Bill Rollins

8.9

2021 bought from Princeton Corkscrew — 2 years ago

Nathan Renfro

9.3

One of my favorite value wines. Same notes as before. Unfortunately while traveling I forgot a corkscrew, so it’s a little corky 😂 Still a great wine though! — 4 years ago

Joseph Barsky

9.3

2005 Vintage.14.8% Alcohol. Need to open with an Ah So type opener, not a corkscrew as the corks have become brittle over time. Thank goodness for the thick bright blue wax seal as it likely saved this bottle from being corked. — 5 years ago

John Eaton

9.4

An all-time favorite Cali-Cab. You had me at, “get me a corkscrew “. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Founded in 1820, Graham’s produced some great Ports of the 20th century. In 1970 the company changed ownership from the founding family to the Symingtons. Reddish amber color with aromas of ripe red fruits with a classic Tawny nuttiness. On the palate sweet cherry and raspberry flavors with some cacao, vanilla and oak notes. Lingering finish, fresh and vibrant. It has a t-cap closure, means no corkscrew to open & will stay fresh for 2 to 4 months if stored in a cool, dark place. Nice! — 7 years ago

Krista

10

Really great. Had at corkscrew Blackstone. Would purchase. — 7 years ago

Janell

9.2

welcome to captiva 🌴 island! surprisingly good random pick on the way to the “villa” ... the only thing missing was the corkscrew...relieved that housekeeping brought one up!! — 7 years ago

Joseph Barsky

9.3

2003 Vintage in Magnum. 14.1% Alcohol. Took a while to soak up some air and settle down but once it did, smooth palate and aged fruit flavors and resolved tannins. Not Gail’s style but nothing wrong with this over several days. Slight sediment but no bottle coating. Tried to have it opened iat a restaurant for a friends retirement party but I forgot bring the Ah-so. Waiter with corkscrew destroyed the cork and I gave up and opened a 2003 Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Magnum instead which was perfection. No problem with using the Ah-so at home and the corkscrew has not penetrated the bottom or the cork. Purchased at a ZAP silent auction in 2004 or 2005 so it has the three owners signatures on the label. — 8 years ago

Dennis Hogenkamp

9.1

Subtle aromatics, tertiary color changes. Very nice for a 2011, although past it’s prime. Cork almost totally crumbled with the use of a corkscrew. — 2 years ago

Chris Bensick

8.9

Last of the ‘75s. Mid-shoulder. Mature but not over the hill. Well, maybe starting a gentle decline. Another triumph for the Durand corkscrew. — 5 years ago

Ted

8.9

Found buried in the cellar. Ripe blueberry, vanilla. Dropping my daughter back at Cleveland State for swim practice and realized she doesn’t have a corkscrew. Only a hammer and a screw. Where there is a will there is a way. Add corkscrew to the shopping list. Cork came out intact and in perfect condition.😊 — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Deep Ruby with concentrated aromas of ripe black fruits and earthy floral spice. The palate shows rich blackberry and tart raspberry, complex, good acidity, balance and depth with ultra-smooth tannins. The long finish ended with an earthy and woody spice, cacao, and mushroom, very smooth. I am guessing that this wine is at its peak, so if you are lucky enough to find a bottle, get the corkscrew! — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

Dark inky in color with a short and cloudy, deep brick rim.

Fruity nose of plums, cherries, wood, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, herbs, light vegetables, vinaigrette, tobacco and diet cola.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with plums, cherries, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, vinaigrette, vegetables, tobacco, bitter herbs and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice Syrah blend from Sonoma County. Tangy and spicy with lots of black fruits. Showing great complexity and mouthfeel.

This 8 year old is not from the best of vintages, and over the hill by now, but very tasty nonetheless.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up (2 hours).

I paired it with cheeses and light appetizers.

A blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier.

13.6% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$35. — 7 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.2

This incredibly unique semi-carbonated Lambrusco is all about Red Delicious apples. Pretty crimson murky red with a tinge of copper on the brim. It’s completely dry with a bitter note reminiscent of apple skin. Tart cranberries and spiced cherry flavors formulate into a Dr. Pepper and nutmeg elixir. So unusual and so perfect for this time of year.

