Eye Of The Needle

Jean Vesselle

“Oeil de Perdrix” Champagne Blend

Historic style of making champagne, eye of the partridge is something between a Blanc de Noirs and Rose. Such an appetizing rose gold color. Pastry/biscuit, strawberries & cream & clementine on the nose, much more lithe, tense and bright on the palate.

Honestly it’s hard to come up with descriptors because it’s just a joy to drink.

Disgorged last year on Valentine’s Day.

I’m really digging the Vesselle wines these days and they are so reasonably priced for the quality.
— a year ago

Ira, Vin and 8 others liked this

Eye of the Falcon

Reserve daou Red Blend 2018

Perfect with a grilled steak. Plenty of time for further aging. Great tannins with a long berry finish. — 3 years ago

Far Niente Winery

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Very smooth cab with a hint of tobacco and currant . Enjoying it with a prime bone in rib eye steak — 3 years ago

Jerry Nowicki

Jerry Nowicki

Very smooth cab with a hint of tobacco and currant . Enjoying it with a prime bone in rib eye steak

Château Haut-Bergey

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

2009 Vintage. This wine has aged well. A touch of leather, spice and fading fruit. Nice wine for a $39 price years ago. Great with prime rib eye. Very enjoyable. — a year ago

Domaine Brusset

Tradition Le Grand Montmirail Gigondas Red Rhone Blend 2019

Lots of ripe black & red fruits, chocolate and coffee. This will age really well!
Tonight’s pairing is grilled rib eye steaks.
— 3 years ago

Farzina, Mike and 1 other liked this

Gilbert Picq et Ses Fils

Chablis Chardonnay 2019

Kind of a pine needle viscosity: an enjoyable oiliness. part 1 of a first official post vaccinated guy weekend. — 3 years ago

Owen Mazon
with Owen
Romain, Anthony and 8 others liked this

Claude Riffault

Les Denisottes Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Crisp and very pure sauvignon blanc caracter. Lots of minerals and acidity yet also have this maturish tropical notes aromas at the same time...bottle was consumed in a blink of an eye — 4 years ago

Rob, Ron and 4 others liked this

Mount Peak Winery

"Sentinel" Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Tried this again about 8 months later. Sentinel Cabernet Sauvignon is named for the shield-shaped block that casts a watchful eye on the entrance to Monte Rosso Vineyard. Deep Ruby with aromas of rich dark fruit, cedar and sweet spice. On the palate flavors of ripe cherry, blackberry and currants with vanilla oak and toasty nutty notes. Fine soft tannins, well balanced with acidity, long finish ending with berry fruit, cacao and toasty vanilla oak. Nice! — 2 years ago

Alex, Daniel P. and 5 others liked this

Mas de Boislauzon

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2017

Brought to Tasting Group. My first of three bottles. Popped and poured, enjoyed over two days. Day 1 was tasted blind. This wine comes across quite primary with powerful, stewed bramble fruit, baking chocolate and baking spice notes indicating the potential use of French barrique. Medium-plus tannin. Medium acid. Overall, this is a good and enjoyable wine...but nothing really pushing the needle if I'm being honest. Most around the table declared it Bordeaux. None called Southern Rhône. Everyone was surprised when it was revealed, including me, which expected more considering my usually appreciation for this producer's CdP (known to have an unusually large amount of Mourvedre in the blend). The interesting thing was the French barrique call as I understand this wine to be aged exclusively in concrete...?? Day 2, the fruit was softer and slightly more muted. The stewed characteristics were enhanced and the structure seemed to be receding. Perhaps too early to tell where this is headed...or perhaps this just isn't the strongest vintage from Mas de Boislauzon. I have two more so we will see how some cellar time treats these. — 3 years ago

Tom, Ira and 9 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Nice note. I’ve been drinking less and less Southern Rhône these day because I’m finding more stewed and/or blocky wines. Global warming? Winemaking trend toward overripeness and/or overextraction? Both?
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Tom Casagrande same. There are less than a handful of Southern Rhône producers I buy every year anymore and the list is getting smaller. It’s a tough situation for growers.