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Quintessa

Rutherford Red Blend 2018

Wicked inky purple out of the bottle. Beautiful nose of violets. Loaded with blue and black fruits. I'm happy I found this at a tasting. — 20 days ago

KCG, Shay and 6 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

Delectable Wine
9.3

The bottle of 2014 Pontet-Canet showed better than the previous one at the 10-Year-On tasting in London. This offers much more restraint on the nose. It's quite precise, with greater mineralité seeping through the black cherry and cassis fruit. The palate has a sorbet-fresh entry, fine tannins and a silky sheen. The oak is fully subsumed after a decade, plus there is a little more depth on the finish compared to previous showings. This is a fine example of the vintage, and bottles should drink well over the next 12 to 15 years. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the Pontet-Canet dinner in Washington DC. (Neal Martin, Vinous, June 2024)
— 5 months ago

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

Deep, dark blackberry fruit with menthol, graphite, spice, cedar, mineral & tobacco notes. This seems to be fully mature that will hold for many years — 9 months ago

Ira, Jan and 14 others liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2002

Finished our tondonia mini-vertical with this gorgeous fully mature ‘02 — 2 years ago

Willem, Peter and 12 others liked this

Beringer Vineyards

Private Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1988

Jeremy Shanker
9.3

Totally underrated producer. Love old private reserve, still fresh and fully alive. — 2 months ago

Joshua, Juan and 11 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1971

1971 vintage. Top shoulder fill. Used a Durand but fully saturated cork still required some clean up on aisle 7. Decanted and tasted after 5 minutes. Threw much much less sediment than expected. Decent color with a little browning. Tertiary nose gave way to similar flavors with it being very slightly brickish. In a holding steady phase where there is no shining light to chase after-everything is consolidated and filed away so you're tasting the interpretations of history. Instructive. 6.13.24. — 5 months ago

Lyle, "Odedi" and 14 others liked this

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

Hermitage Syrah 2008

Excellent 08. Chave and Allemand really nailed the difficult vintage in Northern Rhône, and 2008 Hermitage is showing beautifully tonight, fresh, elegant and detailed with aromas of juicy red berry fruit, bacon, roasted herbs and smoky minerals. While not an exceptionally deep and concentrated rendition in 2008, it’s really a considerable success, and it’s fully open, giving and ready to drink. — 6 months ago

Russ, Jan and 14 others liked this
Neil Valenzuela

Neil Valenzuela

Wow!! 🤩

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

1990 vintage. Neck base fill. Cork fairly saturated. Durand used. Appropriate sediment. Opened but not decanted. Tasted after one hour. Light-medium body. This was fully integrated and harmonious. Can’t imagine this vintage tasting better as this was a great specimen. Finish just glided along like a sail craft on a glassy day. Can hold at this level for another 5-6 years easy. One of the best Lafite efforts I’ve ever enjoyed. 8.16.24. — 3 months ago

Jan, Ira and 21 others liked this

A. Rafanelli

Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over period that lasted a few hours. The 2018 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. One the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of ripe, tart black and red fruits: blackberries, black currants, tobacco, some bell pepper, herbs and rich baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and rich but has some great zip thanks to the acid. Easily the most rounded of the three and, in true Rafanelli fashion, I don’t find the oak to be fully integrated at this point in its evolution. But it will. Better after 2028 through 2048+. — 6 months ago

Aaron, Juan and 6 others liked this

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

A 2012 from Alexander Valley. Fully integrated tannins. Balanced and lush. Delicious! — a year ago

Severn, LM and 1 other liked this