Classic Cruise

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 1994

Classic La Mission nose that is in a perfect spot showing red & black fruits, cedar, leather, earth, graphite, spice box along with sweet tobacco — 14 days ago

Joel, Jean-Philip and 5 others liked this

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1996


Evolved & aromatic
Cedar wood, cigar box and a touch of cassis with some earthy, gravelly undertone.
Evolved and yet very pure. And very enticing.
Beautiful, simply beautiful on the palate. Firm yet polished and ultra fine tannins, juicy acidity, juice creamy black fruit on the mid palate. Elegant with nice depth and great length.
Beautiful juicy austerity. Classic benchmark left bank Bordeaux. And delish!!!
— 2 months ago

Tom liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Just a brilliant Bordeaux, classic Pauillac and drinking young but well. — 3 months ago

Anthony and Shay liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Somm David T
9.4

I have written a few times regarding my tale of Caymus & Caymus Classic. Their vintages post 2011 and their vintages pre 2011.

I have at event tastings that Caymus was pouring, encouraged their staff to talk with Chuck to make both Caymus & Caymus Classic. Recently, I emailed them to pass on my thoughts to Chuck asking him to make both. If you liked Caymus the way it was, I encourage you to do the same. There is a dwelling amount of older, well preserved Caymus Classic vintages. info@wagnerfamilyofwine.com should you be so inclined.

Their post 2011 Caymus Cabernets are picked at higher brix and syrupy sweet. I get why Chuck changed. Many like sweeter Cabernets that drink easy young. That is not my wheelhouse.

In my intermediate wine days, I aged and enjoyed many pre 2012 vintages. This perfect bottle bought on the secondary market at around $70 is extremely well stored. The cork when I cut the foil looked slightly depressed, when I pulled it with an Ah-so was next to new.

I enjoyed this with a Ribcap, not the best wine for that steak but, ok. This 07 is more filet or NY Strip.

The nose shows; a very dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush-blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, mellow dark spices, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry tobacco, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender.

This bottle now nearly 18 years in bottle has not faded. It is at its precipice and will hold a few yrs. 2007 a grand Napa vintage. Decanted a little over an hour and enjoyed over the next 90-120 minutes. With this experience, another hour in the decanter is even better.

M-M+ velvety, rounded, tannins. The palate is round, ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush; blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, stewed plum, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries with notes of liqueur overtones, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, black licorice, dark berry cola, distinct dark, Caynus Classic spices w/ palate heat, herbaceous notes, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone/rock, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry river stone, charcoal, notes of menthol, dry tobacco, leather, dry oak barrel shavings, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender, perfect, round acidity with an incredibly; balanced, well knitted-toned-structured, elegantly/smartly polished finish that goes on and on and long sets on beautiful earth & spice.

94+ This experience is becoming rarer & rarer.
— 4 months ago

Andrew, Rick and 9 others liked this
Joe DAscoli

Joe DAscoli Premium Badge

The 07 such a great wine

Château Calon-Ségur

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

Somm David T
9.4

I haven’t had a Bordeaux in a while. Especially, with a Ribcap. So, why not an 82? The vintage Robert Parker made his career as the only critic who called it correctly.

Very good 80’s Bordeaux were my first true wine love. Their style & 12-13% ABV will always be my cherished infatuation. Wished it had never changed.

Bought this Calon Segur on the secondary market several yrs ago. Tricky cork. Used my Durand. All good. Fill line perfect, no bottle neck tannin burn but plenty of velvety sediment.

If any of you ever wondered why there is a heart on the label. Here is the interesting reason…

It symbolizes the estate's deep-rooted history and the affection of its former owner, the Marquis de Ségur. Despite owning prestigious estates like Château Lafite and Château Latour, he famously declared, "I make wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is at Calon." His sentiment is immortalized by the heart emblem on the label.

Opened it and let it breathe from the bottle for 45 minutes. Tasted it and decanting it in stages. Then, stopped 1/2 way through and poured the bottom half of the bottle from the bottle.

82 is such a grand, classic vintage. For the most part, I drink Calon Segur’s too early, even at 20 yrs of age. I don’t want to say it is a long in tooth as its neighbor, Montrose, but it is close. This 82 is drinking perfectly w/ 41 yrs in bottle and will hold another 5 yrs. Such soft, perfectly darkish spices with elegantly ripe fruits.

This 82 glides over the palate. There is only beautiful elegance, nothing bites back. The fruits are older (not old or past their prime), ripe fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, both plums but lean plum vs black, dark cherries, crazy, outstanding, hoovering raspberries with notes of blueberries & shades of freshly picked rhubarb. Some black cherry cola, anise to understated black licorice, dark chocolate pudding, caramel, layered, gentle baking spices-nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & vanillin, touch of sun tea, old leather, dryish to fresh tobacco w/ash, charcoal, elegant graphite, dry limestone powder, dry river pebbles, black, rich earth w/ dry leaves, magical, dark spices, grey volcanics, dry stems, just a hint of dry herbs, dry top soil, fresh & withering dark, red flowers, red roses, grand acidity with perfect; balance, tension, structure and a grand, gentle finish that goes on & on and eventually lands on an amazing soft buffet of earthiness.

This is a wine that is technically a 94, but w/ evolution & style a 97. Amazing bottle that you don’t want to end.

