Rowanston On The Track
Château Lynch-Moussas
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1996
Still plenty of life left, but use the Durand
K&L notes as follows, it is better than their 2000! We have been following the property for the last five years and we think it is on a great track with their new releases, but try this 20+ yr old beauty. It is elegant and has a long, lingering finish. Smokey, toasty aromas, tons of cassis fruit on the palate. In a blind tasting at K&L (January 2019), one of our top Bordeaux staff thought it was a first growth Pauillac from the 80s. A steal at this price.
Drink from 2019 to 2022 — 5 years ago
Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen
Eroica Columbia Valley Riesling 2018
Bright, light yellow. Gingery Granny Smith apple, lime and minerals on the nose, plus a whiff of orange blossom. Round on entry, then sappy, supple and intense in the middle palate, showing enticing mineral and spicy lift to its very pure citrus fruit and apple flavors. There's substantial residual sugar (16.9 grams per liter) here but brisk balancing acidity (8.6 g/l). The element of saline minerality carries through on the long aftertaste, titillating the taste buds. This, too, is a steal for the price and pretty irresistible right now. And that's almost a shame, as this Riesling has a track record of gaining in interest with cellaring. (Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, December 2020) — 6 years ago
Josef Chromy
Pepik Tasmania Pinot Noir 2018
The 2016 was one of my finds of the year last year, but unfortunately the 2017 was almost undrinkably bad... however, it seems the 2018 is back on track. Nice wine. — 6 years ago
The Dalmore
King Alexander III Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
P. Licht-Bergweiler
Brauneberger Juffer Auslese Riesling 1994
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Our Pops conductor Keith Lockhart is leading a live-to-picture performance of Star Wars: A New Hope, a showing of the classic 1977 film, with the Orchestra performing Mr. Williams’ iconic score.
For live-to-picture productions, the orchestra performs the entire movie score in real time as the film unspools. (Vocals, dialogue and effects are isolated from the original music track.)
Generally we get to hear Star Wars scores a couple times per season here at Tanglewood, but tonight we get a chance to hear them with the backdrop of the movie (Episode IV) that launched a franchise, to say the least!
I celebrated another full trip around the sun, since my coming into this world, earlier this week. Tonight my wife, some dear friends and me will be enjoying some enticing wines along with our movie night. So notes...maybe, but I'll try! — 7 years ago
Raul Pérez
Ultreia La Claudina Bierzo Godello 2020
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. Although this is Godello from Bierzo, this was meant to be a fun counter example to Sketch which is arguably a bit unique when it comes to Raul Pérez’s typical style. The 2020 “La Claudina” pours a deeper straw color with notes of lemons, grapefruit, Brazil nuts, hazel nuts (yeah, it’s definitely more in the oxidative style) and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and saline with a slightly sherried, creamy texture. Charming stuff and definitely something I would like to track over time. Enjoy now through 2035. — 2 years ago
Mayacamas Vineyards
Mt. Veeder Chardonnay 2017
Back on track.
Paid $40 in NYC, and it’s worth every cent. Simple white wine stems cos we enjoy using them. Honeysuckle and citrus fruits on the nose and palate. Glorious way to mark the weekend with wifey. — 4 years ago
Jones Family Vineyard
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Nose has ripe plum, mashed blackberries, dark chocolate powder, strawberry jam on leather, molasses, molasses cookies, wet soil, nutmeg and vanilla bean.
Palate has blackberry compote, black cherry reduction, partially dried plum, wet baking spice, wet+dry leather, dark chocolate shavings, (light) oak/vanilla influence remains. Extended finish, really starting to pick up incredibly at 3-4H in the decanter.
Paired with Allen Bros. ribcap (USDA Prime version) tonight, unfortunately our grill has a 4ft. snow drift in front presently so the best I can muster was a super hot cast iron pan from the oven, then onto stove with lots of butter and in 7m total we had beef to die for...Which I had some competition for dining this evening.
