David Kline

9.6

Jumping spider eye bubbles mass in a parabola foam while smaller bubble sheens fill the bursting absences, until the whole becomes an espresso foam, and equally oiled. Unction lacings lean Hebraic but ultimately are the dream fonts writ by the hand of G-d. Mene Mene Tekel Parsin they seem to say before fluttering away as constellations on a starling’s back. Fair warning as this is a heavy purse to carry. Six years in and taking stock. Figs, dates, treacle, raisins, carob, caramel, vanilla bean, sweet potato casserole, bacon fat, mincemeat. Rich on the palate with milk chocolate, molasses, Turkish coffee, gingerbread, candied date, and espresso-tobacco finish. Gloriously integrated and complex complexions.



#oldstockale #oldstock #2016 #northcoastbrewing #bièredegarde #agedbeer #bier #beer #birra #biere #cerveza #northcoast — 3 years ago

Jeremiah Allen

9.3

82 Nardi ⚔️
Hue is dark, modest concentration and vibrancy. Oddly, little sediment in Silvio Nardi (74 also little sediment, possibly reconditioned at some time)
Aromas were dark 🌚 This was Tar and Black licorice. Fernet like, even menthol and bitter agent, like Quinine. It was wild on the nose, not sure if heavy decanted would have produced a more interesting tasting, happy to have a clean bottle showing Brunellos structure in fulll force. Tannins were dry, definite bitter beer face present. This was one that needed food, holding down against charcuterie board. — 7 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.3

Second wine at Chops Grill aboard the Harmony of the Seas. Deep and dark ruby red with lighter edges. Given a four hour decant. Dark nose that was a bit tight to start. Some notes of dark berries, plums, cinnamon, anise and a little floral. Heavy tannins (7.5/10) and full bodied. Still tastes so young but well integrated with notes of oak, dark cherries and spices. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2032. — 8 years ago

with Sean and India

Ben Parker

9.3

The big, burly bully across the bar. Built like an oak tree, he swaggers over, insults your shirt, hits on your girlfriend, and drinks your beer. And yet, once you get to know him a little you find that beneath his heavy, oakey mannerisms he actually has some richness and depth. He collects action figures from the 80s, loves old Sophia Loren movies, and volunteers at the local animal shelter. He's not an amazing person, but he's worth getting to know a little... — 8 years ago

with Karen, Brion and 1 other

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.5

The cruise continues! Night eight aboard the Allure of the Seas and since the Special Selection has already been finished and the Opus is too young we ran downstairs to grab this beauty out of the suitcase.

Deep and dark ruby red. Deep and layered nose with tobacco, spices, vanilla, dark floral notes, black currants, cassis and a touch of scorched earth. Heavy tannins (7.5/10) with a full body. Smooth attack on the palate but very powerful with solid acidity and strong backbone. Layered with vanilla, cinnamon and dark spices with a strong dark black cherry undertone throughout. Long finish. Big powerful wine with a decade or more left in it and will only get even better with time. Drink till 2030. (95+)

We decided we needed to celebrate this vacation with my parents so we brought along the first high-end bottle of wine we purchased back in 2014 when we went into Total Wine and met Victoria. So glad we did! — 9 years ago

with Sean and India

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.4

Third night on the Allure of the Seas and back at Chops Grille. Third wine out of the case we brought on board.

Purplish ruby red. Layered and rich nose with notes of boysenberries, dark cinnamon, purple petals, more dark berries and vanilla. Solid acidity paired with heavy tannins (7.5/10 almost 8). Full bodied with a touch of heat. Lots of complexity on the palate with rich and dark layers of sweet spices, blackberries, and gunpowder. Strong structure and long finish. Will easily last two decades. Drink till 2037. — 9 years ago

with Sean and India

Jan A

9.9

This was my wine of the night. Heavy oxidized style, nutty components on the nose that seamlessly transposed to the palate. Moldy yeast components, almost beer like yellow color. Sherry like taste sometimes. Just a jaw dropping wine that blew the other champagnes in the flight away by miles 🚀. — 4 years ago

Marcus Pollack

9.5

Starts with blueberry, maybe a little root beer. Dark plums and graphite. Develops allspice, then menthol and cigar smoke after a couple hours. Dry, moderate acidity, heavier bodied and moderate to heavy tannins. Comes across as well balanced despite the 15% alcohol level. — 6 years ago

Kevin Bohlin

9.1

Balanced red fruit but still pretty rich without being heavy or sweet, the darker interplay of root beer is a nice touch, went well with tandoori chicken — 8 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.3

First wine at 150 Central Park aboard the Harmony of the Seas. Given a hefty decant, so far seven hours. Dark purplish ruby red. A bit restrained on the nose with dark spices, cinnamon, blackberries, cassis and a little floral. Heavy tannins (8/10) and full bodied. Layered palate with raspberries, blueberries, dark crushed gravel, espresso and lilacs. Insanely long finish and this is a baby that needs some time. Drink till 2036. — 8 years ago

with Sean and India

Bret Barker

9.8

Camping with my daughter on Catalina island. I grew up in Colorado so the silver bullet and the banquet beer were staples in my family home. Heck I hit on Pete Coors daughter in high school, she turned me down more times than the sheets at the holiday inn. Ahh sweet memories. Did you know Coors was heavy into ceramics?? Go check it out. That’s you cliff Clavin fact of the day. Cheers! — 8 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.4

The cruise continues! Night eight aboard the Allure of the Seas and 50% off all wines. Opus was way too young so we grabbed this.

