Magic Hour

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2015

2 hour decant — 14 days ago

Ted, Iwan and 5 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

1 hour decant(some chunky sediment). A striking deep garnet color with some bricking. On the nose: exquisite notes of dark fruit, herbaceous, cedar lined cigar box, floral, pencil shavings. Taste: silky, brooding, balanced wine with blackberry/dark cherry, loamy soil, graphite, tobacco, licorice and a minerally roasted coffee persistent finish. YUM!! — 2 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Brenda and 15 others liked this
Paul K

Paul K

NICE!!! 😊

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

1 hour decant(decent chunky sediment). A striking medium purplish garnet color with bricking. On the nose: Inviting notes of dried red fruit, currants, pencil shavings, floral, stewed meat, milk chocolate. Taste: fully mature, savory, silky wine with dried plum, ground coffee, earth, minerals, tobacco, and a sour cherry/green bell pepper/graphite long finish. YUM!! Drink em if you got em. — 2 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Sharon and 10 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2000

Dense, softened tannins are the start of a delightful full bodied blackberry led juice. Absolute magic. And it’s probably a longer runner than thought 15 years ago. Highly recommend to grab if you see it — 4 months ago

Tom, Dawn and 13 others liked this

Araujo Estate

Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

From magnum

1 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A gorgeous dark purplish ruby red color. On the nose: Alluring perfumed notes of red fruit, black olives, forest floor, tobacco leaf, nutmeg. Taste: velvety, elegant wine with cherry/red plum, cedar, spice, loamy soil, and a long minerally dark chocolate espresso finish. YUM!
— 5 days ago

Tom, Tom and 6 others liked this
Rick Phillips

Rick Phillips Premium Badge

I Treasure all I have before Latour took over. Not saying theirs isn’t delicious, but the originals just had a note!
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

@Rick Phillips Agree. Still have a number of pre 2013 vintages. Cheers!

Spottswoode

Family Estate Grown St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

This unfortunately didn’t blow us away. Gave it an hour or two in the decanter. Well made but lacked the punch I expected. — 4 months ago

Jan, Scott@Mister and 5 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Somm David T
9.4

I have written a few times regarding my tale of Caymus & Caymus Classic. Their vintages post 2011 and their vintages pre 2011.

I have at event tastings that Caymus was pouring, encouraged their staff to talk with Chuck to make both Caymus & Caymus Classic. Recently, I emailed them to pass on my thoughts to Chuck asking him to make both. If you liked Caymus the way it was, I encourage you to do the same. There is a dwelling amount of older, well preserved Caymus Classic vintages. info@wagnerfamilyofwine.com should you be so inclined.

Their post 2011 Caymus Cabernets are picked at higher brix and syrupy sweet. I get why Chuck changed. Many like sweeter Cabernets that drink easy young. That is not my wheelhouse.

In my intermediate wine days, I aged and enjoyed many pre 2012 vintages. This perfect bottle bought on the secondary market at around $70 is extremely well stored. The cork when I cut the foil looked slightly depressed, when I pulled it with an Ah-so was next to new.

I enjoyed this with a Ribcap, not the best wine for that steak but, ok. This 07 is more filet or NY Strip.

The nose shows; a very dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush-blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, mellow dark spices, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry tobacco, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender.

This bottle now nearly 18 years in bottle has not faded. It is at its precipice and will hold a few yrs. 2007 a grand Napa vintage. Decanted a little over an hour and enjoyed over the next 90-120 minutes. With this experience, another hour in the decanter is even better.

M-M+ velvety, rounded, tannins. The palate is round, ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush; blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, stewed plum, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries with notes of liqueur overtones, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, black licorice, dark berry cola, distinct dark, Caynus Classic spices w/ palate heat, herbaceous notes, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone/rock, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry river stone, charcoal, notes of menthol, dry tobacco, leather, dry oak barrel shavings, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender, perfect, round acidity with an incredibly; balanced, well knitted-toned-structured, elegantly/smartly polished finish that goes on and on and long sets on beautiful earth & spice.

94+ This experience is becoming rarer & rarer.
— 2 months ago

Andrew, Rick and 9 others liked this
Joe DAscoli

Joe DAscoli Premium Badge

The 07 such a great wine

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

1 hour decant(lots of sediment). A gorgeous purplish garnet color. On the nose: Intoxicating musky notes of dark fruit, potting soil, worn leather, truffles, stewed meat, slight menthol. Taste: velvety, seamless, balanced, intense wine with dark fruit, cassis, earth, tobacco, mineral, herbs, and a chocolate graphite long never-ending finish. YUM! This wine has aged gracefully and has more gas in the tank. Enjoy. — 2 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Brenda and 12 others liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

+2 hour decant(decent sediment). A marvelous dark magenta color. On the nose: perfumed red fruit, potting soil, graphite, cedar lined cigar box, herbaceous. Taste: Powerful, structured wine with red fruit, currants, planting soil, spice, and a cedar-minerally-mocha lingering and evolving finish! YUM! — 2 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Brenda and 26 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Absolutely one of the very best red Bordeaux producers. I can’t help but think what this is like in 2040 and beyond.
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

@Somm David T Agree. Fortunately have a few more bottles to see how it evolves...probably a forever wine!! Cheers!
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Epic vintage. Maybe, a modern day 82??? We’ll see or at least I’m still around. Never know! 🤷‍♂️

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Wow. Wow and wow. This was amazing! It’s definitely still early on. I let this decant for 2.5 hours before the first sip. It was revved and ready by then and was stellar by hour 4+. Rich and deep but silky smooth. Currants and an earthy/smokey quality. Loved this! — 4 months ago

Tom, Jeroen and 18 others liked this