$500 a bottle today through the app. Somewhere around $10 upon release.
— 6 months ago

Somm, Jay and 22 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

@Jay Kline Grand love for 82 & the Left Bank. Cheers! 🍷
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

@Peter van den Besselaar Thank you. Happy to bring it. Cheers! 🍷

Château Sociando-Mallet

Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Consistent throughout. The 2016 pours a deep garnet/purple color with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of cassis, blackberries, tobacco, pencil shavings, Poblano pepper, dried flowers, a mix of organic and inorganic earth along with some cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. A lovely, classic left bank Bordeaux with all of the characteristics I want. I love the sense of place these wines deliver. Drink now through 2056. — 9 days ago

Tom, Scott@Mister and 11 others liked this
Chris MacLean

Chris MacLean Influencer Badge

@Jay Kline i opened this recently and was impressed as well
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Chris MacLean one of the few Bordeaux producers I’ll consistently buy

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

5th wine . medium deep ruby , touch more garnet . Slightly wider rim . Quite cool and mineral again , more grafite with some cool cassis , blackberry. On the palate this is slightly lighter in body , leaner perhaps but very elegant , fresh and quite saline, tobacco , grafite and herbal tinges on the finish . Reasonable saline length. Fine lightly grippy tannins , good acidity . This is showing quite well though would perhaps benefit from a few more years . Better in 3-5 years and drink well a further 7- 10 . The next day this actually shows a little better , elegant and refined, nothing showy , very Lafite , so I’m glad I guessed this correctly ! Overall this was a very interesting tasting , there is nothing showy or remarkable about the 2006 1st growths , they are quite classic and also showing quite a lot of structure still , with good freshness though they perhaps lack a little stuffing and intensity . They were quite even quality wise, with the high points being the Mouton (though the Lafite improved the following day to upgrade its score and draw level ) and the low point being a relatively disappointing Margaux . The vintage will continue to improve over the next 5 perhaps 10 years in general , though they may always just lack a little density and excitement . — 3 months ago

Neil, Somm and 16 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

2006 the yr that had to follow the grand 2005 vintage. It wasn’t their best. Made worse having to follow the 2005. The Bordelaise also kept their prices high as many felt they underpriced the 05 vintage. Not a great strategy for a successful 06 vintage. For me, Lafite is the 1st growth that requires the most cellar aging. Even in an ok vintage, 25-30 yr in the cellar to start seeing its best form. Looks like a great dinner. Cheers! 🍷

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin

Yellow Label Brut Champagne Blend

Classic, smooth and quaffable. — 4 months ago

Gillian Koh
with Gillian
Ron, Tegan and 3 others liked this

Deutz

Brut Classic Champagne Blend

My first Deutz. And it was good!! — 5 months ago

Xenia Zollinger
with Xenia
Andrew and Tegan liked this

Nyetimber

Classic Cuvée Sparkling White Blend

If I win the lottery I just will be drinking this. — 6 months ago

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2014

Yes—exactly that kind of wine: timeless, composed, and quietly authoritative.

It smells so good on first pour. Damp pine forest floor and clean mountain air register immediately. Everything else unravels from there; but that initial pop-and-pour sniff is pure magic.

On the palate, blackcurrant, cedar, graphite, and dried herbs unfold with control, carried by freshness and finely etched tannins in a medium body.

So classic, so intellectual, and deeply mesmerizing. Drink now or age.
— 6 months ago

Ted, Sagee and 9 others liked this

Hugel et Fils

Classic Alsace Pinot Gris 2021

Perfect for a seafood feast. Crisp, lean and mean 🐟 🦀 🦐. A special edition, just for this establishment — 8 months ago

romo and Tom liked this

Château Gloria

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2019

ESF
9.1

app couldn't process my wine: Espirit de Gloria, what I believe to be the second wine of Chateau Gloria. it was delightful, restrained, classic Left Bank profile, well balanced, composed and utterly delicious w/fairly approachable price point — 2 months ago

Peter liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

vintage 2006 | Needs a few hours to open, very classic with laurel, tobacco, eucalyptus in smell, even chocolate. Balanced taste. Paired with a wagyu burger and zuchinni. Many years to go. — 3 months ago

Andrew, Tom and 26 others liked this
Eric Hoepelman

Eric Hoepelman

Whoop whoop! Sounds good ;))
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

I like the pairing!

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2012

These used to be cheap - not any more 40$ for the new vintage this was 26$. Classic and super elegant. A ton of tannins left: 14%. Fermented dark olives. Dark cherries. Way better than the 2013 chianti reserva I popped for our italian dinner club. These are the wines kids should try - but hey our brillant marketing 🤡 priced them out of trying quality nebbiolo so they switch to cocktails and beer! Well done. Will go for 5-10 more years with ease. — 3 months ago

Daniel, John and 9 others liked this
John Howard

John Howard Influencer Badge

@Pinotman /// Andreas always so good. The single vineyard ones used to be the best high end values in the world imho. Not anymore. Still great though.

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2002

Classic bordeaux flavours. Highly elegant and layered. Perfect drinking window for me — 4 months ago

Tom, Peter and 23 others liked this

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2018

Classic left bank Bordeaux. Well integrated rounded tannins leading the march surrounded with dark fruit and that unmistakable lead pencil. Was hoping for a little more layered complexity. — 4 months ago

Dawn, Bob and 6 others liked this

Château Gruaud Larose

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Pretty deep ruby garnet , medium wide garnet rim . Aromatic and really classic with a mix or red and dark fruits , tobacco , grafite and cedar . On the palate this is quite linear , again with the red and dark fruits from the nose, cedar and grafite and quite rounded resolved tannins . Fresh acidity , good cedar with grafite length , very classic in style . Enough density and fruit to cover the rest of the structure. In a perfect place now at least in this format , and probably will be over the next 10 years . This was from an Imperial , at BBR in London . — 5 months ago

Bob, David and 11 others liked this

Iron Horse Vineyards

Classic Vintage Brut Sparkling Blend 2020

More residual sugar than I remembered. Brioche finish, delicate bubbles — 7 months ago

Dave liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2012

Stone-cold classic — 7 months ago

Tom, Andrew and 5 others liked this