Green Forest
Cloudy Bay
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Another solid vintage of this NZ Sauvy B. Bright golden color with green highlights. Aromas of citrus, fresh herbs/grass and tropical fruit. Flavors of grapefruit, lime,passion fruit with a mix mineral/wet stone based backbone. Distinct saline note on the long and crisp and clean finish. Bright acidity and medium body and alcohol (13.5%). Solid freshness and precision. Enjoyed with Asian food at Youyu in the Hard Rock in Atlantic City. — a month ago
Château Pontet-Canet
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1996
I’ve had a number of PC 96’s over time, none quite this good. The fill line & cork perfect. Very little sediment. Some bottle neck tannin burn. For me, Pontet Canet didn’t really hit its consistent, quality stride until 2005. Doesn’t mean they didn’t make a few beauties before then. Pontet Canet is proof that the 1855 Bordeaux Classification needs to be redone. Unlikely it will in my lifetime.
This 96 maybe just short of its precipice. Stylistically a little better than 94.
The nose reminds me of everything I love about older Bordeaux. Dark core of currants/cassis. Ripe, floral; blackberries, dark, baked cherries, sweet, black plum, poached/strawberries, raspberries, hints of baked rhubarb & blueberries, mixed berry cola. Sweet forest floor w/ leaves, sweet mushrooms, sweet led pencil shavings, steeped tea w/ hints of fruit, charcoal, dry tobacco/leather, some dry herbs, withering dark, red flowers, red roses with violets.
The palate is also everything I love about older Bordeaux. Dark core of currants/cassis. Ripe, floral; blackberries, dark, baked cherries, sweet, black plum, poached/strawberries, raspberries, hints of baked rhubarb & blueberries, mixed berry cola/red vines. Everything I understood the first time standing in the estate vineyard of Pichon Baron. Tasting limestone, dry river stone, dark, rich soils with dry leaves, dry stems. In fact, I’ve tasted vineyards soils everywhere I have been in every world wine region. Basically, everywhere in the wine world that has reliance. Many multiple times. Sweet graphite, steeped tea w/ hints of dark fruit, understated, layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanillin, dark cocoa, dark exotic spices, some anise to black licorice, charcoal, dry tobacco with ash/leather, some dry herbs-safe/bay leaf, limestone, dry river stone, dry crushed rocks, dark, rich, earth with dry leaves, dry topsoils, dry stems, withering/dry dark, red flowers, red roses with violets, excellent, rainfall acidity with an extremely well balanced/structured/tensioned, great length and an elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls nicely on dry earth and dark spices.
A very, very slow roll with my Ribcap. Definitely better with the steak than on its own.
This bottle tells me this 96 has plenty of good drinking ahead, another 8-10 yrs+.
ABV is 13%. Disappointing it ever changed. — 3 months ago
Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
La Forest Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay 2010
15 year old Chablis? Yes please. I was shocked at how fresh this still was. Only a hint of honey and a slightly darker color than I would have expected the current vintage to be. With that said the honey was there with some soft apple and minerality for days. This was a great wine with dinner. — 4 months ago
Taittinger
Comtes de Champagne Grand Crus Brut Blanc de Blancs 2007
Just really starting to hit its perfect drink window. Really excellent Blanc de Blanc. Green apple, lime pulp with zest, amazing freshness & acidity. — 16 days ago
Ridge Vineyards
Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005
1 hour decant(decent chunky sediment). A striking medium purplish garnet color with bricking. On the nose: Inviting notes of dried red fruit, currants, pencil shavings, floral, stewed meat, milk chocolate. Taste: fully mature, savory, silky wine with dried plum, ground coffee, earth, minerals, tobacco, and a sour cherry/green bell pepper/graphite long finish. YUM!! Drink em if you got em. — a month ago
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego
2024 vintage. Old-school, Oregon pinot stylings that just hit differently. Medium body. Starts off as a lowly workhorse, then intensifies into the thoroughbred this winery is perfectly capable of raising. Picked up two cases at a resto cost sub-$25 a btl. 4.1.26. — 12 days ago