Open Field

Field Recordings

Skins Chenin Blanc Blend

A nice surprise and fun wine — a month ago

Ted, Brandon and 1 other liked this

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1986

1986 vintage, Above average fill. Excellent cork with bottom quarter fully saturated. Decanted with respectable sed. Dark cherry skins color. Tasted after 15 mins. Light-medium body. Nose the usual aged/faintly cigar box intro. Flavors melded together nicely but ever so slightly tart. Delicate, long finish. Thinking the tartness would buff out after 45 minutes open but no chance to prove that theorem. 6.1.24. — 13 days ago

Ted, Jan and 20 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

Delectable Wine
9.5

The 2012 Opus One is a terrific choice for drinking now. Silky and beautifully perfumed, the 2012 is wonderfully open-knit in this tasting. The purity of the fruit is alluring, There's still a good bit of freshness, too. Naturally, the 2012 reflects the medium-bodied style that is typical of the year, but all the elements are very nicely balanced. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, rose petal, spice and blood orange linger. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2024)
— a month ago

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

It’s was fine. But underwhelming. Perhaps it was not quite ready to open. Decanted and long aeration helped but it’s still lacked the oomph I expect from a Latour. Fruit was mature but less focused than normal. Beautiful color though. — 4 days ago

Bob, Tom and 16 others liked this

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 1998

When Jamet with age is on it’s really on. ‘98 is showing beautifully tonight, fully open and giving wafting seductive and perfumed aromatics of ripe blackberry fruit, smoked meats, camphor and exotic spices with an elegant, satiny palate with melting tannins and a stunningly long finale. Beautiful wine, and for my tastes at its peak. — a month ago

Jan, Tom and 5 others liked this

Field Recordings

FREDDO Sangiovese

Brick red, transparent. Dark cherries dominating the nose with other aromas of stone fruits and florals. Well balanced with a slight effervescent zip. Dry, chilled red perfect for those days where you crave the body of a red at a chilled temp. Would be great for a park picnic or summer time grilling. — 2 months ago

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

Shay A
9.2

Annual birthday WWC hosting. As normal, 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert, all presented blind.

Fun to open birth year wines around your birthday, especially when you can do a Bordeaux and Napa side by side. While not a great vintage, this held up well after a few hours and presented as expected. Clean and zero Brett. Great color! Deep ruby with hardly any bricking. Leather, cassis, vanilla pipe tobacco on the nose. Sporting a good bit of dusty red and black fruits (mostly tart raspberries and blackberries), there was a little savory truffle note mixed with an herbal and mocha finish. Still quite grippy. Pretty.
— 2 months ago

Pinotman, Tom and 18 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1995

1995 vintage. Good fill. Excellent cork with minimal saturation. Decanted and throwing a tad extra sediment…a nice mix of chunky and powdery sed. Tasted after 30 minutes and 2 hours open and decanted. Light-medium body. Dark cherry and earth in the nose. These transferred over and slapped on a fudge chocolate note on the finish. In a good place now and not improving. Would seem to hold steady in this standing for another 3-4 years. 6.6.24. — 8 days ago

Lyle, Andrew and 27 others liked this

Silver Oak

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Took about an hour to open up. — a month ago

Juan, Tom and 4 others liked this
Lee Tian

Lee Tian

Can you give me a contact? I would like to know more

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1986

Initially this was incredibly closed, but after 2 hours in the decanter it’s starting to open, tannic, very structured, very 1986 in its leanness, but incredible depth and length, not perfect, but still outstanding!! — 2 months ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Tom, Ron and 12 others liked this
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

Lean doesn’t sound so good.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Bob McDonald, I personally have mostly felt that 1986 Bordeaux reds have always shown super tight and structured, but without the riper, rounder fruit of other vintages like 1982, 1985, 1989 and 1990) — so, my use of “lean” is really intended to convey that the fruit never completely overcomes the harsh tannins and structure. I would say that after a few hours in the decanter, I’d be pretty confident that it will easily last another 10-20 years, or more. Ultimately I like my Bordeaux to show a little more elegance and charm. Hope that helps.
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

@Doug Powers Thanks for your thoughts Doug. I recall Jancis commenting on this wine “wondering if the tannins would ever resolve”. Obviously built for the ultra long haul. I might try my first one in the next year or so.