Light From Darkness

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend

From mag. Delicious- sweet with bright light citrus, fresh corn, a lush mouthfeel. Very sexy and long — a month ago

Matt Lichtenberg
with Matt
Eric, Jay and 4 others liked this

Big Table Farm

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2017

Reddish in color with light intensity.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing raspberries, sweet strawberries, cherish, earth, light wood, spices, dark chocolates, herbs and black pepper.

This 8 year old Pinot Noir from Oregon is drinking very nicely now. Complex and interesting. Feels like a lightly aged Burgundy.

Good right out of the bottle, and gets earthier as it opens. Will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

I had a few vintages of this wine and it is very consistent.

Elegant and good by itself or with food.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$45.
— a month ago

Doug, Dave and 8 others liked this

Caymus-Suisun

Suisun Valley Grand Durif 2016

Inky in color with a short purple rim.

Strong nose and full bodied with medium minus acidity.

Showing blackberries, sweet plums, cooked cherries, chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, licorice, light cedar, vanilla and spices.

This 9 year old Petite Sirah from California is still drinking nicely and good right out of the bottle.

Extracted and very fruity, with some RS on the palate. In your face kind of wine.

Showing nice complexity at this point. Rich with lots of chocolate notes.

A nice sipping wine and good for parties.

14.6% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$75.
— 2 months ago

Dave, Lyle and 8 others liked this

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1970

This was back when André Tchelistcheff was making wine for BV. In fact, it’s because of Tchelistcheff that the Georges de Latour Vineyard was bottled separately in the first place. Decanted prior to service; enjoyed over the course of several hours. This bottle of the 1970 pours a garnet color with significant rim variation; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with a mix of tart, ripe and dried mostly red fruits: red currants, lingonberries, Bing cherry, tobacco, Poblano pepper, old leather, dry gravelly earth, and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. After enjoying the 1981 vintage a couple weeks ago, this is stunning leap in quality. The 1970 is evergreen and stole my heart. Drink now through 2040. — 5 months ago

Jan, Dave and 18 others liked this
Severn G

Severn G Influencer Badge Premium Badge

I love that bottle, I think the 1970 was one of the most perfect BV Cabernet's I've ever tasted, even better than the '68.

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Somm David T
9.2

The 2006 Bordeaux vintage. The vintage while wasn’t Bordeaux’s best, it certainly wasn’t one of its worst. It had the unenviable position of following a grand 2005 vintage. I think better than 2000, maybe 09 & 10? Jury is still out. The Bordelaise also got greedy and raised their prices from 05. That was a mistake when it came to selling the 2006 vintage and it laid another layer of bad taste in consumers minds.

I really enjoy Pichon Lalande’s style/craft. The 06 is good, not great. In fact, I enjoyed this better w/o the lamb.

The fruits are just ripe. Velvety, rounded M+ tannins. Brambly blackberries, dryish black plum, black cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, some raspberry hues, oak barrel shavings, graphite, dry soils, dry tobacco & leather, dry clay, soft but dark spice, some dry herbs, soft baking spices- clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, light milk chocolate, caramel hues, black tea, anise, some mid berry cola, dry & withering, dark & red flowers, violets, decent, round acidity, balanced, neatly structured/tensioned with an elegant finish that lasts just over 90 seconds and falls on dry earth and soft, dark spice.

Still acceding and has 15 plus yrs of good drinking ahead. Could make a case for rounding up to 93.

Paired w/ Grilled Rack of Lamb, Served with Rosemary Jus, Fondant Potatoes and Steamed Broccoli.

@EK148
— a month ago

Ira, Ceccherini and 21 others liked this

Perus Wine

Bryn Proprietary Red Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2023

It's time for a celebration!

Inky in color with short reddish/purplish rim.

Gorgeous nose of sweet blueberries, blackberries, black plum preserve, dried figs, mediterranean spices, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, light alcohol, herbs, peppercorn, eucalyptus and light black tea.

Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, blackberries, cedar, licorice, chocolates, dried figs, light bitter herbs, light earth, cola, light vegetables, spices and tobacco leaf.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.

This young Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley is drinking beautifully already. Rich and fruit forward. Complex and interesting.

Nicely balanced with a smooth mouthfeel. Spicy, tangy and entertaining. Majestic, with good structure.

Good right out of the bottle and so much better after 3 hours in the decanter.

Already showing a very complex nose, even at this young age. Very impressive.

I've had a few vintages of this wine and it is very consistent.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years. Has good potential to become a 97+ point wine.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

14.9% alcohol by volume.

95 points.

$175.
— 2 months ago

Dave, Matt and 12 others liked this

Château Beychevelle

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2018

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Nice color of dark ruby with a reddish rim.

Fruity nose of black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices, earth and black tea.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, blackberries, coffee, herbs, chocolates, light oak, licorice, spices, light earth, tobacco leaf and black pepper.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Merlot based blend from Saint Julien. Elegant and spicy. Fruit forward and chocolatey.

I've had a few vintages of this wine and it is very consistent and always delicious, especially with age.

This 7 year old 4th growth Bordeaux is starting to drink beautifully now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.

Well balanced, complex and interesting. Rich and inviting.

Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food.

A blend of 50% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Aged in (60% new) French Oak barrels for 18 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$150.
— 3 months ago

Dave, Doug and 16 others liked this

Château Gruaud Larose

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim. Doesn't show much age.

Beautiful nose with red and black fruits, chocolates, tobacco leaf, vegetables, forest floor, black tea, earth, coffee, herbs, spices, black pepper and wildflowers.

Full bodied and soft with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, cherries, black plums, currants, oak, light chocolates, coffee, mushrooms, licorice, tobacco leaf, earth, herbs and spices.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a gorgeous 24 year old Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Saint Julien. Rich and elegant. Spicy and very complex. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.

Drinking at its peak now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 10 years.

A great sipping wine that is so much fun to drink by itself.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Aged in (33% new) French oak barrels for 18 months.

13% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$150.
— a month ago

Dave, Ira and 13 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

Nice pull @"Odedi"!!
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Very nice!

Maritana Vineyards

Le Russe Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2021

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing sweet cherries, plums, light oak, chocolates, black pepper, light earth, herbs, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley. Nicely balanced and elegant.

Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime.

Easy drinking and a good sipping wine.

13% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$50.
— 2 months ago

Dave, Peter and 12 others liked this

Belle Glos

Clark & Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Very fruity on the nose and full bodied with medium minus acidity.

Dry to off dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black currants, blackberries, cooked plums, oak, vanilla, dried fruits, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices, light herbs and peppercorn.

Short finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 8 year old Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County is still drinking very nicely, but will not get better from this point.

Complex and easy drinking. Fruit forward with a touch of RS. Rich and extracted with a mouth coating feel.

A nice sipping wine.

14.6% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$50.
— 2 months ago

Ron, Tom and 13 others liked this
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

That’s a weird looking bottle 👀😀