Steven Beishuizen

8.9

A really dark-colored one here... On the nose, this is the darkest of black fruit... Some blackberry liqueur on that nose too... On the palate, it's still black fruit to be sure... Maybe with the addition of cranberry... The seven years of age seems to be introducing some softness with the tannin... Some old-world dirty here. Dusty. Medium body. Medium acidity. The finish is long with the blackberry showing flecks of blueberry on the finish. — 2 years ago

with Anita

Eric

9.6

Dense dirty stemmy black cherries. Outstanding. — 4 years ago

Chris McClellan

9.0

Red/black fruits, dried, prnounced earth with good tannin and acid, oak integrated nicely...long decant to wake up...finished in true fashion...dried and dirty fruit and long... — 5 years ago

with Ryan

Nathan J. Martin

9.0

Wet stone, dried black berry, damp forest floor, dirty leather, — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

A couple of years older than the previous bottle. These are really neat Tuscan wines that I am really not sure I would ever have guessed were Tuscan wines! Old world meets new world style. Medium-plus body. Black cherry preserves and some roasted plum. Gets a little bit dirty in the middle. Still seems to have quite a bit of a stiff tannic finish. I think this one easily has 10 or 15 years left and really not even sure that it is in the optimal window just yet. Drink with a 1-2 hour decant, or hold! — 7 years ago

with Dan and Bradley

ESF

9.1

Really intriguing- would make for a great blind wine! Pauillac nose with some iron, tobacco cigar box graphite gets dirty soily around the edges all wrapped up in exquisite black & red fruit. Then it goes all Northern Rhône with distinct Syrah shining through. Fairly big wine with plenty of polish, 10 yrs + and still a baby. Find this stuff — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.1

WNH event number 3...new world Pinot. Such a treat to experience the many different variations of Pinot!

Older Marcassin pinots...what more can be said other than special. However, I think this one was quite muted on the nose and wasn’t entirely as expected. Age has leaned this out, and the red and black fruits are battling with earth and herbal components. Dirty raspberries and bay leaf on the finish. Even a slightly off bottle of Marcassin is impressive, so thanks for bringing, @David L ! — 8 years ago

with Mike, David and 4 others

Paul J

9.2

PnP. Very dark purple color, almost black. Smoky, earthy nose with dark fruit. Same on the palate with a gritty texture. A very unpleasing finish as it tastes like dirty water. Outside of the awful finish, a nice wine. — 2 years ago

with Brooke

Shay A

9.1

I’ve been wondering when to open this wine, and when a local group decided to do a Pinot theme blind, I thought this would be a fun contender.

My second time with this wine in the last year, and I remain impressed at how this 13yr old Alsatian Pinot is holding up. Translucent ruby in the glass. Doesn’t seem to show much bricking, actually. Aromatically, it’s bretty…smells more Bordeaux like than anything else. Leather, herbs de Provence, underripe black cherries. The palate shows a small bit of carbonic character (not with the bubble gum vibe, but more of that cru bojo wintergreen profile). The fruit shows a faded/muddled profile due to the age, but there is plenty of dirty raspberry, black cherry and a savory red clay like note. Good acidity still. While this is on the downside, I’m hard pressed to say this is way over the hill. It’s actually a really fun and delicious wine to enjoy over an evening (especially with food). — 4 years ago

Willie Carter

9.0

It’s always fun trying a Coteaux Champenois still red wine from such an a wonderful house as Paul Bara. A clear ruby color with a wide brim and the smallest touch of purple. Blind, it would be easy to confuse with a nice good quality Burgundy.

The nose shows lingonberry, strawberries, and black cherries. Some really nice fresh soil and underbrush. With plenty of air and decanting time delicate perfumed flowers and olive pits.

A Bouzy Pinot Noir with a few years on it is a real treat. Light bodied with round tannins and enough depth. Generous and inviting throughout, this is never really closed off. The palate has a ton of herb goodness and cigar smoke. More red and black berries along with dirty dirt and a dash of vanilla. This is a fun, summery light Pinot. Drink chilled and sit back and enjoy. — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

Dark inky in color with a short, dirty brick rim.

Strong nose of black currants, cooked plums, oak, licorice, spices, coffee, pencil lead, cola, peppercorn, leather, bone fire smoke, dark chocolates and sweet candy.

