Family Time Is Hard

Giacomo Conterno

Riserva Monfortino Barolo Nebbiolo 2000

Medium ruby , slightly lighter rim , touch of terracotta . This is really quite complex , with more development than the others. Slightly more spiced cherry , touch of smoky tea , high toned with rose , truffle and leather . Each time you return to the glass you can find something new . On the palate this is very fresh , some earthy sous bois , red cherry , porcini , elegant and refined , very long length. Spiced cherry , earthy , truffled finish . Polished but noticeable tannins , fresh acidity , perfectly balanced , alcohol completely integrated . Really refined and elegant, enormously complex and thrilling to drink . Just starting to drink quite well with time and will probably continue at this level if not improve over the next 10-15 years — 22 days ago

Scott@Mister, Tom and 6 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

What a treat!

Harlan Estate

Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend 2007

Somm David T
9.9

Perhaps, the best 2007 Napa Cabernet I’ve had or can remember. From the first sip, it was a shut the front door moment.

The nose showed; dark cassis, blackberries, black, raspberries, dark cherries, and both plums. Dark chocolate to pudding, flowers that were dark, red, blue, wrapped in violets, caramel, softly, layered baking, spices, soft, cedar, leather, tobacco with ash, dark, cola and a circling sense of baking powder.

The palate showed me just how beautiful Cabernet fruits can be. A true example of perfectly ripe fruit, picked at exactly the right time. Beautiful, gorgeous blackberries, black, raspberries, dark cherries and black plums. An excellent barrel toast that created perfectly soft and layered baking spices, clays, wood shavings, leather cigar box with ash, perfect tannins that are M+ and sticky, soft, dry herbs, hints of mint, steep tea, withering, red blue florals w/violets, perfect acidity, excellently, knitted, softly structured, tension, balance for days and an amazing finish that goes on endlessly.

If there is one thing I learned tasting 6 Harlan’s is Bob Levy is one of the very best, if not thee best at managing Cabernet/Bordeaux blend tannins.

Tasting with Winemaker- Bob Levy & Managing Director-Don Weaver.
— a month ago

Jay, Paul and 7 others liked this

Chateau Montelena

The Montelena Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

2021 vintage. Sampled via Coravin. Medium body. There are a lot of things I could say about this but what's the saying? If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all? Yeah. That. Will proffer that the 1991 vintage of this wine is my all time, fave Napa Cab which includes having tasted thousands of Napa Cabs back to the 1968 vintage. Things change. Styles change. Get off my lawn. — 2 months ago

Neil, Ted and 12 others liked this
Neil Valenzuela

Neil Valenzuela

Solid ❤️
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego, the 1991 was outstanding!!

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2017

Deep cherry red. Oak+ vanilla clove nutmeg. Black currant++ blueberry black cherry and berry. Leather+ meat. Elegancy more than complexity. It changed a lot over time. 30 min the started feeling the value of this. Compared with the last one, it has big potential, though it has already been ready to drink, since it is 2017 vintage. Fruitiness M Sweetness M+ Acidity M Silky Tannin M+ Bitterness M Body M++ Finish M++ 13.5% Château Mouton Rothschild Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 17 @110000, AD, 250226 — 3 months ago

Sagee and "Odedi" liked this

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Slight younger looking , a little more ruby both in the core but still mostly garnet rim.
This is high toned slightly redder fruit , less dense than the preceding 3 . Cherry , red plum , cedar, seaspray . On the palate this is again quite elegant and refined , cherry , red plum some cassis , red plum , cigar box . Not overly weighty with perhaps a little less noticeable tannin than some of the others . Long vibrant , spicy grafite tinged finish . Very elegant , reserved and I suppose very Lafite , this grows during the experience but was actually voted in last place by the group , that somehow doesn’t surprise me, at the end of the day one wine did have to come last, and this was relatively discreet only showing its real breeding and class with time in the glass. Needs time , but is very promising , probably another 5-10 years (as with almost all the others ) , will last well a further 20 if not more . The elegance and style of this wine is fantastic , this really grows in the glass . Had to be Lafite for me . Bronze medal here .
— a month ago

