Fair Winds

Maybach Family Vineyards

Materium Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Others liked this better but I’m saying it had a slight raisin aftertaste to me which has shown up recently. I’m thinking to drink these quick but to be fair they have not been in a cold cellar so expected a faster age. — a year ago

Severn, Jonathan and 5 others liked this

Place of Changing Winds

Colbinabbin Vineyard Syrah

Lovely poise and balance for a Heathcote Shiraz and very much in the Syrah style. Great now and will reward another 5+ years in in a good cellar. — 4 years ago

Château La Vieille Cure

Fronsac Red Bordeaux Blend 2015

Did a blind taste off with this and a very high end Napa Cab. Two of six chose this one. Fair enough. It is explosive, complex and delicious. Dark fruit, leather. All very distinctly Bordeaux. Yum. — 4 years ago

Brandon, Anthony and 30 others liked this

Mount Veeder Winery

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1999

Cork was soaked through and spongy on this 22-year old magnum, but the wine was still drinking nicely, with a fair amount of fruit still evident and balanced well with still active acidity, floral notes, secondary earthy notes, and well integrated tannins. — 3 years ago

Milissa liked this

Viña Real (CVNE)

Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2012

2020 fall. Similar to other recent bottles. Really nice wine for a fair price - I’ll be looking for some more — 4 years ago

Dominus Estate

Napanook Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

David T
9.1

If you didn’t know already, this is the second wine of Dominus.

The nose reveals; sour dark cherries, blackberries, baked strawberries, sugar style plum, black raspberries, sweetened, lean pomegranate, candied raspberries, blue fruits, vanilla, light clove, anise, steeped, black fruit tea, graphite, dark, rich, turned earth,sweet tarriness, limestone, alluvial soils, dry top soil, leathery notes, cedar, moist crushed rocks, dash of dry herbs with withering, dark, red flowers and old violets.

The body is medium full. The tannins nicely resolved but, still show a fair amount of firmness. The structure, tension, length and balance have hit a high point. Sour dark cherries, blackberries, baked strawberries, sugar style plum, black raspberries, sweetened, lean pomegranate, candied raspberries, a fair amount of blue fruits that hide on the nose, vanilla, light clove, dark spice anise, steeped, black fruit tea, graphite, dark, rich, turned earth, dark tar, limestone, alluvial soils, dry top soil, underbrush, tough shoe leather, cedar, moist crushed rocks, gritty volcanic minerals, dry clay, dash of dry herbs with fresh & withering, dark, red flowers and bright violets. The acidity is vibrant and fresh. The long finish starts ripe, bright candied fruits and slides into slightly dominate, dry earthiness and persists several minutes.

I would say this is still a hold for another 3-5 years. The 05 could show another point or two then. Just missing 92 now.

Photos of; Dominus and their estate vines, wine making legend, Christian Moueix, (been blessed to sit with him through a couple of dinners), their barrel room and the reverse view as you approach the winery.
— 5 years ago

Paul, Julie and 21 others liked this
Paul T HB

Paul T HB

Opened too soon,
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Nice write-up, David.

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2016

Not really fair to rate this now, so damned primary. Dark cassis and coarse cocoa, dark red fruit. Even after an hour not totally sorted but the quality burst through at the back of the palate where it lingered for >a minute. Would love to see this in 10 years. — 3 years ago

Severn, Daniel and 30 others liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2004

Dark ruby with a fair amount of bricking, sour cherry and cedar, some oak, high acid, lots of life left 🔥🤩 — 4 years ago

Shay, Paul and 14 others liked this

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

David T
9.2

It is really not fair to have their 06 after their 09. It’s good but, all you can think about is the 09.

The nose reveals, slightly stewed to cooked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb and bright cherries. Steeped tea, limestone, licorice, dry crushed rocks, cedar, dry tobacco, soft, used leather, dry crushed rocks, dry stones, underbrush, dry stems, dry top soil, understated baking spices, light graphite, dry herbs, light, dark spice and withering red & dark florals.

The body is lean, not quite full. The structure, tension, length and and balance are just ok to good and reveal the shortcomings of the 06 vintage. slightly stewed to cooked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb and bright cherries. Steeped tea, limestone, licorice, dry crushed rocks, cedar, dry tobacco, soft, used leather, dry crushed rocks, dry stones, underbrush, dry stems, dry top soil, understated baking spices, some v/a or bandaid, light graphite, dry herbs, light, dark spice with some heat across the palate and withering red & dark florals. The finish is nice and elegant but, lack the fullness and beauty of most really good vintage Palmer’s. It finishes with nice persistent dark spice on the long set. Just give me another taste of the 09. 😜

Photos of; Chateau Palmer, their barrel room, a photo of their vineyard soil structure-if you didn’t know where all that earthiness comes from, a picture is worth a thousand words and their tasting room.
— 5 years ago

Eric, Sharon and 18 others liked this