Pinot Franc

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)

Échézeaux Pinot Noir

15 is a vintage I like — a hot year. This time I also drank it in two sessions: half the bottle from a decanter at the restaurant, and the remaining half the next morning.

Right after opening: the floral notes were so beautiful. Violets lingered around the rim of the glass like vines, and the tart plum and red fruit flavors were very sweet. Many people say sandalwood — I didn’t get it.

The next morning: fruit, game, wood smoke, and a savory, saline hint of seafood sauce. Grand Echézeaux still has more structure than Echézeaux. In the same vintage it has earthy and cedar notes; this one is a little lighter, not as muscular — which is the style I like. It has backbone, but the backbone isn’t that hard.

Palate: full-bodied, powerful, and concentrated. The tannins are firm but fine-grained. Even on the second day the acidity was excellent, and the finish was extremely long. Love it.
— 5 days ago

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2006

3L. Textbook Pauillac. Proper yet lifeless - at Chris & Mary’s — 2 days ago

Scott@Mister, jesus and 5 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Guado al Tasso Bolgheri Superiore Red Bordeaux Blend 2021

Super Tuscan blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (58%), Cabernet Franc (29%) and Merlot (13%). Dark ruby color. Aromas of red and black fruit, anise,purple flowers and leather. Flavors of black cherry/plum/berry fruit, black licorice, cocoa powder and sweet baking spices. Lovely mineral and minty tones on the long and lingering finish. Silky tannins and a velvety texture. Loaded with finesse and wonderful freshness. Enjoyed with Petey and Kase (Thanks Guys) on the beach in Cape May, NJ. — 13 days ago

Joel, Tom and 4 others liked this

Failla

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2023

Akiko bday w/ lamb shank — 9 days ago

Hirsch Vineyards

San Andreas Fault Pinot Noir 2022

David Hirsch passed away this week - so this is a tough one. Gained complexity with time 4 days under Argon gas line. Mostly raspberry driven. No cherry here…. — 2 months ago

Ira, Tom and 7 others liked this

Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier

Clos de la Maréchale Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Pinot Noir

Drink je droomwijnen diner@rijks. from magnum and very open and giving from the get go. Warm burgundy fruits, balanced with beautiful oak and a long finish. You cannot not like this wine. While this is ready it still has decade(s) in the tank. — 2 days ago

jesus and Dick liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2015

Number 1 on Spectator in 2018 — 4 days ago

Joe, Stef and 1 other liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2016

Jan A
9.6

A lovely glass of wine that is already surprisingly easy drinking — 11 days ago

Lisanne, Jelle and 8 others liked this

Sea Smoke

Southing Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023

delicious biodynamic Sta Rita pinot. tons of salinity and characteristic terroir. — 23 days ago

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2001

Opened about 90min prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2001 Monte Bello pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of black currants, blackberries, plum, tobacco, purple flowers, an intoxicating mix of exotic Eastern spices, some cocoa, inorganic earth and minerals. On the palate? The wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long and impeccably balanced. To my palate, this bottle has reached the age when Monte Bello starts to really become interesting. What a delight! Drink now with some air, through 2051. — a month ago

Juan, Jeroen and 11 others liked this

Domaine des Lambrays

Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2005

2005 vintage.
Rich black cherries, cocoa spice, orange peel, dark flowers, subois and earthy.
Long generous finish with crisp acidity and fine grained tannins.
This was bequeathed to me years ago at a Celebration of Life for a gentleman who was greatly influential and guiding on my wine journey.
A stunning wine from an incredible individual.
Cheers everyone.
🥂🥂
— 2 months ago

Peter, Joel and 2 others liked this
Peter van den Besselaar

Peter van den Besselaar Influencer Badge

Special moments, Jamie. I once got a Gloria 1959 from a wine reseller who liked my youthful enthusiasm. The birthyear of my wife, we drank it with the birth of our first child. 🫶
Jamie Lauder

Jamie Lauder

Indeed Peter.
We carry them with us.
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

A very meaningful wine. Nice.

Belle Glos

Clark & Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018

Ming L
9.2

The house style is still here with ripe, slightly over extracted blue fruits, baking spices, cocoa, and a plush velvety palate. But the fruits become less confectionary and some savory components have emerged. Acidity seems more apparent. Really nice integration.

I think Pinot bottlings from Belle Glos are at their best with 5-8 years bottle aging. This is another proof.
— 22 days ago

Joel, Tom and 1 other liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1985

Presented double-blind at dinner. The wine pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core and a slightly orange rim with considerable variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated fruit: black currants, blackberries, plum, pipe tobacco, capsicum, pencil shavings, a touch leather, organic earth and a mix of dried herbs and some fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Really tasty stuff.

Initial conclusions: this is an old wine, likely 30-40 years old. That being said, it’s still very distinguishable as it’s showing varietal characteristics. This could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or a blend thereof), Cabernet Franc (or a blend thereof), or Merlot (or a blend thereof). I can see this being Napa because the fruit is still showing some generosity. But there’s a lot of non-fruits there too. Regardless, this was giving Left Bank vibes so I could also see this being Bordeaux from a great vintage like 1982. And that’s my call, Cabernet Sauvignon-blend from France, Bordeaux, Saint-Estèphe, from a classified growth like Calon-Ségur. Shucks. But I’m not mad about my choice! Old Opus One’s are tricky to differentiate. Drinking very well right now but this will live well past 2035.
— 15 days ago

ESF, Peter and 10 others liked this

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne 2016

2016 Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Champagne 🍾 🥂Cheers — 16 days ago

Tom, Joseph and 23 others liked this

Laurent-Perrier

Cuvée Rosé Brut Champagne 1812

Always hits the spot 🎯 — a month ago

Deked1
with Deked1
Deked1, Dave and 11 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Sedona?
Vanessa

Vanessa

@Sharon B Thank you 🙏It was a beautiful setting, indeed! Cheers 🥂
Vanessa

Vanessa

@Somm David T You nailed it! 🎯 👏🌵

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2016

Paul K
9.6

Love this! — a month ago

Juan, Dave and 23 others liked this
Neil Valenzuela

Neil Valenzuela

Solid wine. Cheers!