Mission Bell Winery

Bell Hill Vineyards

Canterbury Pinot Noir 2019

Wow!! Dark austere profile with serious dark fruit behind dense herbal/tea/earth minerality. The palate is nuts though, fruit opens up, shows a touch of red, tingling acidity is off the charts — 25 days ago

Ira and Tom liked this

Buena Vista Winery

The Sheriff Sonoma County Red Blend

Fruit forward and very jammy. Silky and velvety smooth. Full bodied. Rich, excellent! — 4 months ago

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1995

Opened around 8pm the evening prior, double decanted and left in room temperature until service on Friday evening. In total, this was opened 24hours before service. The 1995 pours a beautiful garnet with transparent core; medium viscosity with moderate stating of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with surprisingly boozy dark fruit. Brambles, cassis, bell pepper, licorice, spearmint and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long with great acidity. Overall, remarkably youthful. While it’s certainly ready to go, it will likely continue some positive evolution over the next couple of decades. Drink now with a long decant through 2045. — 5 months ago

Jan, Douglas and 15 others liked this

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Graves Red Bordeaux Blend 1976

A weaker vintage for LMHB that showed red & black fruit with lots of menthol & spice but lacked the character & finish of a great older vintage — a month ago

Andrew, Jan and 8 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

Part of a Chateau Mouton Rothschild vertical from 1988-1990. The 1988 shows great color and is quite charming with notes of cassis, tobacco, leather some bell pepper and a cinnamon bark sort of thing on the nose. Structure remains firm and this was a little greener than the ‘89 and ‘90. There is no risk of this falling off anytime soon; probably good through 2038. — 24 days ago

Ira, David and 10 others liked this

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2019

First pull of a 2019 Bordeaux. Not in a bad place with an 8 hour open period (no decant). Very “dark Michigan cherry” according to my wife who has spent a lot of time in Michigan. Great pairing with a variety of grilled meats - lamb, pork, and steak. — a month ago

Tom, Neil and 11 others liked this

Bell Hill Vineyards

Old Weka Pass Road Pinot Noir 2016

See several previous Delectable notes on this wine and vintage. A pale crimson colour with tawny garnet shades. Aromatics of red fruits (strawberry) and Sous Bois on the nose. It may be pale in colour but carries a Medium plus palate intensity of good length. A very good 2nd wine from Bell Hill from the Canterbury district (just to the north of Christchurch) which deserves more recognition as a source of high quality Pinot Noir. Also referred to as the Waipara District. — 2 months ago

Ming, Tom and 16 others liked this

Chateau Grand Traverse

Whole Cluster Old Mission Peninsula Riesling

Whole clusters used instead of de stemming. Lemony tartness upfront then a mineral finish.- almost a hint of tannins. But not tannins. A different taste for a Riesling — 5 months ago