Happy Hour

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2012

Drinking this way too early, but it sounded good and it is good. Chewy, tart cherry juice, cedar, silky tannins. Happy Friday, friends!
Listening to Black Eyed Peas
— 2 days ago

Dawn, David and 11 others liked this
Dave

Dave

No sir! You have Caesar stone and I have cheap laminate 😅 ✌️ @Somm David T
Somm David T

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Well…we both enjoy this producer w/ nice age. Cheers! 🍷
Dave

Dave

Indeed! Cheers to you 😊 @Somm David T

Spottswoode

Family Estate Grown St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

2020 vintage. With @Beth Novak . Decanted and tasted after one hour. Medium body. Nose practically leapt out of the glass with plenty to discuss. Flavors a bit more subdued but definitely present. Just enough back-end, tannic presence to hold court. This should be absolute dynamite in 3-5 years. Initial visit a bit over two years ago (9.5) and was more explosive but will cede that to the last impression getting more air time. Said then that this was my fave since the 1991 vintage and sticking by that. 1.2.26. — a month ago

Ted, David and 21 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2018

Missed trying one last year, definitely opening up earlier than my previous bottles. 2 hour decant with a NY Strip. — 2 months ago

Somm, Shay and 30 others liked this
Somm David T

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I do love the style of the 18 Napa Cabernet vintage.
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

@Rob Brobst III It is a pedigree estate & winemaking team. Further for me, the style of the vintage w/ really with well made Napa Cabernets are dead center of my style wheelhouse. Round & elegant. Cheers! 🍷

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Wow. Wow and wow. This was amazing! It’s definitely still early on. I let this decant for 2.5 hours before the first sip. It was revved and ready by then and was stellar by hour 4+. Rich and deep but silky smooth. Currants and an earthy/smokey quality. Loved this! — 8 days ago

Tom, Jeroen and 18 others liked this

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 2015

Happy New Year!

94 points
— a month ago

Andrew, Bob and 13 others liked this
Ron R

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Right back at ya 🎈

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

It was more subdued than I expected. I tend to like the Merlot heavy Bordeaux but this one was still a bit muted. Perhaps it needs more time even though it’s well in its recommended range. Dark and heavy. Solid but left me underwhelmed. Decanted. Better after an hour. — a month ago

Robin, Tom and 18 others liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

1990 vintage. Last tasted 11.19.25 (9.6)…yes…two days ago! Someone’s gotta do the dirty work. Comparable experiences with the cork, fill and flavors from the 11.19.25 visit. Not decanted. Tasted one and two hours after opening. After one hour open (not decanted)...a 9.4. two hours...a 9.5. Perhaps decanted, surmise it could have touched 9.6 but we'll never know. This specimen slightly more advanced but still ridiculously phenomenal. 11.21.25. — 3 months ago

Tom, Somm and 15 others liked this

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2006

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2006 pours a deep straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of slightly bruised apple, white flowers, lemon curd, brioche, slivered almond and a mix of chalk and limestone minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and creamy. I wish I could drink this all night long. Alas, only a single 750mL and not a Methuselah. Drinking well now and will only be taking on more secondary and tertiary character. But if that’s your thing (and I can get down), this will deliver well past 2036. — 19 days ago

Tom, Zach and 15 others liked this
Ely Cohn

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@Jay Kline I’ve been saving this same bottle same vintage. Great review!
Jay Kline

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Thanks @Ely Cohn If your bottle is anything like this one, I think you’ll be in for a treat!

Harlan Estate

Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend 2003

One hour decant with steak dinner. Had it with the 89 Haut Brion. Whilst this was good it was soundly beaten by the HB — a month ago

Tom and "Odedi" liked this
"Odedi"

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Oh yeah

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

I purchased this wine for $60 as a Bordeaux future offering from MacArthur’s in DC, with the hope of opening it when my younger son—born in 1982—was old enough to share it. We finally did just that this Thanksgiving, celebrating both him and the bottle.
The fill was mid-shoulder, but the family was together and it felt like the right moment. I gave it about an hour in the decanter before dinner. Early on it showed blackberries, a touch of veg, lead pencil, cedar notes and a smooth elegant finish. As the evening went on it opened a bit more, gaining some depth.
A few hours later I revisited the small amount I’d saved and found it had dried out some—but that was expected for a 43-year-old First Growth. Ultimately, it was a wonderful experience and a memorable way to share both the wine and the moment with family.
— 2 months ago

Jay and Joel liked this
Jay Kline

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Fantastic and great story. Thanks for sharing!