Let Good Be

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Bit more lightening on the rim , more garnet . Touch more herbal on the nose with cedar , and grafite, much more lean and mineral on the palate. This takes quite a while to find its feet and benefits from quite a lot of air . In some ways a little unfortunate to be served between the 2000 and 1990 , which are a fuller , and more showy in style . However after a while this does show quite good length and balance , refreshing acidity . This is quite lean and mineral , focused and still pretty young . From now over the next 10 years. A little austere in style , reminds me a little of the 2005 in that aspect , though without that vintage’s intensity or density . — a month ago

Daniel, Jan and 8 others liked this

Marqués de Riscal

Reserva Herederos del Marques de Riscal Rioja Tempranillo 2019

Ming L
9.1

I was very surprised by the richness and power of this ‘19 bottling. Very different than the previous vintages I’ve tasted. Broad with good depth and balance acidity. 2019 might be as good as the great 2010 vintage in Rioja?
— 5 months ago

Tom liked this

Turley

Hayne Vineyard Petite Syrah 2012

I’m getting a bit of cork on this one but hoping it blows off. Needs more air but it’s going to be a classic Turley. It’s good with more air but that’s also making the corked aspect more prevalent. Bummer. Can look past it but it’s work. Somewhat annoying since I’ve been looking forward to this for a while. Hoping the other sings. — 8 months ago

Bob, Shay and 5 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2016

Here’s the thing: this is good wine. It’s dense, chewy, and structured. There’s a nice balance of red and black fruit, graphite, cedar, mushroom, soil, and just a touch of Brett funk. It’s fairly tannic, so probably best with food, but can still be enjoyed on its own. I would never be mad if I was offered this. I was lucky to take home an open bottle from a job tonight, but I think the price tag on this is ridiculous. — 10 months ago

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

Forty-plus years on, people still talk about the greatness of the 1982 vintage in Bordeaux. There are multiple factors that contribute to this and it’s fair to say that Robert Parker’s reaction played a major role in the early popularity; certainly in the States. While some may say that 1982 was merely a “good” vintage by today’s standards, I think history has proven it to be empirically special; there was just so much quality from top to bottom. And yet, even with the high praise of the vintage, the tone shifts to hushed whispers when the 1982 Mouton gets mentioned. Up until that point, the Chateau had sort of underachieved after receiving its unprecedented promotion in 1973. But in 1982, a year full of great wine, they created a legend and firmly cemented their First Growth status. Today, I’m pleased to report the plaudits for the ’82 are all warranted.

Opened and double-decanted earlier in the day. The ’82 Mouton pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core with some sediment; almost youthful when compared to many of the other older wines poured on the night. On the nose, the wine is developing still; loaded with cassis, black berries, leaf tobacco, leather, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with fabulous structure. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and full of power. A stunning wine and well in its prime…a window I expect will remain open for a longtime to come. Drink now with bacchanalian abandon and through 2082.
— a month ago

Ira, Jan and 29 others liked this
David T

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I picked the Mouton Merlot in 2012 for a day. At the two harvest lunches I attended, they served the 82. Every time they bottle, they take the remaining barrel juice, filter it and then serve the remains at their harvest luncheons for workers & guests. The second lunch I attended, we were seated at the Baroness’s table may she RIP as she passed in 2014. In 2012, they drank the last of the 82.
Jay Kline

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@David T what an awesome story and experience
Bob McDonald

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@Jay Kline I agree re the 1982 Bordeaux vintage. The Chateau Margaux was one of the greatest wines I have ever drunk whereas the Lafite Rothschild was somewhat underwhelming. Bought at the same time from the same shop and stored the same way.

Bodegas Muga

Selección Especial Rioja Tempranillo 2016

Deep ruby in color, almost Inky, with a short reddish rim.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Very dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing blueberries, plums, cooked cherries, black currants, light cedar, dark coffee, chocolates, earth, peppercorn, pencil lead, tobacco leaf, light vegetables and bitter herbs.

Short, tangy finish with fine grained tannins and pomegranates.

This 8 year old Rioja Reserva is still young and very dry, but already drinkable.

Lacking a bit of fruits on the palate, but the nose is gorgeous, once it opens up. The nose is more interesting than the palate at this point.

Needs a few hours to open up properly, so take your time.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years. Would be interesting to try it again in 5 years.

A good food wine that will pair nicely with a nice piece of steak.

A blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 7% Mazuelo and 3% Graciano.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$50.
— 10 months ago

Juan, Lyle and 15 others liked this

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2015

Light straw , very young looking . Constant very fine perlage . Quite closed at first then crushed rocks , lemon peel , ginger , white flowers , brioche . On the palate good richness and intensity , lemon , orange rind , buttered bread , touch of roast nuts . Very fine mineral tinged , intense finish . This needs time and will improve over the next 10 years or so and last well a further 5-10 . A good follow up to the 2014 , this shows more backward and will take even longer to reach its peak. Perhaps a little less detailed and precise than the very mineral 2014 but that might just be a question of needing more time in bottle. — 4 months ago

Ira, Tom and 15 others liked this

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1990

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark golden/ brownish in color.

Sweet nose with lots of flower notes, over ripen apples and spices.

Full-bodied with high acidity.

Sweet on the palate with pears, overripe citrus fruits, spices, apricots, tropical fruits, earth and bitter herbs.

Tangy finish, but too earthy for my taste.

This 34 year old is delicious, but a touch unbalanced, with too many earth notes for the fruits.

I've had a few vintages of this gorgeous wine, but none of them were this old.

I let it breathe for an hour, but it still wasn't as good as I hoped. It could just be this specific bottle, though.

A blend of 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. Drank from a 375ml bottle.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$500.
— 5 months ago

Bob, Vino and 24 others liked this

Château d'Armailhac

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

After 1.5hr decant, right but beginning to express itself. The fruit is there, but a bit muted at this point, cassis, black currants. Gravely, softened but strong tannins with a tight acidic backbone. This is gonna be really good in 10 years. — 9 months ago

Douglas and Paul liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2013

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Deep purple in color with a short purple rim.

Pretty nose of blueberries, cooked black cherries, blackberries, figs, cedar, vanilla, spices, chocolates, earth, herbs, coffee, tobacco, licorice and black pepper.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, currants, black cherries, raisins, dried figs, vanilla, cedar, cola, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, earth, bitter herbs and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Feels like a Napa Cabernet with a Bordeaux touch. Fruity and rich, yet elegant.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours in the decanter, but it definitely needs longer than that.

What a great mouthfeel. I just love these Napa Bordeaux blends.

Still young and would be better in 5 to 10 years. Could be a 97+ point wine in 10 years. Will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years.

Thank you John for sharing this with me.

A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$500.
— 2 years ago

Trixie, Dick and 29 others liked this
"Odedi"

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@Trixie this is always enjoyable, regardless of the vintage
"Odedi"

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@Eric not cheap 😉
"Odedi"

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@Tommy you let me know when you are in town