Delectable Wine

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9.6

The 2014 Argonne was much more open when I tasted it last year, which is probably a good sign for its long-term aging prospects. Tangerine oil, white flowers, spice, brioche and a kick of sweet oak all run through the 2014. More than anything else, I am struck by the wine's linear intensity and drive. Argonne is 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay done in 100% new oak. Disgorged: December 14, 2022. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2023) — 2 years ago

Willie Carter

8.9

Oak and new leather on the nose initially with a burst of fruit coming later. There’s some outstanding smokiness coming through that really elevates things. The layered aromas continue with ripe red cherries, wild strawberries, and raspberry goodness. A wallop of blue and black berries with clove cigarettes saying hello.

Primarily Tempranillo and Garnacho with a smattering of Graciano and Mazuelo. Aged for three years in barrels and fully mature at this point even though I do believe it has great longevity in store. Highly expressive and checking all the boxes, this is just plain sitting above other, similarly priced wines. That smokiness is prevalent on the tongue along with a bit of vanilla and orange peel. The fruit on the palate follows the nose. Incredible spice leading to the medium length finish. This may be a little brother of a wine but there’s not much else little about it. — 3 years ago

Paul T HB

9.4

Tried the 2018 Cabernet yesterday, nice on opening but closed down quite quickly. But I popped it off the truck so thats to be expected. I’ll rate the 2nd bottle after a long hold.
This one is a different story at only $20.00 more. Great for having only a 1 day hold,
Winery notes,

Keeping with the theme of expansion, we added another block of older vines from Larkmead in 2018. Neighboring our original block of Olmo clone is a tiny block of Jenkins clone Cabernet resting in the same Cortina soil. We have always loved this clone of Cabernet having worked with it at Outpost’s True Vineyard and Gemstone Estate. There’s nothing else quite like it in the world of Cabernet. It manages to be both exotic and wildly singular while still coming across as very complete. It has proven to be a very nice complement to what we’ve been working with from Larkmead since 2012. The color here is a bit darker than normal with mostly fruit tones first present on the nose. That familiar muscular walnut husk, roasted nut quality of Larkmead pokes through quickly though placing this wine stylistically in more of a classic era of California wine. Where in the past this wine could be considered the “lightest” of the lineup, the 2018 shows the power of the vintage and a marked improvement from the addition of the new block. The fruit is still purple leaning and the ethereal notes of the past still pop out on palate entry but a weightier middle kicks in almost immediately with notes of sage, graphite, cassis, lavender and a brambly spice note. The tannin starts earlier too adding texture and a dusty, baker’s chocolate note. In the past, I felt this bottling would always need a few years in the cellar to present a complete palate expression. Not so here with the addition of our little Jenkins block. All these additional blending options from all these great sites prove in 2018 that sometimes more is more. — 4 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.2

Tremendous elegance on the palate, though this is surprisingly austere. Nose is tame compared to previous vintages, doesn’t have the soaring aromatic complexity of the 18 base… yet. Hard to say whether this is just a very young/reticent vintage or something else going on. Base 19 disgorged 2021. — 3 years ago

Kamall

9.3

It’s Krug. What else can I say? — 3 years ago

Mark Rosse

9.5

Nose was a bit muted for the first hour but everything else was magical! — 4 years ago

Fraser McKinley

9.8

This was a tremendous bottle. We were fortunate enough to tear into a pair of delicious Salon ‘04s last month but this was something else. So much concentration, poise and grace. I don’t believe I’ve tasted a better Champagne - 1996 — 5 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.7

First World Problem… two bottles of this stuff in a week… I feel like a champagne snob. But what else to celebrate 70th birthday week in Maui? Consistent notes of lemon, pineapple, and warm brioche. — 3 years ago

David Langstaff

9.5

There is no point drinking any other CDP. And the ‘06 is a follower to the ‘05, ‘07, ‘08 and ,09. But what a magnificent wine. Fruit has calmed down and integrates with earth. And the Rayas pepper is there. Cannot mistake this wine for anything else. Simply stunning. — 3 years ago

with Sarah, Lee and 2 others

Ron from VA

9.1

A touch simple...and a touch delicious :) Balance if nothing else. — 5 years ago