Labor Wines

Wellington Vineyards

Englandcrest Sonoma Valley Syrah 2009

Perfect Labor Day wine with grilled ribs, collards, and homemade coleslaw. — 7 months ago

Bonnie Hodur
with Bonnie

Ridge Vineyards

Geyserville Sonoma County Zinfandel Blend 2012

David T
9.3

Another great Ridge. There is a bit of v/a - brettanomyces on the nose but the palate is solid. 71% Zinfandel, 19% Carignane, 7% Petite Syrah, 2% Mataro & 1% Alicante Bouschet. This blend changes year to year but, the quantity is always solid. Once again, I’ve been at this a long time, but I have never opened a bad bottle of Ridge.

Ripe, juicy; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, boysenberries, raspberries over that hover over the top. Touch a black pepper, dry crushed rocks, volcanic limestone minerals, dark, rich soils, pine tar, melted, dark chocolate, caramel notes, vanillin, some black tar, notes of herbaceousiness, moist clay, violet for days, some lavender, amazing acidity with a well balanced, smooth structure/tension and a beautiful finish that lasts a full minute.

Happy Labor Day weekend!
— 7 months ago

Paul, Ira and 10 others liked this

Folk Machine

Parts & Labor Carignan Blend

Easy drinking, bright, light. — 2 years ago

Barry liked this

Duckhorn Vineyards

Napa Valley Merlot 2018

Duckhorn! 🦆 Of course the new vintage is just as good as all the previous ones. Even the run of the mill version from the greatest Merlot maker in California sets a standard. Wonderful. Happy Labor Day weekend! — 3 years ago

Daniel, Iwan and 5 others liked this

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2011

Happy Labor Day holiday weekend in the USA!

We’re enjoying a night off from studying while sipping a lovely Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2011 paired with a grilled steak, baked potato, green beans, and mushroom / zucchini kabobs. Soon (and sadly) we’ll have to say “au revoir” to summer.

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is situated on the left bank of Bordeaux, i.e., west of the Gironde Estuary, in the commune of Pauillac. Soils here are gravel-based, and free-draining, ideal for ripening the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon grape, which dominates in this Bordeaux blend.

Pauillac is known for producing age-worthy, structured Cabernet Sauvignon wines due in part to the growing environment. No wonder it’s home to 3 out of 5 first growth wines in the 1855 classification, including, Château Latour, Château Lafite Rothschild, and Château Mouton Rothschild. This particular wine ranks highly, as well, as a fifth growth and understandably so.

Based on our research the 2011 vintage in Bordeaux seemed to fast-forward many typical growing processes and timelines; grapes were budding and ripening ahead of schedule with warmer temperatures early in the season followed by notably cooler temperatures in August, ahead of harvest.

It’s remarkable how variable seasonal conditions can affect a wine’s profile, especially in less consistent climates like Bordeaux where vintage variation is a serious thing… still, this wine is lovely.

It is deep ruby with a medium (+) intensity of developing aromas offering notes of ripe blackberry, cassis, black cherry, plum, black licorice, anise, violet, tobacco, leather, clove, nutmeg, cedar, pencil shavings.

On the palate, this wine is dry with medium (+) acidity, high tannins that are ripe and smooth, a medium (+) body, medium (+) intensity of flavors consistent with the notes. The finish is medium(+).

This is an excellent wine that is drinking well now and could age further.

Cheers to the beauty born in 2011 in Pauillac AOC with this Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste!
— 7 months ago

Deked1
with Deked1
Deked1, Andrew and 21 others liked this

Vigne Rada

Stria Vermentino Di Sardegna 2020

Wine we had Labor Day weekend at Paladar in NOLA. — 2 years ago

Domaine Pernot-Bélicard

Bourgogne Blanc Chardonnay 2015

A brief Labor Day get together with some friends.

This is doing great, probably even better 2023.
— 3 years ago

Byron, Daniel P. and 24 others liked this

Hendricks Wines

Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2014

David T
9.5

The Hendricks Pinot from the Doctors Vineyard in Santa Lucia. 11 barrels made. 22 months in French oak. I don’t know what everyone is used to but a Pinot 22 months in French oak is far more rare than common. This is my first look from the four bottles I’ve stored. Roughly eight years is the timing for first look.

This may be the best CA Pinot I have consistently yr over yr. The fruit is ripe, dry-ish, slightly tart; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, notes of blueberries, raspberries, dry cranberries & strawberries. Beautiful mid spices, nutmeg, cinnamon-cinnamon stick, vanillin, mid to dark berry cola, dry brush, dry clay, loamy, limestone volcanics, dark, dry soil, dark chocolate baking bar, crushed dry rocks, notes of not quite eucalyptus, tree bark w/ sap, fresh & slightly withering, dark, red, blue florals framed in subtle violets, near perfect acidity with a nicely structured, well balanced, velvety/silky, consistent wire to wire finish that lasts a minute and half. Simply amazing palate.

Good first look but better things ahead for my next bottle(s). Another 15 plus years of half drinking ahead.

Happy Labor Day weekend.
— 7 months ago

Severn, Laura and 10 others liked this

Waxwing

Spring Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012

JKT
9.0

At Mark’s Labor Day party. A reserved earthy dark fruited Pinot that did not cry out loud New World. — 2 years ago

Scott Harvey Wines

Vineyard 1869 Old Vine Zinfandel 2007

After three wonderful Iron Horse wines, this was a sensational wrap up for Labor Day weekend. We love the way Scott’s Zinfandels age. — 3 years ago

Bonnie Hodur
with Bonnie