Opus One Overture
Staglin Family Vineyard
Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 1997
Opened for a buddy’s birthday party. What a lovely surprise. Cork was a struggle, but hardly any seepage at all. On a table with a ridiculous amount of bottles, including standouts like ‘95 Opus, ‘85 Freemark Bosche, ‘74 Sterling Merlot, ‘13 Salon.
Pop and poured. Excellent youthful color! Deep ruby, hardly any bricking. Gorgeous aromatics of red and black berries, vanilla pipe tobacco, sweet spices. On the palate, it is wonderfully integrated and layered with stewed red and black fruits, fig, espresso, dusty coco (maybe fading signature Rutherford dust?), and a small bit of tannin at the finish keeping this buttoned-up and well structured. Excellent finish and balance. Held strong all evening. Seems as though this had a toe in the early ‘90s style of more bright Napa cabs and one toe in the late ‘90s/early ‘00s style of starting to increase ripeness…great marriage of the two. Pop and enjoy! — a year ago
Peju Province Winery
Fifty/Fifty Napa Valley Red Blend 2017
I quite enjoyed this wine, but difficult following up after an Opus One! — 4 years ago
Yvon Métras
Fleurie Gamay 2019
Notes are cumbersome, so no notes today but plus side, scores are honest and I should be a professional reviewer, LOL. (This wine was crazy, one of the best Gamay I've had...)
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this final afternoon with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our guest conductor Michael Tilson Thomas is leading IVES (Psalm 90) and BEETHOVEN (Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Opus 125).
After a two-year pause, we arrive again to the day when Beethoven concludes on these hallowed grounds. The 9th by Beethoven is always bittersweet for us, as it marks the end of the official Symphony and Pops season for the BSO at their Summer home. It is a wonderful and singularly emotive piece moved with the full force of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus (110+) conveying the message of a divine spark of joy that makes all people one. The music and the day almost bring me to tears on an annual basis...
'Freude, schöner Götterfunken!' / 'Joy, beauteous, godly spark!' — 3 years ago
Opus One
20th Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Consistent with the Opus lead pencil, dark chocolate, and dark cherry fruit. Tannins are rich and refined. This is delicious. — 4 years ago
Marie Demets
Brut Tradition Champagne Blend
NV | Champagne
(100% Pinot Noir)
Marie Demets; Tradition
Extra Brut-Blanc de Noirs
Côte des Bar; Gyé-sur-Seine, France
Tirage 5 March 2022 / Disgorged 7 June 2023
Lot No. T-22/2
(90-92; Drink 2024-30)
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this afternoon with the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra (the overly talented youth!). Our conductor Andris Nelsons is leading IVES (Three Places in New England, Orchestral Set No. 1), BEETHOVEN (Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Opus 37) and STRAUSS (Also sprach Zarathustra, Opus 30...aka 2001: A Space Odyssey, Stanley Kubrick❤️).
One of our local treasures, Emanuel Ax on piano for the Beethoven Concerto! — 8 months ago
Vineyard of Pasterick
Dry Creek Valley Syrah 2013
One of the best California Syrahs. 3% Viognier. Basket pressed. Unfiltered, unfixed. Violets, black fruits, dried apricots. Overture of herbal spices, honey and cocoa. — 3 years ago
Sequoia Grove
Morisoli Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
We had the 2012 Vintage on 10/24-25/21. SG produces an excellent wine at a reasonable price. Very near Opus One and less than half of that price. A bouquet of blackberry and cedar. Tastes of blackberry, plum, oak, kirsch and chocolate. A full bodied wine with a long finish. An excellent representative of the Napa floor. The tannins were fine but smoothed out. — 3 years ago
Lee Pitofsky
Opus One second wine. A beauty! Extremely giving already and pure velvet in the mouth — 4 days ago