Childress Vinyards
Morlet Family Vineyards
Mon Chevalier Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
My first Cabernet Sauvignon from Morlet Family Vinyards—I've only been lucky enough to taste and have been dazzled by their sublime Chardonnays. That said, the 2010 Mon Chevalier didn't disappoint, displaying classic Knight's Valley character, it's a treasure trove of cassis, black currants, incense and sandalwood, tar and menthol. Black pepper and spice box. The palate is a layered as the nose, with a dark-fruited succulent core framed in an understory of fine, mouthcoating tannins. 15.0% ABV — 9 years ago
Childress Vineyards
North Carolina Cabernet Franc 2019
For $14 are you kidding me?! NC Yadkin Valley fruit, actually BDX blend heavy on CF and it was delicious. New World nose but if you peek under the hood (wink) there is some Loire. absolutely delicious with or without food as tannins are relatively tamed. Easy drinking & well made — 2 months ago
Alexander Valley Vineyards
Cyrus Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2013
Well we made it to the weekend, it is Friday night and we are in the midst of a pandemic. So, let's not dwell on that, we need to be positive and try and keep things as normal as possible. Tonight I have opened the 2013 Alexander Valley Vinyards Cyrus Cabenet Sauvignon Blend. A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot.
The nose is very expressive with notes of black cherry, blackberry, black currant, licorice, herbaceousness, vanilla bean, hint of green bell pepper, black peppercorns and cigar box.
On the palate is also very expressive with black cherry, blackberry, black plum sauce, black licorice, green bell pepper, minerality and rich earth.
This wine is big bold full bodied with medium + acidity and medium + to high chewy mouth coating tannins that lead into a long black fruit finish. Please try and enjoy the weekend the best we can and stay safe. We will all make it through these trying times sooner than later. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 6 years ago
Childress Vineyards
Barrel Select Three Red Blend
Good, berry, easy drinking, goes with cheese, pasta, pizza, etc. Repeat — 9 years ago
Viñedos de Páganos
El Puntido Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo 2009
Beautiful. Young Tempranillo is rough & rugged Wild West tumble weed. This is soft, ruby, lush falling onto minerality and dry brush.
The fruits are dryish to ripe, creamy and rich; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum into black plum pudding, dark cheries, blueberries hues on the long set, dry tobacco, sandalwood to cedar, dry herb-sage & thyme driven, limestone/sandstone minerals, black pepper, anise to black licorice, dark chocolate, caramel, mocha, moist, grey, volcanic clay, withering, dark red, flowers, round acidity, balance, softened tensioned, nicely structured and polish for days that lasts two-minutes.
Paired this with/ a dry rub tri-tip and a burgundy marinaded Cardiff Crack tri-tip. Both very different and enjoyable, but this was a slightly more enjoyable with the Cardiff Crack burgundy marinate.
Photos of; two of their different seasonal vinyards, cave entrance & large cellar vats. — 2 years ago
Concha y Toro
Don Melchor Puente Alto Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
The first Don Melchor from my storage and it’s very good but still early. I won’t open another for at least 5 years or more. The nose on first open showed ruby dark currants. As it opened up in the two hour decant, it’s nose changed and showed some earthy funkiness with a fair amount of mushroom. Dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, overly baked strawberries, blueberries, black cherry cola, dark dry soils, dry crushed rocks, dry stems, soft leather, lead pencil shavings, dry stones, mushrooms, darker Asian spices, mint, dry herbs, anise, tarry notes, black tea, lilacs and fresh & dry dark florals. The body is full, round, lush & elegant. The tannins are round & beautiful, but only 50% resolved. The palate matches the nose very closely. Dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, overly baked strawberries, blueberries, black cherry cola, dark chocolate & mocha, dark dry soils, dry crushed rocks, dry stems, soft leather, lead pencil shavings, tobacco with ash, dry stones, darker Asian spices, mint, dry herbs, anise, tarry notes, black tea, lilacs and fresh & dry dark florals. The acidity is round & beautiful. The length, balance, structure and tension are extremely solid. The finish is still big, full, round, richly elegant and lasts minutes. Photos of; their beautiful Estate, harvested fruit, a library cellar that I think we’d all like to raid and their barrel room with tasting area. Producer history and notes...Concha y Toro was founded by Don Melchor de Santiago Concha y Toro and his wife, Emiliana Subercaseaux, in 1883. They are the largest producer of wines from Latin America and are headquartered in Santiago, Chile. They own 8,720 hectares spread throughout Chile's major wine regions of; Maipo, Maule, Rapel, Colchagua, Curico, and Casablanca. He started the winery with grape varieties that he brought from Bordeaux. The grapes he brought were; Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Merlot, and Carmenère. Concha y Toro started exporting wine in March of 1933 to the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. In 1950, the winery began to acquire more vineyards. They also began the process of adapting its wine to new markets and meeting a higher demand. In 1971, Eduardo Guilisasti Tagle became Chairman of the Board and succeeded in expanding the company. In 1987, they partnered with the U.S. importer Banfi Vintners. This partnership advanced sales and were able to incorporate more advanced technology in all stages of their production. They also started using small French oak barriques that further advanced the quality of their wines. In 2011, Concha y Toro bought the California portfolio of wines from Brown-Forman. The portfolio included these properties; Fetzer, Bonterra, Five River Wines, Bel Arbor Wines, Jekel Vinyards, Coldwater Creek, Sanctuary Wines Little Black Dress Wines. They are now a huge company with nearly a billion dollars in revenues annually. Don Melchor was Chile’s first iconic wine and has received with few exceptions consistent 90+ Parker scores since 1995. Most in the mid 90 range. This 04 is an excellent example of what they can produce in Chile. If I put this in a blind tasting, many would guess Bordeaux and some Napa Cabernet. — 8 years ago
Devin Brown
The description: Fleur d’Eglantine gets its name from its acidulous freshness and its luminous colour, reminiscent of the petals of the wild roses that surround our vinyards. It’s a delicate rosé, airy and acidic, which unites floral aromas and crunchy red berries. Grape Grenache mixed with Mourvèdre and a dash of Syrah
The opinion: Superb really good value drinking. Great depth and texture for the price. Off to buy some more. — 25 days ago