco and earthy cassis , quite grippy, dry tannin. A bit foursquare , but quite good length and balance . This probably needs a bit more time , 5 -8 years and will last well a further decade . Had this down as the Haut Brion. — 3 months ago

Neil, Somm and 15 others liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2023

Very nice and layered CDP, nose is a nice combination of red fruit, flowers and graphite. On the palate, the fruit hits first and then somewhat quickly gives way to the graphite/mineraly flavors, which last and develop on your palate in an interesting and pleasant way that avoids making me think I just licked a rock. Tannins aren't too powerful but what's there is grippy, could easily lay down for a few years and really develop. Overall this strikes a nice balance between approachable and interesting, easy to like for anyone who's into Rhone reds! — 3 months ago

Tom, Joel and 8 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Legendary

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2019

Feel that this has closed down a lot since our last try. A lot less lively and hard to put your finger on. Still gorgeous and silky...will always remain one of my most favourite wines! Paired with pasta putanesca. — 8 months ago

Joshua, Matt and 13 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

Laurence makes great CdP!!

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Paul K
9.1

Glad I picked up a bunch of these from Costco a few years ago. Great value! Looking forward to enjoying for the next few years. Don’t think this is a long term lay down but over next five years a great mid week bottle. — 3 years ago

Vanessa, Severn and 27 others liked this

Domaine Chapel

Chiroubles Gamay

Balanced with slight fruit. Light red fruit. — 4 years ago

Paul liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2009

This has been on my bucket list for a while, and we just got a few bottles in my area. I went in to this with high expectations and it totally delivered. One of the most complex wines I’ve had - there is just so much going on here. The nose on this just doesn’t stop evolving. Beautiful oxidation and so many distinct aromas that I’m not going to rattle them off. Texture, flavor, this has everything to offer for my palate. Need to hunt down an older bottle next time. For me, this lived up to the hype. — 5 years ago

Eric, Ericsson and 11 others liked this
Severn G

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Yeah, great young, epic 15-20 years from now!
Josh Morgenthau

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These are so good. This is the reserva no? Gran reserva current release somewhere in the 90s I think...
Adam Beasley

Adam Beasley

@Josh Morgenthau correct, it’s the Reserva. I did snag a bottle of the 2010 Grand Reserve Rose though, which I’m pretty pumped to try.

Chapel Down

Classic Non-Vintage Tenterden Brut Pinot Blend

OK, I’m in. This English sparkling wine thing is legit. Fresh, crisp and nicely balanced toasty biscuit character. — 7 years ago