Hefeweizen Blend

Ridge Vineyards

Lytton Springs Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel Blend 2022

Day 1 of this year's Smallmouth Smackdown has begun. After 7 hours on the boat, and a dozen bass, it's time to crack into some libations (had a few PBR's on the boat).
This is a lush Zin. Concentrated fruit, but savory and chewy. Blackberry, blood orange, cigar box, and enough structure to age much longer. This is my 3rd Ridge Zin, and I'd have to say I still favor the Pagani Ranch.
Listening to Chris Stapleton
— 14 hours ago

Pooneet, Somm and 10 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

@Dave - All the single vineyard Zins Ridge makes are great, year after year, decade after decade. They always respect the grape and the vineyard and the grower. Also keep an eye out for their Carignanes and the blends from the centennial vines in Contra Costa County.
Dave

Dave

Thanks @Tom Casagrande I will keep my eyes open and make you proud

Château Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

Double decant and pour(some fine sediment). A splendid still dark magenta color with bricking. On the nose: Beautiful areomatics of blackberry, cigar box, worn leather, green vegi, bandaid(brett). Taste: savory, elegant, structured wine with some sour cherry, currants, tobacco leaf, charred earth, and a crushef rock-coffee medium finish. Sure, on the downside, but still drinks savory good tonight. — 7 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Bob, Paul and 10 others liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 1988

Super clean and still quite youthful, this is a GREAT example of a 1980s CdP from a vintage of little surmaturite, so awesome balance and perfect acidity suggests this vintage will easily last another 5-10 years!! — 6 days ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Scott@Mister, Tom and 5 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

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What a triumvirate of CDPs!
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, another example of a great bottle outperforming critical reviews — of the 3 CdPs, the ratings given years ago would have been higher for the ‘89 Beau and ‘90 Pegau!!

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1990

One of the great vintages of Montrose showing mostly black fruits with sweet savory spices, tobacco notes. This was rich, full bodied that kept developing in the glass — 8 days ago

Juan, Jeroen and 6 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Somm David T
9.2

This 2006 was a tale of 1/2 of the bottle decanted in a wide decanter and the other 1/2 left in bottle. The bottom 1/2 bottle better than the 2 hour decant. The decanted part lost complete Bordeaux character, mid palate and depth. A shorter decant was in order, but that doesn’t mean this 06 is waning. It has another 7–10 yrs from bottle.

2006 was the vintage that followed the grand 2005 vintage, not an entirely fair growing seasons. Based on the 2005 vintage, the Bordelaise overpriced the 2006 vintage. The Bordelaise disappointed in the price they sold 2005’s looked to make up their perceived losses in 2006. Except, the quality wasn’t the same. Not even close.

The nose shows brambly, ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, dark cherries and lean raspberry edges. Dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dark chocolate bar, mid berry cola. steeped black tea, charcoal, graphite, soft, fresh tobacco, used leather,. softy layered baking spices, black licorice-tarriness, dry river stones, dry limestone powder/bits, dark, red florals with fresh, blooming violets & understated lavender.

The palate is ripe, juicy w/ medium, rounded tannins. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, dark cherries, strawberries and lean raspberry. Dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dark & slightly melted chocolate, mid berry cola. steeped black tea, charcoal, graphite, soft, fresh tobacco, used leather, softy layered baking spices-nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & vanillin, mid dark spices w/ some palate heat, black licorice-tarriness, dry herbs, dry river stones, dry limestone powder/bits, dry top soil, moist, grey, volcanic clay, dark, red florals with fresh, blooming violets & understated lavender, very nice acidity, nicely balanced, well structured/tensioned w/ an elegant finish that lasts a minute plus and lands on earth & spice with mid intensity palate heat.

92 decanted. 93 the bottom 1/2 of the bottle, not decanted.
— 10 hours ago

Scott@Mister, Daniel and 1 other liked this

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 1990

Another absolutely fabulous older CdP, I saw @Jay Kline’s excellent tasting note from a few years ago on the 1990 (thanks for the info, @Jay Kline!!), this is amazing, amazingly a little better than the 1989 Beaucastel, what a trio of 1988-1990 CdPs!!! — 5 days ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Jay, Scott@Mister and 6 others liked this
Jay Kline

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Of course Doug! Laurence has some magic in her.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Jay Kline, my brother and I visited Laurence once, in 2005, what a phenomenal lady she was, climbing all over barrels to get samples, we finished with the very youthful 2004, we both thought it great, and she said she wasn’t sure at that point about the 2004!! Great visit!!

Quintessa

Rutherford Red Blend

Peppery for me. I liked it. Bunny thought too grainy. Didn’t Ike it. At Atlas ATL — 11 hours ago

Guisela Inga
with Guisela

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

This was great but not same level as prior bottles. Perhaps a slightly off cork ? Medium dark rubi robe, nose of blackcurrant, top soil and balsam with hints of cedar. Ever so slightly reticent tannins but overall great length and good complexity. Great now, but no rush. — 13 days ago

Jose Roberto Palazzoveronique paillardAdriana Pagliano
with Jose, veronique and 4 others
Peter, Dave and 4 others liked this
Alexandre Pagliano

Alexandre Pagliano Premium Badge

This was great but not same level as prior bottles. Perhaps a slightly off cork ? Medium dark rubi robe, nose of blackcurrant, top soil and balsam with hints of cedar. Ever so slightly reticent tannins but overall great length and good complexity. Great now, but no rush.
Alexandre Pagliano

Alexandre Pagliano Premium Badge

Medium dark rubi robe, nose of top soil, cedar-wood, spices and other secondary notes. Medium bodied, long and with highly polished tannins, this is an excellent bottle, just slightly under the other we got from same 6 bottle case.

Domaine Tempier

Bandol Rosé Blend 2022

Ming L
9.1

Aromas of strawberry, pomelo, watermelon, rose petal, sea breeze, and hint of thyme. The palate adds additional red berries, citrus, and faint earthy notes. Medium body that is nicely textured. Fresh yet round acidity. There is off-dry sensation on the otherwise slightly savory medium finish.

Lovely but pricy rose.
— 10 days ago

Jamie, Tom and 6 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

I would say in many cases, the gold standard for Provence rosés. A property my wife & I visited in 2015.
Ming L

Ming L

That must be a great visit @Somm David T ! What do you think of Domaine Ott?
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Solid producer.

Château Rayas

Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache Blend 2008

Jeremy Shanker
9.7

A baby but so good — 5 days ago

Jay, Juan and 4 others liked this