Food %26 Music
Silver Oak
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997
#AgedWineTuesday
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish/brick rim.
Very complex nose with cedar, black fruits and vegetables.
Dry on the palate and fruit forward with great complexity.
Showing blackberries, black currants, plums, tobacco leaf, earth, dark coffee, chocolates, black pepper, black tea, bell pepper, Indian spices and vegetables.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This 26 year old Cabernet Sauvignon is drinking very nicely now, although might be past its prime.
Feels like an aged Left Bank Bordeaux.
Loved the nose here, but needed an hour of airtime to open up. After 3 hours of airtime, more vegetable and earth notes show up.
Robert Parker 94 points.
Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food.
A blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.
13.9% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$150. — 5 months ago
Gamble Family Vineyards
Gamble Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2022
This wine is a party animal if like me your version of party is delicious food and drink but also maybe a fun dress and the part is gonna end up being 8 hours long because the music and company you cannot part from. Went to one of those this weekend that also involved a boat but lacked the wine element. Wish I’d had this.
It’s the perfect balance of funfunfun tropical/sweet grapefruit vibes with impressively poised acidity and a bit of salinity bringing the sophistication. Juicy too. Makes you thirsty for more. Party on. — a year ago
Hand of God (Mano de Dios)
Fingerprint Series Sobremesa Vineyard Red Blend 2012
It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Dark purple /inky in color with a short reddish rim.
Very dry on the palate with medium plus acidity.
Showing black currants, dried figs, raisins, over ripen cherries, light oak, licorice, light vanilla, spices, mildew, chocolates, tobacco leaf, bitter herbs, light earth, cola and peppercorn.
Long finish with soft tannins and raspberries.
This 11 year old, Single Vineyard, Merlot blend from Argentina is still drinking nicely, although not in its peak anymore. I've been meaning to drink it for a few years, but so much wine, so little time... 😉
Showing nice complexity with an elegant mouthfeel. Feels like an older Right Bank Bordeaux. Interesting stuff.
A little off now, and lost much of the fruits, but still enjoyable especially with food.
Good right out of the bottle and did not change much with airtime. Alcohol is well integrated by now.
A small production of only 26 barrels produced.
A blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc.
14.9% alcohol by volume.
90 points.
$45. — a year ago
Château Quinault
L'Enclos St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1998
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Dark ruby in color with a wide brick rim.
The nose is simpler than I expected right out of the bottle, but beautiful once it opens up.
Medium plus in body and elegant, with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing black plums, cooked cherries, light oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, espresso, earth, light forest floor and black pepper.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This Merlot based blend from Bordeaux is drinking nicely now, and feels young, especially on the nose.
Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime. I did not decant it and left it in the bottle. I was actually worried that it will die sooner, but it still has a lot in it. Love to see that. Only after 2 hours, the nose opened up and tannins showed up.
This 26 years old is easy drinking and good by itself or with food. I had the 2010 vintage, five years ago, and I liked it better this time.
Robert Parker 94 points.
Paired nicely with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
89 points.
$100. — 3 months ago
Domaine Bessa Valley
Enira Merlot Blend 2017
Vintage 2017 | the Bulgarian domain of Stephan von Neipperg. 52 Merlot 26 Syrah 14 Petit Verdot 8 Cabernet Sauvignon | two hours decant | Sultry amarone cherries in smell, spicy taste, at first not so easy, but with food smooth | with a ovendish of pointed cabbage and minced meat — 6 months ago
Château L'Evangile
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 1997
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing currents, plums, cherries, oak, wet leaves, herbs, black pepper, tobacco leaf, earth, dark coffee and black tea.
Short finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 26 year old Merlot is still drinking very nicely. Showing a nice mouthfeel with nice complexity.
Will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 to 7 years, but will not improve from here on.
Needs an hour to open up properly, so be patient.
This was not a good vintage in Pomerol, but it held up pretty well.
Good by itself or with food.
A blend of mostly Merlot with Cabernet Franc. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months.
12.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$250. — 10 months ago
Château de Lisennes
Cuvée Tradition Bordeaux Supérieur Red Bordeaux Blend 2015
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Dark ruby in color with a wide brick/ reddish rim.
Red and blue fruits on the nose with light wood, earth, mildew and forest floor.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with cherries, plums, raspberries, herbs, coffee, oak, black tea, forest floor, spices, earth, light vegetables and tobacco leaf.
Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 8-year-old Merlot based blend from Bordeaux is drinking much older than its age. Showing nice complexity with a soft mouthfeel.
Elegant and easy drinking, even by itself. Earthy and spicy. Tangy and engaging.
Needs an hour to open up properly and show the pretty nose.
Peaking now and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.
A good food wine that I paired with cheeses and crackers.
A blend of 72% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 12 months in oak barrels.
13% alcohol by volume.
90 points
$26. — 4 months ago
Buccella
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
A great follow up to the 05 Joanin Becot which was amazing. Bordeaux and then Napa with AB Cover Ribs. The right order. Overall the 2010 Napa vintage is so much better than critics gave it young. An amazing night of friends, environment, music, food and wine. The wines were are outstanding. @ChateauIsbel — 7 months ago
Cliff Lede Vineyards
Songbook Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Annual Cliff Lede valentine's dinner in their tank room. Always a great time with wine, food, live music (plenty of pours on the wine)
WINES:
2015 FEL Brut sparkling
2021 Cliff Lede Marla Blanc(semillon)
2020 FEL Pinot Noir
2019 Cliff Lede High Fidelity cab
2009 Cliff Lede Songbook cab
2019 Cliff Lede Songbook cab
DINNER:
Appetizers of Kumamoto oysters, Maine lobster arancini, goat cheese coquette.
Beet Salad
Potato gnocchi with truffle
Prime beef tenderloin with truffles
Chocolate framboise and red velvet cake — a year ago
"Odedi"
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Light nose of cherries, red plums, raspberries, earth, light oak, tobacco and coffee.
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.
Dry on the palate with currants, light wood, spices, coffee, black plums, cherries, earth, black pepper, tobacco leaf, herbs and light vegetables.
Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This young Rioja Reserva is easy drinking and good with food. Showing a soft mouthfeel with nice complexity.
Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.
I paired it with a dry aged steak in blue cheese.
A blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 7% Mazuelo and 3% Graciano. Aged in French oak barrels for 26 months.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
90 points.
$50. — 2 months ago