Full bodied and soft with medium plus acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, cherries, strawberries, currants, wood, licorice, spices, dark chocolates, black pepper, graphite, peppercorn, leather, vegetables, tobacco and espresso.

Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tart raspberries.

This is a very nice Brazilian Cabernet Sauvignon blend. Feels like an old world wine.

This 8 year old has a nice mouthfeel, but not fully balanced. The mid palate is very tasty, until the ending, which is a bit too tart for my taste. I actually liked the nose better than the palate.

Needs 90 minutes to open up properly and remove the barnyard notes.

Paired very nicely with food.

Thank you Alex for sharing.

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Tannant. Aged in Oak barrels. A small production of only 4250 bottles. This blend was only produced in this 2011 vintage.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.3

This was my bottle, and it was opened alongside a ‘15 for comparison sake. Aromatics were similar to the ‘15 (red and black fruit) but less candied. More dirty, but not off putting. However, the finish on this was very unique...it turned very umami/earthy/herbal. Maybe an odd phase as it wakes up? Structure was still very solid (as expected for mountain fruit) so this may hold a while...

Almost two hours later: Better with air. Became more dark chocolate covered. Wow. The savory notes have faded and it’s showing a more rich and dark cocoa type finish. Very enjoyable. — 7 years ago

with Dan, Mark and 2 others

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2021 vintage. From a 375 ml format. Dirty nose. Medium/medium-heavy body. Excellent concentration and a big, cracked black pepper finishing parade. 7.12.24. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

See previous Delectable Note for the 2009 vintage from 88 weeks ago. Similar tasting note with a nose of Compost Heap, Sous Bois and dirty red and black cherry. Still a strong core of energy - could go on for another 5 years. Arguably Australia’s greatest Pinot Noir - definitely of Grand Cru quality. A lovely textured medium bodied palate. Only 40 dozen made. Philip Jones said at the time that 2009 was one of his best vintages, although to be honest he has made a few just as good, if not better, since. — 3 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.4

OMG! Lean and sharp as a light-saber. The wine is med brick in the glass… light and lively in the mouth. It dances across your palate. Caressing all the corners and crevices. A dichotomy of lightness in weight snd power in black fruited ripeness. Way too young but great with baby portobellos and dry aged prime rib from Publican Meats…Covid Christmas II sucks apart from family, but we’re spoiling ourselves… successfully as it happens. Life’s too damn short to drink shit wine…,Cheers! — 5 years ago

Kapyrick Wine

9.2

V13. So nice..soft cedar nose. Fresh cherry and hints of black cherry fruit. Tart and dirty finish. Simple, balanced, good — 6 years ago

Joe Estrada

9.6

One of my favourite Rhone blends...musty, dirty, dark ripe fruits paired with Grilled Chicken Leg/Thigh with a black pepper rub & Alabama White Sauce — 7 years ago

with Kara

Nik Weinberg-Lynn

9.2

Really interesting and yummy wine. Black tea and blueberry nose. Campfire s’mores and blackberries. Delish — 7 years ago

Steven Beishuizen

8.9

A really nice nose on this one. Fruit but savory. Some pepper, but really this one is more sausage roll than pepper pot. Some black plum but no sense of tartness. Really tasty and satisfying. — 7 years ago

with Anita

"Odedi"

9.1

Time for #MerlotThursday! Here is a great one from Rutherford.

Dark dirty ruby in color with a short brick rim.

Still fruity on the nose with black plums, black cherries, black currants, cooked cherries, raisins, earth, leather, vanilla, light cedar, spices, vinaigrette, light alcohol, pencil lead, dark chocolates, dark coffee and peppercorn. I loved the nose, so complex.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, black currants, wood, vanilla, vegetables, dark coffee, bitter herbs, leather, licorice, earth, black pepper, chocolates and spices.

Long finish with persistent yet fine tannins, and tangy raspberries.

This 8 year old Merlot from Napa Valley is drinking very nicely now, with an awesome nose that I just kept on smelling, for a long while.

This Single Vineyard is nicely balanced with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel. Will get even better in the next few years as it gets smoother.

This is a great sipping wine, to drink all by itself and talk about.

100% Merlot grapes were aged for 20 months in French Oak barrels (45% new).

14.2% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$39. — 8 years ago