And more surprises - an odd cone shaped knobless Champagne cork that requires a corkscrew. It comes wrapped in a personal paper note from the winemaker about wine quality. — 7 years ago

Eric

9.3

This is the Old Vines Petite Sirah. Finally found a B & H that was ready to drink 😂. Cherry cola, leather, blood, and varnish. Little hot on the finish or would have rated higher. Plastic cork? Almost blew out my spleen trying to pull it out with a $2.00 gas station corkscrew. — 8 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.6

Went with the Durand corkscrew, cork felt a little soft. Great wine though, oldest Kobalt I have had.
Drinks like an old Jones Cabernet
No bricking at all surprisingly — 3 years ago

Rhonely Boy

9.0

26 year old Santa Cruz Blanc de Blanc.17 years Triage according to label. Some sediment noticeable.

Dark gold color, surprisingly still has some bubbles. Cork broke during opening, corkscrew to the rescue. Notes are toasty, yeasty, and a bit funky in the finish (not horrible, ?rubber-ish, hard to describe, food would hide).

Good for curious geeking, not luxury seeking.



— 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Every major holiday demands a celebratory wine. This Saturday Labor Day weekend, it’s a 1986 Leoville Las Cases.

The other weekend, we had Ribcap’s with a good Bordeaux & Napa Cabernet but, it was not what I was looking for with an Allen Brothers Ribcap. Allen Brothers steaks are the top 1% of beef in the country.

This 86 Leoville Las Cases started slow but, in short order excelled. The cork (not from my storage) made me hesitate to an extended decant. Even with the Durand corkscrew, it was a little tricky to remove the cork. However, the wine was still sound.

My favorite pairing is a Ribcap & an old Bordeaux. For me, no meal is slower or better. I grew up the youngest in a family of seven...raised by a single mother. My father passed away while I was four months conceived. So, we ate fast and fought for every scrap.

The nose reveals classic Bordeaux notes & style. Ripe, funky barnyard fruits of; cooked; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, black plum, dark cherries, slight dry cranberries, pomegranate, blueberries & rhubarb. Steeped tea, cola/red licorice, anise, golden brown to slightly burnt pie crust, dark, rich, turned earth, dry stones, limestone, cedar notes, old tobacco, underbrush, graphite, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, bay leaf, hints of eucalyptus/mint, old, soft leather, touch of mushrooms, just a hint of band-aid/va, with bright, fresh & withering; dark, red, blue, purple flowers framed is soft violets.

The palate is; smooth, elegant, ripe and juicy. The 86 still shows some baby, slightly tarry & teethe tannins. The structure, tension, balance and length are incredible. This 86 has years of life ahead of it if you enjoy them at this age and older as I do. Ripe, funky barnyard fruits of; cooked; blackberries, dark cherries, black, strawberries, black plum, dark cherries, slight dry cranberries, pomegranate, blueberries, faint raspberries notes, & rhubarb. Steeped tea, cola/red licorice, anise, golden brown to slightly burnt pie crust, crispy toast, dark, rich, turned earth, dry river stones, charcoal w/ ash, limestone/sandstone, dry clay, cedar notes, old tobacco with ash, underbrush, graphite, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, bay leaf, some vegetal characteristics, hints of eucalyptus/mint, old, soft leather, touch of mushrooms, used expresso grounds, dark chocolate, caramel, mocha powder, hints of band-aid/va, with bright, fresh & withering; dark, red, blue, purple flowers framed is soft violets. The acidity is a gentle rain shower and perfect. The long finish defines elegance, balance in fruit & earth, well knitted and goes on for several minutes in perfect harmony ending with dry earth & juiciness over the top.

What a treat it is to drink Bordeaux of this age & older. I love the style of 80’s Bordeaux and really appreciate the 12-13% ABV of that decade. Wish that never changed.

Not sure this makes it to 2060 but, there is still plenty of life in it. Don’t be afraid to decant it 1-2 hours without question on well stored bottles.

Photos of; Chateau Leoville Las Cases, old large wood vats, their archway you see as you enter the property from the D2 & staff working their Estate vines. — 6 years ago

Nick

9.0

Bordeaux prep. ~45$ at corkscrew — 7 years ago

Severn G

9.4

Global Champagne Day 2018...Why not?

@Casey @ Travelling Corkscrew I'm not going to sabre this one, maybe another time. Nice post/feature today.

Seemed excessively frizzante when we opened the bottle, more mellow after an hour, quite nice. Lightly brioche, the Chardonnay is more prominent tonight. Light caramel on under-ripe peach, delish. At hour two, lightly saline, red fruit arrives, the terroir is making an appearance. — 8 years ago