Dandy In The Clos

Orin Swift Cellars

8 Years in the Desert Zinfandel Blend

Gifted by my partner’s sister as a sweet & thoughtful surprise for our 6 month anniversary ♡ We are new to wine but have been spending our past few date nights just at home watching movies with an inexpensive bottle she recommended from our local grocery store (which we enjoy so much!). And to celebrate our anniversary, we did the exact same thing— except this time, with a bottle carefully chosen by a loved one from her own personal collection, who is THE wine lover!! Rudy & I both loved the taste of this one so much. I think it’s a great start for those like us who are getting into wine and have no idea about anything and just want something tasty, because now we know we like zinfandel blends! I’m not there yet with describing the taste of wine but I do really like the complexity of blends now and thought this tasted very clean and yummy (っ˘ڡ˘ς) Thank you Aimee!! Note: we also did homework on how the name originated! Very cool to know how the person who made this sold his popular zin blend & had to sign a clause that wouldn’t allow him to make anymore zin blends for 8 years- hence the 8 years in the desert :0 — 11 days ago

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Medium ruby , wider light ruby rim . Touch more closed and mineral on the nose with, red currant , grafite , cedar . Quite aloof . On the palate this is quite strict , excellent refreshing acidity and very noticeable gritty tannin , more red fruits on the palate , red currant, cherry, cranberry hints alongside the cassis and mineral backbone . Very young , mineral , quite linear and saline . This shows a lot of intensity and salinity after a while in the glass , improves with time in the glass but really needs time in the cellar. Come back in 5 - 10 years , will show well for a further 10 perhaps 20 years. Very classic and aristocratic . — 16 days ago

Daniel, Jan and 7 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Way too early, but what a great wine. Look forward to tasting again in 10+ years — 7 days ago

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Opened and double-decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1996 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core. On the nose, the wine is developing and loaded with currants, pencil lead, earth and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and super grippy; slightly bitter and earthy. A lovely, classic expression of Bordeaux and drinking well in its prime. Drink now through 2046. — 11 days ago

Jakub, Tom and 13 others liked this
Severn Goodwin

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You've been hitting all my favorite Léoville lately, so jealous
Jay Kline

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@Severn Goodwin I catching up on some notes from a night with a line-up of bangers from Bordeaux. It was pretty awesome, ngl

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2011

You're not 40 every day and I wanted a special wine to celebrate that special day. Fortunately the wine bar / open kitchen restaurant we went to had that special wine, amongst 400 references, that I had been desperate to taste for a long while. I didn't take notes so it's all from memory, but the nose is what I liked the most. Coconut notes, leather, cherries, coffee... I spent probably 15 minutes in total smelling that wine. The palate was great with some acid drive, some matter but not in an overwhelming way, some gentle, well integrated tannins in the rear, before a long finish with savoury notes, red fruits, coconut and that gentle grainy tannic layer. A great experience to top up a day to remember.
Oh and if you happen to be in Warsaw, Poland and be looking for a great wine place, make sure to check our Kontakt - wino & bistro.
— 4 days ago

Scott@Mister, Ira and 13 others liked this
Peter van den Besselaar

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Congrats Daniel! Fine experience.
Paul K

Paul K

Happy Birthday @Daniel M ! Great wine! Great review!
Daniel M

Daniel M

@Paul K thank you, Sir !

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

Forty-plus years on, people still talk about the greatness of the 1982 vintage in Bordeaux. There are multiple factors that contribute to this and it’s fair to say that Robert Parker’s reaction played a major role in the early popularity; certainly in the States. While some may say that 1982 was merely a “good” vintage by today’s standards, I think history has proven it to be empirically special; there was just so much quality from top to bottom. And yet, even with the high praise of the vintage, the tone shifts to hushed whispers when the 1982 Mouton gets mentioned. Up until that point, the Chateau had sort of underachieved after receiving its unprecedented promotion in 1973. But in 1982, a year full of great wine, they created a legend and firmly cemented their First Growth status. Today, I’m pleased to report the plaudits for the ’82 are all warranted.

Opened and double-decanted earlier in the day. The ’82 Mouton pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core with some sediment; almost youthful when compared to many of the other older wines poured on the night. On the nose, the wine is developing still; loaded with cassis, black berries, leaf tobacco, leather, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with fabulous structure. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and full of power. A stunning wine and well in its prime…a window I expect will remain open for a longtime to come. Drink now with bacchanalian abandon and through 2082.
— 15 days ago

Ira, Jan and 26 others liked this
David T

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I picked the Mouton Merlot in 2012 for a day. At the two harvest lunches I attended, they served the 82. Every time they bottle, they take the remaining barrel juice, filter it and then serve the remains at their harvest luncheons for workers & guests. The second lunch I attended, we were seated at the Baroness’s table may she RIP as she passed in 2014. In 2012, they drank the last of the 82.
Jay Kline

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@David T what an awesome story and experience
Bob McDonald

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@Jay Kline I agree re the 1982 Bordeaux vintage. The Chateau Margaux was one of the greatest wines I have ever drunk whereas the Lafite Rothschild was somewhat underwhelming. Bought at the same time from the same shop and stored the same way.

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Ron R
9.5

Good god. Peaking right now.
Huge aromatics on the nose. Superb weight, balance and texture. No rush to consume. Cedar and macerated black cherries transition to coffee and hints of maple. Blew me away. In raptures over this. Direct from the winery when I lived in Europe.
— 7 days ago

Mo Salem
with Mo
John, Vin and 44 others liked this
Ron R

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Merry Christmas to you @Jody Scharf. Wanna meet up in Manhattan and tip a glass?
Jody Scharf

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anytime Ron, would enjoy that
Ron R

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@Jody Scharf, we are ready. Talk to me goose!

Jean Foillard

Côte du Py Morgon Gamay

W64 200, Xmas day family wine 3L perfect in every way, what a cracker, silky berries, in the dame level as say Gevrey Chambertan, without the expense. — 2 days ago

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2004

We let it sit in the decanter for an hour before dinner. It was great. — 20 hours ago

Tom and Angelo liked this
Tom Casagrande

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Breaking out the big guns!
John Gaviglio

John Gaviglio

It was time. The other reviews had it peaking.

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2015

xmas 2024 wine 4. Light in color almost orange ruby. Nose of little roses, jasmin tea a mnd some orange rind. Tannin is still there but not so harsh. Red dates. — 6 hours ago

Jan and David liked this