

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!' — 4 years ago
Consistent with the Opus lead pencil, dark chocolate, and dark cherry fruit. Tannins are rich and refined. This is delicious. — 5 years ago
2021 opened April 2025. This is a luscious wine, but I can’t help but nitpick. All the individual components are very one-dimensional. That’s not to say they all don’t work together well to make a great wine – but there’s nothing challenging on the palate about this vintage. If you like the monolithic cabs produced by Opus 1, then this wine is for you. However, I’d prefer a little more quirky individualism in my tipples.
The nose is overwhelmingly tobacco. The front is heavy with red fruit. The tannic structure is heavy, smooth, and silky. It has a medium long finish with hints of volcanic minerals. This wine is so perfect that it’s boring. If you like perfect perfection then up my score to 100 points, but I like the little challenges that quirky vintages give me. — a year ago
One of the best California Syrahs. 3% Viognier. Basket pressed. Unfiltered, unfixed. Violets, black fruits, dried apricots. Overture of herbal spices, honey and cocoa. — 4 years ago
I quite enjoyed this wine, but difficult following up after an Opus One! — 5 years ago
Mondavi wine dinner with:
Carlo Mondavi of RAEN
Tim Mondavi of Continuum
Chiara Mondavi of Sentium
WINES
2022 Sentium sav blanc
2018 RAEN Charles Ranch chard
2023 RAEN lady Marjorie chard
2015 RAEN homefield pinot
2023 RAEN seafield pinot
2014 RAEN Bodega pinot
2023 RAEN Bodega pinot
1991 Robert Mondavi reserve cab..YUM!!!
1980 Opus One (2nd vintage!!!!!!)
2013 Continuum cab
2022 Continuum cab
1968 Madeira, Portugal Boal
FOOD
Sea scallop
Lobster thermidor with wild fennel
Liberty duck
Fresh shelling beans..baked beans in a can for the Mondavi reserve and Opus. Fun
Coal roasted A5 wagyu beef
Medjool date — 7 months ago

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! — 2 years ago
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. — 5 years ago
"Odedi"
Inky in color with a reddish rim.
Fruity nose of black currants, plums, licorice, light cedar, earth, cola, herbs, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, black tea and light garigge notes.
Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with black plums, currants, oak, light licorice, spices, dark chocolates, earth, tobacco leaf, cola, herbs, peppercorn and light vegetables.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This young Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley is already drinking beautifully. Rich and fruit forward. Nicely balanced with a smooth mouthfeel. Elegant and complex, spicy and tangy.
Delicious now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.
The alcohol is nicely integrated already, although not as high as typically from this region.
Robert Parker 95 points. Wine Spectator 92 points.
I've had a few vintages of this wine and this is not my favorite, by far.
A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.
A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 1% Malbec.
14% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$450. — 24 days ago