On Giants' Shoulders

Produttori del Barbaresco

Riserva Rabaja' Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2019

Ambrosial bouquet with expressive notes of dried cherry, wild strawberry sauce, kirsch, mulberry, blueberry compote, violet, black tea, potpourri, black licorice, star anise, clove, vanilla, crushed stone, leather, and forest floor.

Highly structured, with broad shoulders, on the palate. It’s delicious now, even as a baby, with runway to age, soften, & gain additional dimension. 😍
— 4 months ago

Deked1
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Deked1, Ira and 21 others liked this

Mauro Vannucci

Riserva Carmignano Super Tuscan Blend 2017

This Carmignano DOCG wine marries Sangiovese and Bordeaux grapes like they were made for one another. Medium dark in the glass, the wine shows a bright cherry aroma, which turns into black cherry over time, as tar and smoke gather on the nose. The palate continues the dark theme, with a savory coat hung on the shoulders of the black fruit. The acidity is fresh, while the tannins provide plenty of power to take down beef, the fattier the better. — 4 years ago

Casey, Mike and 7 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

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Haven’t seen this producer before. Will keep an eye out.
Randy Fuller

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Tom, I hope you can find it. It's really good. Cheers.

L'Aventure

Estate Willow Creek District Rosé Blend 2019

Last three years this had been my fav domestic rose. Light salmon pink... but nice Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre blend. Nice weight on the palate... strawberry, rhubarb, cranberry, watermelon bites... juicy, dry, balanced. I have been pretty well over rose the past couple years... but I really find this one head and shoulders above most. Bravo Stephen Assao...I value your wines, your vision, your passion. — 5 years ago

Eric, Shay and 7 others liked this
Eric Urbani

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@Stephen Redenbaugh second that - one of the best in Paso

Papapietro Perry

777 Clones Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2017

2016 watching the Eagles best up on the Giants ! PPP never disappoints ! Great flavors , silky texture — 6 years ago

Au Bon Climat

Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir 2014

2014 drunk in 2024. I kept a bottle of this $14(!!) wine—2015 price—for 8 years on a hunch that it would hold up, and it did. I don’t know what it costs now, but back then it was head and shoulders the best American supermarket wine. — 8 months ago

Château Rayas

Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache Blend 2008

With a table full of giants , for many this was the WOTD. Text book Rayas on the nose; strawberry, cherry, spices and kirsch.
This is a wine that makes love to your palate. Teasing and caressing your mouth with harmonious waves of elegant and balanced fruit. A great Rayas in a poor vintage for CDP. However for me the partner in life is the 2005 , which has complexity and concentration that puts that one in the Hall of Fame along with ‘78, ‘90 & ‘95
— 2 years ago

Somm, Lyle and 45 others liked this
DD

DD

👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼
Ira Schwartz

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My bad , left out the ‘89

Domaine Sigalas

Santorini Assyrtiko 2019

Big shoulders on this one 👊🏻 Wax, citrus, coastal minerals, sea salt, oyster shells, honeycomb. This is awesome. — 5 years ago

Krystal Vento
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Krystal, Shay and 27 others liked this
Ryan Vento

Ryan Vento

Eye-opening is a good way to put it. Haven’t had Assyrtiko in years; this was the perfect selection to help me re-acclimate with the varietal.
Richard Jayson

Richard Jayson

Had this wine in Santorini last year. So happy to see it can be bought locally. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Bought it immediately and had it tonight with dinner.
Ryan Vento

Ryan Vento

@Richard Jayson Absolutely! Glad you were able to find some and relive the memories 🔥

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

42 years with big shoulders still in need of a generous decant . More than ample fruits and still has long life on front of her. Cork in great shape and very little sediment. — 2 years ago

Logan Edwards
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Eric, Austin and 15 others liked this

Domaine François Cotat

Chavignol Sancerre Pinot Noir Rosé 2007


When I went to open this wine for a friend who contributed to my wine education during the early years he immediately said, "Not until it was at least a decade on .” I shrugged my shoulders and buried it. I understand now. I had concerns as there was something floating around in the bottle. In the mouth it felt 3-D but never heavy. Flavors of watermelon , peach , red berries, and flavors quite frankly I had never experienced in a wine or could identify. At times it showed like a cocktail one would get on the beach , at other times like a complex sour ale. I feel confident in its youth it had a higher level of sweetness but like a great Riesling it perfectly integrated. A lingering juicy finish. I realize this wine would not be for everyone but for me one of my most memorable wine experiences and what I love about wine.. Honestly, my score is irrelevant.
— 4 years ago

Martin, Tom and 60 others liked this
Ira Schwartz

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@Severn Goodwin Lol , to be honest if I had more than one I would probably open it now because I’d be curious about the evolution. I have a ‘15 so that will sleep.
Severn Goodwin

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@Ira Schwartz We've got '12 thru '16, at least 3 of each. But they're out of my hands in storage. I'll pull some up maybe this Fall or next Spring.

Veritas Vineyard

Monticello Viognier 2015

Before anything I’m compelled to admit my bias and admiration for Veritas Vineyards. I love the place. And with that out of the way, I’m going to describe my experience with the ‘15 Viognier as I experienced it. No fancy words or “miraculously subtle” sorts of “mandatory praise” that one often comes across when they like what they try. The nose of the ‘15 Veritas Viognier brings about that warm feeling on your shoulders of a sunny day, out in the meadow. The exquisite approach and palate imbue the very essence of spring water in summer- round, lush and satisfying for a long, long way. The juicy finish succinctly acts as a juicy, last look and reflection of that gorgeous, borderline resplendent day in the sun that you NEEDED. As a proper & fitting coda, and as an element that only further drew me into this gorgeously-simple experience- it was a twist-off... which truly and most genuinely completed this wine’s perfection, for tonight. — 5 years ago

Beth Zitzman
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Beth and David liked this