Malbec & Malbec

Bodega Catena Zapata

High Mountain Vines Mendoza Malbec 2024

I did not try it but Rich liked it . — 15 days ago

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1985

Presented double-blind at dinner. The wine pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core and a slightly orange rim with considerable variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated fruit: black currants, blackberries, plum, pipe tobacco, capsicum, pencil shavings, a touch leather, organic earth and a mix of dried herbs and some fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Really tasty stuff.

Initial conclusions: this is an old wine, likely 30-40 years old. That being said, it’s still very distinguishable as it’s showing varietal characteristics. This could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or a blend thereof), Cabernet Franc (or a blend thereof), or Merlot (or a blend thereof). I can see this being Napa because the fruit is still showing some generosity. But there’s a lot of non-fruits there too. Regardless, this was giving Left Bank vibes so I could also see this being Bordeaux from a great vintage like 1982. And that’s my call, Cabernet Sauvignon-blend from France, Bordeaux, Saint-Estèphe, from a classified growth like Calon-Ségur. Shucks. But I’m not mad about my choice! Old Opus One’s are tricky to differentiate. Drinking very well right now but this will live well past 2035.
— 20 days ago

ESF, Peter and 10 others liked this

Clos La Coutale

Cahors Merlot 2023

Simple and enjoyable. Very dark, spicy, tannic, and medium bodied. Good!
Listening to Waxahatchee
— 2 months ago

Joel, Ray and 18 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Right on! It's so cheap I'll get a few to tuck away @Doug Powers
Peter van den Besselaar

Peter van den Besselaar Influencer Badge

Before 2010 this wine needed 10 to 15 years to soften tannins, since then the producer focusses on ripe fruit and smoother tannins.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Peter van den Besselaar, I very much appreciate you posting these insights about the changes in the winery’s growing/ripening process. Those old ones, it was difficult to even guess when they’d be ready. At least the 2000 I posted on has great fruit currently, and not terribly drying tannins!!

Opus One

Overture Napa Valley Petit Verdot Blend 2022

2022 vintage. Drinking better now, and for the foreseeable future, than the 2022 Opus. 6.24.26. — 3 months ago

Ted, Tom and 11 others liked this
Norman

Norman Premium Badge

Seems young. I’ve only had this as a gift and felt guilty opening it but it was a gift/let’s try kinda thing. How long would you normally hold?
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

@Norman Would consume within a decade's time.

Cain Vineyard & Winery

Cain Five Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2006

Popped and poured into red Solo cups; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2006 pours a garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated black currants, blackberries, black cherries, tobacco, Poblano pepper, cocoa, fine warm spices and organic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Quite delicious and a really lovely example of the 2006 vintage. Drink now through 2036. — 2 days ago

Tom, Douglas and 5 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Enjoyed this quote a bit recently
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Somm David T I noticed that!
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

Been pouring this via Coravin the last two years. Showing nicely with great depth and easier to slip into now without the ferocious tannins of more recent vintages.

Terrazas de Los Andes

Reserva Mendoza Malbec 2021

Álcool 14,0%.
DUFRY/SP - SLF - Abr/2025.
— 2 months ago

Orin Swift

Papillon Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

Oak, sawdust, coco nibs, tobacco, black currant and blackberries. This is rich, deep and dark. Mostly secondary and tertiary flavors at this point, not a ton of fruit left. — 3 months ago

Dave and Joel liked this

Ramey Wine Cellars

Claret Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2019

2019 vintage. Sweeter than the last few vintages. 6.17.26. — 3 months ago

David, Doug and 6 others liked this

Gundlach Bundschu

Mountain Cuvée Sonoma County Red Blend 2023

Red fruit, green, polished, balanced. — 5 months ago

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2013

Insignia Masterclass

1998 Insignia
2001 Insignia
2004 Insignia
2008 Insignia
2013 Insignia
2023 Insignia

With:
David Pearson, President
Ryan Knoth, winemaker

@Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Napa
— 16 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Tom and 8 others liked this

Miner Family

The Oracle Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2017

Ming L
9.3

The bottle is heavy!

Distinctively Napa with Bordeaux sensibility. Dark cherry, cassis, blackcurrant, cedar, and a touch of tobacco unfold on the nose. The palate is beautifully structured palate with polished tannins, vibrant acidity, and concentrated dark fruit. Composed and well balanced with long candied finish.

The winery is the first customer of the Stagecoach vineyard and The Oracle used grapes from the vineyard exclusively until the 2015 vintage.
— 16 days ago

Vanessa, Joel and 2 others liked this

Quilceda Creek

CVR Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Very good vintage but seems a bit off. More fruit forward than expected. May need time in cellar. @home as part of a new world bordeaux blend wine blind tasting. — 14 days ago

Viña Cobos

Felino Mendoza Malbec 2023

Very drinkable — 3 months ago

Rick, Sagee and 1 other liked this

Justin Vineyards & Winery

Isosceles Reserve Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

Deep ruby color, with a brick rim. Aromas of blackberry, cassis and mocha. Black fruit on the palate, dark chocolate and baking spices.

🍇 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Merlot

🏅92 Points - Wine Spectator
— 3 months ago

Tom, Dave and 11 others liked this