Deep purplish ruby red. Layered nose with notes of blue and black berries, cinnamon, vanilla, silky spices and cola. Love the explosion that just hammered my senses. Heavy and rounded tannins (7/10) with a medium plus to full body. Rich and voluptuous, literally fruit bomb with blue and black fruits and an undertone of silky dark spices. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2032. — 9 years ago

with Sean and India

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.3

Day five on the cruise and this night at Giovanni's the Italian restaurant aboard the Allure of the Seas. We decided to open up two South African beauties for this.

Deep mix of ruby and garnet red. Very earthy on the nose with savory and slightly stinky characteristics. A touch green as well. Heavy tannins (7/10) and medium plus to full bodied. Dark berries on the attack of the palate with some dark cocoa and cinnamon notes. Long finish with some cedar notes. Drink till 2028. — 9 years ago

with Sean and India

naomi gl

9.1

heavy-hitting barleywine! 10.2% alcohol, and you can tell, but not in a hot way - more of a rich, boozy, caramel-y way. this beer is *almost* too much, but for these darkest, longest days of winter - the name translates to “winter solstice” - it’s perfect. drinking it all on its own under a blanket on a cold night is just right. — 5 years ago

David Kline

9.2

Black opaque. Sponge-y headed with a cap of mostly smooth, cappuccino cream glossing. The beer sighs as it pours. Coffee and espresso scents entwine with vanilla, malty chocolate, basil, dark toast, grilled oak, and grilled marinated mushroom. Heavy coffee entry with burnt white sugar, toffee and dark roasted, brittle arabica, soy sauce, bitter notes from peppercorn and roasted pecans, but just enough dark caramel to sweeten it slightly, 100% dark chocolate; drops smoothly in swallow, then surfaces with bitter coffee oils on the finish always remembering its oak. I am very surprised that I have not rated this one yet, as I have had it many times. Now I can say I took a shot/stab at it and drowned the day’s sorrows in its dark robes. — 7 years ago

Peter Anthony Riso

9.4

This is an amber ale, and fantastically heady and deep... it’s a heavy Anchor!, and it’s ‘Steam’ because that’s what beer brewed in California under rudimentary conditions without ice were called when they started making them... you certainly will feel nostalgia for this grand brew somewhere later in your life once you first enjoy one. Reminiscent of a favorite Newcastle, yet somehow better! — 8 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.4

First red on night four at Chops Grille aboard the Harmony of the Seas. Deep purplish red. Rich nose with sweet cinnamon, vanilla, blackberries, cassis, dark gravel and dark cocoa. Heavy tannins (7.5/10) and full bodied. Lush palate with blue and black fruits as well as baking spices, purple flowers and a bit of minerals. Long and lingering finish with a touch of heat. Could use a short decant next time. Drink till 2033. — 8 years ago

with Sean and India

David Kline

9.3

Big, just-off-white crown lingers over dark, orange-amber, but once it resides is nearly laceless with isolated organic, punctuating archipelagos. Initial, buttery nutritional yeast, crystalline mangrove honey, magnolias, marigold, candied lemon peel and sweet rosemary, but don't let the fig addition and the sweet aromatics fool you; sour and underripe complexity ensues. Medium-heavy, unfiltered mouthfeel feels petulant, but swallows almost flat due to the dichotomy of dryness. Dried and underripe apricot combo, pineapple essence, gooseberry, chalk, snail shell, gravel dust, dried violets, fishbone, key lime, tangerine zest, and leek. A bright, green, mineral-driven offering. #farmcharm #saison #Darbyste #biere #bier #beer #brasseriedeblaugies #artisinale #nonfiltre #wit #blanche #bierdarbyste #belgian #belgianbeer #familyowned — 9 years ago

with Courtney

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.3

Night six on the Allure of the Seas and wine number eight from the wine crate. This night we are at Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse.

Deep garnet red. Dark and layered nose with notes of cinnamon, spices, menthol, and a touch of damp leaves. Heavy tannins (7/10) and full bodied. Rich and powerful on the palate, drinking at its peak right now. Layers of cassis, black currants, some forest floor and herbal elements. Strong acidity too. Long finish. Drink till 2027. — 9 years ago

with Sean and India

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.2

Grabbed this from the wine list at 150 Central Park on the Allure of the Seas, great price at $80.00 ($48.00 with drinks package) a bottle, yes 750mL.

Given a three and a half hour decant but might have needed more. Deep purplish red. Insanely tight on the nose with a touch of baking spices, black cherries, petrol, tobacco and a touch earthy. Heavy tannins (7/10) and solid acidity. Medium plus to full bodied with notes of red cherries, black currants, herbs, gravel and cinnamon. Dry and long finish. Drink till 2025.

This is the Cabernet Sauvignon led bottling by Blackbird Vineyards, led with 81% and followed by 13% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. Aged in 75% new French oak for 21 months. Only 40 barrels produced and release price is $135.00. — 9 years ago

with Sean and India