Jan, "Odedi" and 4 others liked this

Enderle & Moll

Baden Spätburgunder Rosé 2021

2021. Courtesy of @Pinotman /// Andreas. Disturbed, lake bottom brown color. Slightly muddy and tart nose. Medium body. Not my cup of tea but there is an immaculate, front palate flavor moment of perfectly aged red Burg/Pinot Noir of, say, 15-18 years. Everything else is held in check during that time. That safe harbor in the storm is my take away. 4.1.26. — 2 months ago

Somm, Andrew and 9 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

I do not agree Burgundy priced itself essentially out of the market for normal and especially for young people. CA Pinot’s have done the same and are often beyond > 14%. That really just leaves Oregon and German or for that matter Swiss Pinots in a not totally over the top price range. Over there they are essentially 1/2 the price. Here they are heavily tariffed.
9.2
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

This particular wine was a Rose was 20$. I have not seen in the last 15 years an American Rose which can match Enderle & Moll. In fact i rarely see any Rose Pinot made - stateside - why? Because it simply does not make business sense if you can charge 50$ for the reds coming from the same grapes.
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

I did not mention rose’ exclusively. I did say Pinot’s. I also mentioned more than one area besides the states that are better suited for Pinot Noir. I believe I mentioned at least three areas w/ an etc. on that subject. As to your point on value, if you google Pinot Noir roses, you will find plenty of them under or close enough to $20 stateside. My only other point, was on sweetness. This one is sweeter than I prefer as would many of the others you may find at a $20 price point. I prefer one’s that are dry. Often, from Spain out of Tempranillo. But I am not here to debate or argue wine opinions. I was only leaving an agreeing comment on Scott’s post. Whether his reasons and mine are similar for not necessarily gravitating to this one, it is just a comment. I’d like to think that is still ok here. Cheers!

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Tasted blind . Médium deep ruby with medium wide ruby rim , slightly younger looking than the rest. Quite spicy dark fruits , touch of pain grillé , mineral , grafite , cedar . On the palate this has a lot of grip and density , but also great balance . Spicy dark fruits , touch of grafite and earthy cedar . Quite rounded mouthfeel. Balanced acidity and grippy ripe tannins . Long balanced finish . Overall this showed well , with a roundness and balance , lovely fruit still , really quite open and fresh . With more time this show a floral character with lovely precision . Of all the wines this though very young is probably showing the most today . Even better in 5-10 years and will last well a further 10-20. Had this down as Haut Brion . This took the silver medal . 96
— a month ago

Tom, Somm and 2 others liked this
Somm David T

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Nice notes on what must have been a splendid night of 05 1st Growths.

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Medium deep ruby with a thin garnet ruby rim . Quite closed with some grafite, hickory , cedar and crème de cassis , dark cherry , red plum , quite dense but with quite a classic , dusty profile . On the palate this is again quite classic , with crème de cassis , cedar , blackberry, plum . Good acidity and fine , gritty tannin , well balanced . Pretty good length with a saline, grafite touch. With time
in the glass this is drinking quite well , still showing dark fruit and youthfulness but at the same time quite classic and serious. Probably will improve over the next 5 years or so and last well a further 5-10
— 2 months ago

Martin, Serge and 17 others liked this

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

I will start by saying that Hillside Select is a great wine and suggesting otherwise sounds rediculous. That said I was hoping for more punch here and I think the 13yrs just tamed it more than I expected. It just seemed a bit muted to me and while I gave it some time/air it didn’t really open up that much more. — 2 months ago

Bob, Dave and 10 others liked this

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 1994

Hard to resist opening as this is in a perfect spot with its red & black fruits, sweet tobacco, licorice, spice box, menthol, leather & floral notes — 2 months ago

Jeroen, Juan and 10 others liked this
John Howard

John Howard Influencer Badge

@Ron Siegel one of our fave bdx’s. Will have to try the older vintages sometime.