Friend & Farmer
Schramsberg Vineyards
J. Schram Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2012
Château Musar
Hochar Père & Fils Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2002
20 years old and absolutely perfect. Complex knows of every red and black fruit, some red clay and an earthy, mushroomy umami. Shared with the friend I bought it from. Well worth the wait — 4 years ago
Louis Roederer
Cristal Brut Champagne 1996
Pop n pour - a treat from a friend before we head out. My first experience with this vintage. Nice mousse and color. Notes of toast and bread yeast, some citrus and stone. Not as vibrant as an 02 I last had, which is not surprising. And not as energetic as other 96 vintages I’ve had in the last year. Am told this was bought in release and stored in perfect conditions. Supports a premise that Cristal might need to be drunk within 20 years of the vintage. — 5 years ago
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1967
Decanted and really opened up in little more than half an hour. 54 years and still has vitality. There’s still some fruit but it is mixed with subtle acidity and soft tannins. A delight to drink and share with friends. Our friend was given the wine and wanted to share it. We all were quite happy.👍🍷🍷 — 5 years ago
Beaulieu Vineyard
Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
The George De Latour always delivers an exceptional glass of wine! The last bottle we had was in 2012 ( a gift from our good friend Charlie) after a 60 day cleanse and then as now it delivers that special quality we all want from a glass of wine. PERFECT! Anniversary Trip to Palm Springs! — 6 years ago
Friend & Farmer
Tempranillo
Digging this organic Tempranillo — 7 years ago
Château Pichon-Longueville Baron
Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2008
Delicious wine from a generous friend, Dr Joe. Juicy red fruit holding up very well with years to come! Herbaceous notes underlie foresty flavors underly cassis and developed red berries. — 3 years ago
Bingham Family Vineyards
Dirt Farmer Dry Red Blend 2017
Visited their tasting room in Texas last August and enjoyed their wines. Signed up for their wine club. First shipment wasn’t as impressive as what we had at the tasting room. Second shipment arrived and trying this wine and this is nice. Interesting blend: Tempranillo, Merlot, Carignan, Petit Verdot & Cabernet Sauvignon. — 4 years ago
Austin Hope
Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Dom Pérignon
Brut Champagne Blend 2008
Great producer and a great vintage. Why are you looking here for notes? Yes it is spectacular. What more is there to say? What a wonderful treat and gift from our friend Rick. An absolute surprise waiting for our arrival. The perfect beginning to a romantic birthday celebration for Elizabeth!! 🥂🎉🎂 — 6 years ago
Rockford
Frugal Farmer Barrosa Valley Grenache Blend 2022
A beautiful wine. Shared with friends and some fine cheeses — 3 years ago
Château Lafite Rothschild
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1995
A lovely bottle of classic Lafite Rothschild. Ordered with old friends and new at Waldhaus Sils on the fourth anniversary of my father’s death. He was biased to Cabernet Sauvignon / Left Bank Blends, and appreciated his Lafite, even if he stopped buying them as prices got out of hand. 1995 was chosen in honor of the year that I met my friend Julian, with whom I have worked at two companies across 20+ years and now count as a dear friend and peer in our industry. The bottle was in great shape, likely bought en primeur and stored in the Alpine retreat’s cellars (tour tomorrow!). Oscar, the manager and sommelier has been at the Waldhaus for 32 years, so it was purchased in his early days. The tannins were very well integrated, with some dark fruits, delicious tobacco and cedar, and a long finish. — 3 years ago
Bodegas Faustino
Gran Reserva Faustino I Rioja Tempranillo Blend 1981
Slow ox for a few hours to come alive and wow, so alive and beautiful, my sommelier friend who got it blind guessed rhone 00s grenache from better producer, these old riojas are so often a steal 🔥🎺 — 4 years ago
Jean Foillard
Côte du Py Morgon Gamay 2011
This bottle was a lovely gift from our friend Tim who visited Omaha this past Spring. Our only instructions were to enjoy it together with food; challenge accepted! While I have experienced many wines produced by Foillard, this was my first with his “Cote du Py”. The wine pours a deep ruby color; slightly hazy in the glass. On the nose, at least initially, there are signs of some Brett giving a barnyard characteristic but that sort of blows off (or at least becomes less obvious) with cherries, earth, blackened poblano, underripe plum, and purple Sweet Tarts taking a more central role. On the palate, it’s mostly dark cherry and blackberries showing very little in the way of evolution. Medium+ acid, medium- tannin. The finish was super long. I was really impressed how young this wine was coming across; hardly an indication of anything that would indicate ten years of age. Yet more proof that Beaujolais can cellar quite gracefully. We loved how this paired with grilled rack of lamb and a light salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, garbanzo beans, mozzarella and prosciutto. Grazie Tim! — 5 years ago
Château Lagrange
Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2014
I always get cedar from St Julien, so that old familiar friend reappears in this 2014. Silky blackberry and cassis slip through an edge of muscly earth and powerful tannins. Virginia pipe tobacco and graphite. Wicked.
Decanted for 5 hours but id go way longer if you can. 24 would be great. — 6 years ago
David Hale Smith
Lucky to sit with a friend who bright two bottles of this beauty to share at Bordeaux Fest Near perfection from a magnificent special bottle. The year the wall came down with label art that looks to the future. Believe the hype. — 4 months ago