David Kline

9.7

Gorgeous floral bouquet features red roses, lilac, lavender and cherry blossoms above ripe red and black cherry, ripe raspberry, grilled watermelon and morels. Tart cherry palate dials into the silky groove suddenly, hinting at rose water, but resembling raspberries in a forest rain. Lightest cinnamon bark adds warmth, violet and hibiscus bites emerge, and the whole flaunts a long and sensuous length of shimmer that mystifies.

#musigny #musignygrandcru #jacquesfredericmugnier #appelationmusignygrandcrucontrolée #bourgogne #burgundy #bourgognerouge #2006 #2006burgundy #PropriétaireauChateaudeChambolleMusigny — 3 years ago

Rebecca Burgess

9.1

Verry nize. Started a little sweet but quickly settled into that perfect Prosecco groove. Creamy bubbles and waaay too easy to sip. — 5 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

Having 3 of these I figured it would be a nice time to see how this one is doing. Well, I think that this one has probably reached the very front of the optimal drinking window. Took about 15 minutes of air. The nose was red fruit, mint, red licorice, raspberry and oak. Lossa lossa oak. Entry is a little acidic, minty, flinty, red fruit dominant. Middle of this wine tones down a bit and really finds a nice little groove. Finishes with a lot of astringency (say what?) for a 2011. Structure is what. Quality is what. And I think this one has the power to go another 15 years and be juuuust fine, which I'm not sure I could say about many 2011's from the Napa floor. Drink with 30 minute decant or hold for another 5-10 years. — 5 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

The Joseph Phelps party. The 09 Backus from magnum.

Nose reveals, bright dark & mid red, candied/floral fruits of; blackberries, loads of dark cherries & strawberries, black plum, dry cranberries and hints of blue fruit on the high nose. Black licorice, dark fruit roll ups, bright red cola, dry crushed limestone minerals, Provence herbs, dark, rich, turned earth, light; fresh tobacco, leather volcanic minerals, alluvial soils with bright dark, red and blue florals.

The body is full with soft, sweet, round tannins. The tension, structure, length and balance are just hitting their groove. Bright dark & mid red, candied/floral fruits of; blackberries, loads of dark cherries & strawberries, black plum, dry cranberries, hints of blue fruit on the high nose. Black licorice, dark fruit roll ups, bright red cola, dry crushed limestone minerals, Provence herbs, dark, rich, turned earth, light; fresh tobacco, leather, cedar, volcanic minerals & alluvial soils. Bright dark, red, blue florals with violets and lavender. The acidity is round and nicely executed. The long finish is ripe, ruby, well balanced with a sort sham rag texture on the long set. — 5 years ago

John Murphy

9.2

Silky smooth! Definitely the groove that makes your booty move. Nice. — 3 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Dark reddish tawny. Herbal nose. Heavy tobacco leaf, black cherries, cedar, smoke, plums, and cut Cuban cigar. Angular in the mouth. Needed five hours to find its groove. Big and powerful wine, paired perfectly with smoked prime rib. — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Some IGT wine to pair with red meat sauce (Sunday Gravy) on Penne from Lilian’s Kitchen for my birthday entree.

The 2011 Oreno is a blend of; Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.

The nose as I poured it from the decanter had bright, brilliant, blue & purple florals. Ripe, lush & ruby; blackberries, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, poached/baked strawberries, boysenberries & blueberry notes. Incense, savory meats, dark, fruit cola, anise to black licorice, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, limestone, dark, rich, black earth, dry crushed rocks, soft dry herbs, saddle-wood, not quite dry tobacco, leather, hints of graphite with dark, red, blue, purple flowers laid in lavender.

The body is, rich, round & just hits full. Still a shade early on opening. Needs another 3 years in bottle. The tannins are nicely round but, still show chewy tarriness...45-50% resolved. The tension, structure, length and balance are just hitting their groove. Ripe, lush, ruby & floral fruits of; blackberries, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, poached/baked strawberries, boysenberries, raspberries as it opens (1-2 hours) & blueberry notes. Incense, savory meats, dark, fruit cola, anise to black licorice, dark spice with just touch heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & hints of vanillin, limestone, just moist clay & top soil, dark, rich, black earth, dry crushed rocks, soft dry herbs, saddle-wood, not quite dry tobacco, dry underbrush, leather, hints of graphite with dark, red, blue, purple flowers laid in lavender. The acidity is round just about right. The delicious ruby fruit finish is, nicely polished, well balanced, a little flatter than I like and fall into gentle spice & round, slightly tarry & dusty tannins as it takes hold on the long set.

Photos of; Tenuta Sette Ponti, Merlot fruit nearly ready to be harvested, Owner- Antonio Moretti, who took over the estate from his father in the late 1990's. As well, was charged with fraud a few years back but, believe he survived those charges & Tenuta Sette Ponti vines. — 5 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.3

Another mystery wine I don’t recall buying..glad I did. So hard not to groove on aged Sangiovese from a very good producer. Soft, silken, smooth and remarkably dark and concentrated at age 16. Home-made pasta, meatballs, and sausage and playoff football... doesn’t get much better. The wine displays beautiful classic notes of berry, sun-dried tomato, and some dirt. But marvelous match with the acidity of tomato sauce with pork and basil. Used to always tell buyers to stick to the two “f’s” when it comes to everyday reliable Tuscan red. — 4 years ago

Mike R

9.4

Just arriving into its drinking window but frankly five more years to be able to enjoy without a decant - I think John Allan has his groove back via help and o fir one loving it - smiling brightly — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

What a nose! From the straight pour into the decanter to later in the glass; ripe, slightly stewed/baked; mulberries, boysenberries, black plum, blackberries, blackberries raspberries, blueberries, dark cherries, incense, ambers, wood char, leather, saddle-wood, black turned earth, slightly, moist clay, dry top soil, beautiful, soft, smooth, dark spice, fresh tobacco with a little ash, dry stones, some licorice & dark berry cola, steeped fruit teas, a little Provence herbs, vanillin, understated; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg framed in fresh & withering; dark, blue, some red & purple flowers with interlaced violets.

The palate has excellent delineation. It’s seamless wire to wire. The body is rich, thick, lush & full. The tannins are round & nicely softened but, still have chewy, tarry, tannins. It’s a good look in on the 2009 but, will still ascend for another 7-8 years before peaking, hold a few years and start its slow decent over the next 8-10 years. Properly stored of course! The structure & tension still need to soften but, the length & balance have found their groove. Ripe, slightly stewed/baked, beautifully floral and a touch candied; mulberries, boysenberries, black plum, blackberries, blackberries raspberries, blueberries, dark cherries, haunting raspberries with strawberries pulling up the rear. Incense, ambers, wood char, dark expresso used grounds, sweet tarriness, leather, saddle-wood, black turned earth, slightly, moist clay, dry top soil, beautiful, soft, smooth, more pronounced dark spice than the nose with good, mid intensity palate heat, black pepper, shades of potpourri, fresh tobacco with a little ash, dry stones, some licorice & dark berry cola, steeped fruit teas, a little Provence herbs, mocha powder, vanillin, understated; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg framed in fresh & withering; dark, blue, some red & purple flowers with interlaced violets. The acidity is round & phat and holds the slightly elevated alcohol in check. The long finish is, rich, ripe, lush, smartly polished, well knitted balance of fruit & earth, sliding into dusty, yet velvety tannins with dark spice on the long set.

Photos of; Stag’s Leap Winery’s tasting room & Estate vines, Lake Fay and inside tasting bar/room. — 5 years ago