

Really nice just barely sparkling rose — 6 years ago
When in Vienna — 7 years ago
“The Return of Mike Grammer” Dinner on 7/5. - although I have met up with Toronto native Mike Grammer at an annual charity event in the OC several times, we hosted a dinner for Mike on Thursday marking his first return to the San Diego area since 2009. The original dinner nine years ago was my first wine offline event, and I met a number of great folks that I have been able to share wine with since that time. We capped the 2009 dinner off with a phenomenal 2001 La Tour Blanche contributed by @Bill Bender and Mike brought a 2011 version to commemorate that evening. Great to share a night of wine and fun with some of the SD crew. Cheers! — 8 years ago
Favorite Chardonnay. Cheap and well balanced. — 8 years ago
So toasty with a frame of mocha and black tea. Drinks very well with a long decant. @Bill Bender awesome pull! — 9 years ago
Stoked to find 08 vtg of this at Drgrs in half btl. Love the weight, comexity and density it developed. Got to taste their more recent stuff the day prior at WS Top100. — 9 years ago
@Antonio Galloni Thank you my friend… @Paul T- Huntington Beach @Shay A @Ron R @Ron Siegel @Ron Christiano @Bill Bender @Bob McDonald — 4 years ago

Not at all like an Austrian riesling. This was restrained, aromatic and minerally tinged. — 6 years ago
Medium body, subtle flavors — 8 years ago
Courtesy of @Bill Bender. Dark cherry, plum, coffee, spice, leather, and tea leaf. Tannins still firm to keep it all real. Might mature more over the next decade but I doubt it. Still, for a challenging vintage, this was gorgeous and perfectly suited for a pig roast. — 8 years ago
@Bill Bender Bringing my kinda wine as always. Pretty tight right now with spice coming on in the early mid palate through the finish. Needs time and patience. — 9 years ago
One of the best ever made??? @Bill Bender thank you. — 9 years ago
All these from the 1966 vintage. The magnum of Bordeaux in perfect condition. The humans, not so much. With my good friend @Bill Bender — 5 years ago
The label was soiled when I received the order. I was immediately concerned regarding the contents. Happily, the wine was in pristine nick. Forest floor and cinnamon nose transitioned to the signature gnarly, textured dark fruit, smoke, and spice box presentation. I’m going to hold some of these Astons and see what happens. Intro’d to this by @Bill Bender, this has become my fave Cali pinot. Every vintage comes correct. — 5 years ago

It’s fitting that my 2,500th wine entry is not only a gorgeous wine, but it’s a wine that was gifted to me by my good friend @Bill Bender . The people I have met, and the people I get to share wine with often, are what make wine such a beautiful experience. Kudos to the @Delectable Wine team for this knowledgeable and wine loving community.
I’m big fan of these wines. Lots of character and beautifully crafted. This wine is no different. At 11-12 years old, this is still on the upslope (though I think it will be there soon). I opened this yesterday with no decant and was greeted by lots of sweet, dark fruit coated in dark chocolate shavings. A condensed and powerful core of dusty currants and plums with some herbs. On day two, this hit full stride...added notes of espresso, savory peppercorns with floral potpourri on a seamless and integrated palate. The fruit is so incredibly pure and juicy without being overly sweet or candied! Delicious. — 7 years ago

Lovely wine, @Bill Bender Thanks! It was great to meet you and the whole wine nerd herd! — 9 years ago



Talk about sexy! And the wine was great as well. My first post after a bit of a hiatus from Delectable. In San Diego for a meeting and was able to sneak away for a few sips. Thanks so much to @Bill Bender for generously making time to host me at his lair, perched high above the city looking down on the harbor, for great friendship, conversation, and of course, killer juice. The initial notes of stewed plums and spice blew off after a bit of time in the decanter, revealing layers of deep, rich voluptuous fruit and earthy minerals. Almost surprisingly youthful and powerful at 15, this will continue to evolve for a long time. One of my favorite Burgs. Thanks again, Bill!!! — 9 years ago


Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego
1982 vintage. Last tasted 6.1.24 (9.4) and nearly 9 years ago (9.0). Courtesy of Monsieur @Bill Bender. Sweet fill. Opened with a Durand. Cork 95% saturated. A little reticent in the early going and decanted a third of the bottle to see if that would pull the juice out of a sullen funk. It did, so the remainder got decanted whilst throwing much less sed than expected. Medium body still. Slightly brickish and plenty fleshy with well-integrated complexity. Very pleasant and lingering finish. A great bottle with more than could reasonably be expected at this juncture. Thank you, Bill! 4.24.26. — 3 months ago