Pinot Franc

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2006

Served alongside beef short rib, xo sauce, pickled mustard seed, cumin stir-fried asparagus. This bottle of 2006 was throwing a ton of sediment. Showing mostly red fruits with red currants, new leather, tobacco, earth, forest floor, baking spices…a touch green. Hello Cabernet Franc!! Good structure. The finish is long. Every time I have the opportunity to enjoy Sassicaia, I am reminded why it’s one of the great wines of Italy. I just wish it wasn’t so expensive. Drink now through 2036. — 13 days ago

Ira, Jan and 15 others liked this

Hirsch Vineyards

San Andreas Fault Pinot Noir 2012

Has some fight, bite, and spice. Dark persona, firmly structured with a core of sandy salinity, a little weight and tannic tension. Wild sour green strawberries, unripe raspberries, cedar lining.

Reserved, but punchy.
— 19 days ago

Shay, ESF and 12 others liked this
Jay Kline

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Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

Buy this year in year out. A benchmark Pinot for CA.
Ely Cohn

Ely Cohn Premium Badge

@Pinotman /// Andreas agreed. I bought these on site a decade ago. Beautiful place too

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2014

Cena xon carlos gaytan y david wolf con los winegeeks el@paso jrz — 3 days ago

Jan, Billy and 4 others liked this

Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier

Clos de la Maréchale Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2019

Beautiful vintage that is still primary showing lots of dark cherry, raspberry fruit, spice, earth, orange peel with rose petal & violet — 6 days ago

Tom, Shay and 3 others liked this

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)

La Tâche Pinot Noir 2013

2013 vintage. Both excellent fill and cork. Decanted with infinitesimal sed. Slightly silvery color. Tasted after 1.5 and 2.5 hours open. Medium body. Nose slightly reticent during both tastes. Black tea and eucalyptus prominent first go round with both those still present but minimized second pass. Sprinkle in some cracked black pepper and white sage for round two and we have a winner. Finish lasted over a minute and the concentration was as expected given the decent street cred. No rush to crush but open waay early/decant this if enjoying in the next handful of years. 10.24.24. — 22 days ago

Ira, Bob and 24 others liked this

Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé

Cuvée Vieilles Vignes Musigny Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2001

Soulful and enchanting. Beautiful presence on the midpalate. Cool and collected. Dark plum and tangy cherry. Good grip and a pretty long finish. Quite masculine still — 22 days ago

Chris ThalkenAlec FeinsteinJean-Francois Pelletier
with Chris, Alec and 1 other
Austin, Lyle and 16 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1985

Enjoyed alongside some other Napa legends from the 80’s and 90’s. The 1985 is lovely and came more than willing, with a mix of tart, ripe and desiccated red fruits, Montmorency cherries, red currants, graphite, toasted coconut, leather and nuts. There was a slightly sherried character early on the nose but the structure seemed to defy age. No need to cellar further as this is delicious now and well stored examples should continue to be through 2030+. — 13 days ago

Jan, Ira and 12 others liked this

Domaine Serene

Evenstad Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2001

Shay A
9.3

Color me shocked. Up there with one of the more surprising bottles of the year (alongside an old Carlisle Cardiac Syrah). Had very little hope, but was completely and pleasantly surprised.

Cork split in two coming out. Trusty Durand saved the day. First small pour was not encouraging…lots of funk. After leaving alone for 30mins, the faded ruby with tinge of black in the glass had aromatics of sous bois, black tea, and dirty red and black berries. On the palate, this was elegant showing more herbal/earthy notes, dark berry fruit in the background, sweet pipe tobacco and a still-tart finish with both acidity and tannin. I have to admit that if someone said this was older burgundy, I could see it in the realm of possibilities. No sappy, rich, cola type notes here. Open and enjoy!
— 18 days ago

Tom, Joshua and 24 others liked this

Domaine des Lambrays

Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2020

Delectable Wine
9.7

The 2020 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru has real intensity on the nose. It's very well-defined with layers of black cherry and blue fruit, mineral-driven with hints of violet emerging with aeration. But this is backward and holding itself back. The palate has exquisite balance. It's a little granular in texture, lightly spiced bordering on peppery, building beautifully in the mouth to exert an insistent grip on the finish. There is a grandeur about this Grand Cru that keeps you entranced, but it will demand time in bottle. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, October 2024)
— 16 days ago

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1975

Another great btl from a vintage I have had many times. This was fresh and drinking much younger than its age with red, black fruits, currant, cedar, leather, earth, sweet spices, tobacco & cigar ash — 6 days ago

Tom, Shay and 9 others liked this