Mount Saint Helens Cellars

Holy Monastery of Hilandar

St. Sava's Field Red Blend 2016

A freeloader amongst the wines from Serbia my wife brought me back. It's actually a Greek wine made by a monastery on Mount Athos. And it's a Bordeaux blend to top it off (cabernet Sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot). It smells like a very well born Saint Emilion wine... Really, blind I would have called saint emilion grand cru classé. Cassis, meat juice, earthy notes like clay, tobacco leaves, cigar... Wow this is great! The palate is wonderful, it has all you need in great right bank bordeaux: good acid drive, great length and width, cassis and tobacco notes all along, a soft, velvety mouthfeel that develops into a very noble grain that turns into mocha and coffee in the rear. The tannic wall in the rear is rich, intense and drying but also grainy and a giving a thicker, grainier feel which is not unlike the ones I know from saint emilion. Great concentration and focus, nice smokey and meaty notes, that umami thing that I associate even more with pomerols. Wow this is really great! I didn't expect something like this from Greece! — 2 months ago

romo, Andrew and 8 others liked this

Mount Saint Joseph

Sierra Foothills Mourvedre 2017

Impressive Mourvèdre. Powerful yet elegant and smooth. Bandol hints for sure but definitely new world. Only 40 cases, and only a few left. There is a new red gold rush in California’s Sierra Foothills. — 4 years ago

Romain, Bob and 11 others liked this

Calera Wine Company

Mills Vineyard Pinot Noir

Mills vineyard in the Mt. Harlan AVA in San Benito County. Transparent ruby turning orange at the rim. Unmistakeably Pinot Noir in the nose (the French would say "ça pinote") with morello cherries and a subtle earthy spiciness that I associate with a very good Nuits-Saint-Georges. Gains complexity in the glass, very nice smell. Medium-bodied, very balanced with fruit, spices, and present, but well-tamed tannin, fine acidity, perfectly integrated oak and a long spicy finish. Great value too. Josh Jensen never lets you down!
Love the detailed information on the back label too. 2010 vintage, abv 13,8 %. 45 euro.
— 8 years ago

Tablas Creek Vineyard

Esprit Blanc de Tablas Roussanne Blend 2009

A tasting of six aged white Rhônes, including 20 and 35-year-old Hermitages vs a Chapoutier Saint-Joseph Blanc (Les Granits) a 19-year-old Esprit from Tablas Creek, and a Calera Mount Harlan Viognier. This 2009 Chapoutier was the winner for me, and the group. — 2 months ago

Eric, Vanessa and 15 others liked this

Aubert

Eastside Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2017

Ron R
9.5

Thought I’d check in on this bad boy, and all is well. Aubert could be the patron saint of Cali chards - he (inc. Kistler and Mount Eden) set the standard against which most of the multitude are judged. For me, this represents the dew of brilliance in a glass. When you taste it, it explains itself. The nose displays a hint of caramel, honeycomb and biscotti. The mid-palate is ethereal - at this point, you know you have fallen into good hands. Acidity is relaxed, and the oak treatment frames this up well. Finishes sweet with an uncommon density.
I’m modifying an author’s prose when I say, “Tasting wine is like viewing art. Most of it isn’t great, and the good stuff is out of our price range.” Aubert occupies the latter category.
— 2 years ago

Tom, Juan and 47 others liked this
Ira Schwartz

Ira Schwartz Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Ron R Spot on! Wine has created many friendships.
Norman Gennaro

Norman Gennaro Premium Badge

Been a while since I’ve bought a Mt Eden but always enjoyed them as well and thought they were more reasonable than the Peter Michael /Aubert/Kongs. The Chards are getting into the stratosphere which I find interesting since I thought that hype trend had faded.
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Relative to Cabernet and some other reds, relatively speaking, whites cause me less financial anxiety. In addition, I wake up in the morning feeling much better.

Lucy Margaux Vineyards

Jaspers Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir

Winner lunch Pinot at Saint Crispin, unfined, unfiltered, cloudy sherbet. Basket range. — 8 years ago

Scott, Aaron and 1 other liked this

Tablas Creek Vineyard

Antithesis Chardonnay 2005

A tasting of six aged white Rhônes, including 20 and 35-year-old Hermitages vs Chapoutier Saint-Joseph Blancs from Les Granits and a 19-year-old Esprit from Tablas Creek, Beaucastel's sister winery in Paso Robles, as well as one of the first great Viogniers to come out of California, the 2009 Calera Mount Harlan. The Tablas Creek held up well against these heavyweights, coming in second place. — 2 months ago

Ron, Juan and 15 others liked this

Beaver Creek

Reserve Horne Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

One of many neighbor offloads. Label says would mature up to 20 years, should have waited; didn't know if properly cellared previously. Mount Saint Helena terroir. Paired with TJ cocoa truffs — 2 years ago

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2004

On the flight from Dubai to Singapore . Ch Cos d'Estournel, 2004. Deeper core than the Quintet tasted alongside , less bright rim bordering on garnet , but young I suppose for the age , viscous legs . Classic cigar box , truffle and blackcurrant, cassis notes . Serious , cool vintage character. Lovely fruit on the palate , nice balancing acidity , cassis and darker fruits predominating. Tannins slightly drying , though this seems to be entering mid life they still may resolve . There is a nice quantity of fruit , but this does come across as an 'off vintage' , though I don't particularly like that term. Again elegant and reasonably long finish . An interesting pair of wines , this and the Mount Mary Quintet as it happens . — 7 years ago

Andy and Eckhard liked this

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Way too young! Maybe perfect in future but tonight the least in line with Clos Erasmus, quilceda Creek and Henkscke Mount Edelstone. — 8 years ago

MICHAEL, Wivino and 10 others liked this