This bottle was a very generous gift from my West Coast brother @David T from earlier in the year. My work travel schedule was hectic and never found a good time to settle in on a weekend with the wine or pairing, until now. (I've lost track of the amount of COVID tests I've done in the past 5M, but all have been negative 🙏 to date.) A fabulous gift to enjoy now that I'm hopefully relaxing for the next 2w...
Happy Holidays to everyone.🎄 — 6 years ago
Château Rayas
Réservé Pignan Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache 2007
Intense dark blackcurrant and tarragon, cracked black pepper, dark cherry covered in dark chocolate on the nose.
Palate rich, opulant, generous and sharing. Just an incredible amount of flavors to keep track. Black tea, more and more tarragon, black raspberry. Just a hint of alcohol at the finish. Every flavor and texture has direction and intention. — 6 years ago
Domaine de la Côte
Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2013
Young version of this wine ... on track to exactly what I like in Cali Pinot noir. Stems, ethereal nose, light weight but with grip. — 7 years ago
Domaine Bernard-Bonin
Initiales B.B. Bourgogne Chardonnay 2015
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Our Pops conductor Keith Lockhart is leading a live-to-picture performance of Star Wars: A New Hope, a showing of the classic 1977 film, with the Orchestra performing Mr. Williams’ iconic score.
For live-to-picture productions, the orchestra performs the entire movie score in real time as the film unspools. (Vocals, dialogue and effects are isolated from the original music track.)
Generally we get to hear Star Wars scores a couple times per season here at Tanglewood, but tonight we get a chance to hear them with the backdrop of the movie (Episode IV) that launched a franchise, to say the least!
I celebrated another full trip around the sun, since my coming into this world, earlier this week. Tonight my wife, some dear friends and me will be enjoying some enticing wines along with our movie night. So notes...maybe, but I'll try!
Declassified Meursault! — 7 years ago
Chrystelle Michel Guyot
Cornas Syrah 2017
Johann’s sister and a very very rare wine. Nose has huge granite, red and black berry fruit but it’s more on the redder side. But granitic minerals dominate. Very different than Johann. Palate is wonderful. Granite driven and has great freshness as a result of that and tons of red berry fruit and luscious tannjns. So juicy and just shimmering. Especially for a a Cornas. Long. Really long. Superb. The structure is classic Cornas but the bright granitic minerality is unique to this wine. I’ll track this with air. As this airs it gets so much silkier. Wow. This is so good. Mid now is getting more opulent. Really silky, sexy wine. Almost a 9.6. — 3 years ago
Alban Vineyards
Seymour's Vineyard Syrah 2009
John Alban’s flagship wine in my opinion, the 2009 Seymour’s is on a much faster evolutionary track than is typical of this cuvee. Usually with the Seymour’s you can expect it to start getting approachable around 8-10 years out, but this one is clearly in the middle-late part of its life. Still has a lot of development ahead of it, but much of the tannic backbone has faded away, so the wine is drinking well immediately upon opening. The nose is more on the elegant side for a Seymour’s that’s this young. Definitely evolved in the glass over the course of an hour or two, and was beautifully balanced throughout. Still, if you have this vintage I’d be careful about forgetting about it on a time scale you typically would for Seymour’s. Enjoy it now or over the next few years. — 5 years ago
Giovanni Corino
Vigna Giachini Barolo Nebbiolo 2012
Tasted double-blind. The wine presented as dark ruby but one could see through it (this should have been my clue; but I ignored that). On the nose, bright red fruits, some baking spices, some vanilla...tasted like it had seen French barrique. On the palate, there was a sweet attack with candied cherries and baking spices. Medium, long finish. Good balance. Firm but not punishing tannins. Good acid. I thought this was a 2015 Merlot-based, right bank Bordeaux from a good producer. I was completely out of sorts with this wine and to be honest, I can’t really blame myself since I rarely drink modern Barolo. I should have eliminated Bordeaux varietals based off the color alone which would have probably put me on a better track. Anyway, this bottle lacked a lot of the characteristics I crave in more traditional Barolo but was a good enough wine in its own right...just not to my tastes. — 6 years ago
Sarah Francis
Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Though not the same as it was pre-COVID -19, a handful of us were able to gather (while keeping our distance) to celebrate being back together and opened some fun wines to share. Wine is always better with good company.
