Influence

La Rioja Alta

Viña Alberdi Reserva Rioja Tempranillo 2019

Exotic red fruit notes. Red and black raspberry w exotic spice, earthy flavors. A lot of nice Oak influence. Very nice balance. Quite a lot of tannins. Can use more time in the bottle, but, already delicious.
Fantastic Rioja wine. Love it.
$26
— a month ago

Abbas, Ray and 5 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1995

Slightly deeper ruby garnet , narrower rim . Deeper and younger , touch of wood smoke then quite ripe black fruits , rounder with better definition on the nose than the 1994 . More degraded cassis and grafite noticeable than the wine before, tobacco , touch of seashell , marine influence comes though . On the palate the fruit fills out better than the 1994, quite dark and serious , grafite , tobacco and cedar , however the tannin is less rustic and better integrated . Nice balancing acidity. This has quite good length and is showing well now though could age a little longer. Probably is best drunk over the next few years — 2 years ago

Tom, Severn and 6 others liked this

Sonoma Coast Vineyards

Freestone Hills Pinot Noir 2018

Really nice. Definitely Sonoma coast with a bit of Russian river influence. Strawberries, baking spices galore, decomposing redwood forest, some cherry and maybe a bit of plum. It’s great but similar to a lot of other Pinots from that area. — 2 years ago

Josh liked this

Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier

Lieu Dit Malakoff Pyrenees Shiraz 2016

Red berry, some oak influence, minerality and savory as well, nice balance, medium-long finish, solid Aussie Shiraz! — 2 months ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Tom, Andrew and 2 others liked this
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

Sorry. Just noticed the top line on the label. Chapoutier has been doing other joint ventures with Australian winemakers.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Bob McDonald, I don’t know if they’re still doing this wine, but I believe Terlato is the name of an importer (?), maybe of Chapoutier wines, in Chicago (IL)??
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

@Doug Powers i can’t say Doug.

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

1996 vintage. Decanted and tasted after two hours. Decent fill and not throwing as much sediment as expected. Cork in great shape and only bottom fourth saturated. Expressive nose of extreme, maritime cedar influence and graphite/lead pencil. Plenty of color with a very thin meniscus. Have never been the biggest Mouton fan (least fave of the First Growths) but this is in the zone/at the top of the bell curve/rollin rollin rollin rollin now and for the foreseeable decade+ without drop-off. Decidedly not improving, but on the hell yes plateau for 12-15 years. Nose substantially translates into the finish, adding sandalwood and that massive, muscular and intimidating dark, plummy thrust. Professional opinion suspects this would be tasting better in another 2 hours. Don't sell your biggies short (all too frequent mistake). They gotta stretch them legs. 7.7.23. — 2 years ago

Jan, Andrew and 15 others liked this

Curly Flat

Macedon Ranges Chardonnay 2019

Not shy, this one. An upfront riot of aromas and flavour, with citrus, mandarin, nougat and oak influence with good weight and a luscious texture. — 3 years ago

Sam Marshmallow
with Sam

Château Lafon-Rochet

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2022

2022 vintage. First vintage under Lorenzetti ownership. Oak dominating initially, needs a few hours to open up. Concentrated black fruit with serious oak influence. Lots of potential, but doesn't have the charm of the 2020 today. Ab. 14,,5% — 4 months ago

Tom, Peter and 1 other liked this

Giant Steps

Sexton Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018

Brief notes. Sweet red fruits - raspberry and strawberry. Whole bunch influence. An excellent Yarra Valley Pinot Noir with a proven track record but at the end of the day Applejack Vineyard is marginally in front of Sexton Vineyard IMO. — 6 months ago

jesus, Andrew and 19 others liked this

Champagne Miniere F & R

Influence Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend 2010

Lifted and bright. Polished in the middle. Great zesty lift on the end. — 2 years ago

Severn, Vanessa and 8 others liked this

Brewer-Clifton

Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2020

Delectable Wine
9.5

The 2020 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) is fabulous. In fact, the appellation wine is my favorite Pinot in this range. The combination of the sites, and a bit less stem influence than the vineyard designates, works so well. There's a bit more fruit, more mid-palate sweetness and better balance overall, in my view. All the elements are so well put together. All of this fruit is from Machado and Hapgood. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2022)
— 2 years ago