Here’s one you don’t see very often. Tiny producer who has a track record of doing magical things with this vineyard. This falls in to the hedonistic type bucket. My first glass was like smelling a freshly baked mixed berry pie being pulled out of the oven. Dark chocolate, Andes mint, baking spices, charcoal and sandalwood jump from the glass as well. It was both elegant but rich on the palate. Decidedly dark fruit driven on the palate (less of the red fruit profile I typically get from GIII vineyard) as well as lavender, plum and currant. Lengthy finish that is delicious but still very youthful. Thanks for opening @Benjamin Keator — 6 years ago
Clendenen Family Vineyards
The Pip Santa Maria Valley Nebbiolo 2014
#Nebbiolo is a surprisingly rare grape. Even in its native Piedmont, it accounts for only 8% of vineyard land. There are fewer than 100 hectares planted in the United States. 🕵️♂️🍇
Over 80% of prewar Italian immigrants came from Sicily and Southern Italy. Piedmont was the wealthiest and most politically dominant region. But if fortunes were reversed, could Nebbiolo have taken Primitivo/Zinfandel’s place as a grape relatively uncommon on the boot but dominant in California? 🤔🇮🇹🇺🇸
Probably not. The Nebbiolo vine is *not* for beginners. It flowers early and ripens late, making it susceptible to both spring and autumn frosts. It loves the occasional fog bath (some say the name is derived from ‘nebbia’, Italian for fog ☁️☁️☁️) but is prone to the mildew that may result from such humid conditions. Its fussiness would make Pinot Noir blush: it demands southwesterly exposure, a proper gradient, constant sun above, and fog licking at its toes. #diva
Sound anything like California’s Central Coast? 🌅
In the Santa Maria Valley, where the East-West Transverse Range bends back into the North-South Coastal Range, it’s possible. Vineyard selection still requires extreme discretion - an eye like @JimClendenen’s, perhaps.
Jim began the Nebbiolo program at the legendary #BienNacido vineyard in 1994. Production is small, but if you track down his “The Pip” Nebbiolo, it will only run you about $30. You’ll believe anything is possible when you have real California Nebbiolo of this quality come wafting out of the glass at you! 🙌🙌
🏞.“The Pip” is named after Jim’s old cellar dog Pip, a border collie. So it only seemed right to include one of our own pips! 🐈 — 7 years ago
Freddy R. Troya
Macchia – Delicious Barbera 2023
Lodi, California – USA 🇺🇸
Overview
Barbera may be native to Italy, but in Lodi it thrives in the warm days and cool nights, producing generous, fruit-driven wines. Macchia has built a reputation for crafting some of the most expressive New World Barberas, with a track record of winning international medals (including Gold at the International Barbera Competition in Italy for earlier vintages). This 2023 vintage keeps that pedigree alive with a vibrant, approachable style.
Aromas & Flavors
Explodes with blackberry, ripe plum, and dark cherry layered with chocolate, spice, and hints of licorice. There’s an intensity of fruit without losing freshness, showing why Barbera adapts so beautifully outside its homeland.
Mouthfeel
Juicy, full of energy, with supple tannins and balancing acidity. Medium-plus body with a long, fruit-forward finish dusted with cocoa and spice.
Food Pairing
Pairs effortlessly with rich tomato pasta, grilled lamb chops, or a hearty sausage pizza. Also excellent with strong cheeses that complement its ripe fruit core.
The Verdict
Macchia delivers again with a Barbera that’s as delicious as its name. The 2023 vintage stands out as a casual yet compelling New World take on an Old World classic—backed by a winery whose style already carries international pedigree.
✨ Personal highlight: This wine style has pedigree from past events, but the 2023 is very much its own statement. It’s “delicious” in every sense and shows how consistent Macchia has been across vintages. Cheers! — 9 months ago