Ruta 22
Hendry
Blocks 7 & 22 Napa Valley Zinfandel 2021
Philippe Alliet
Chinon Cabernet Franc
Much smoother than in 2021 when first had the 2018 vintage. It’s thrown a lot of sediment. $22. — a year ago
Long Shadows Vintners
Pedestal Columbia Valley Merlot 2016
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Dark inky in color with a reddish rim.
Very pretty nose with black fruits, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, Indian spices, cola and light black tea.
Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, chocolates, toast, light vanilla, dark coffee, Indian spices, light cola licorice and peppercorn.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious 9 year old Merlot from Columbia Valley. Rich and extracted. Spicy and entertaining.
Peaking now and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 3 hours of airtime.
Nicely balanced with a soft mouthfeel. Smooth and elegant. Fruit forward and tangy. The high alcohol is well integrated by now.
Good by itself as a sipping wine.
A blend of 75% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged for 22 months in (85% new) French Oak barrels.
14.9% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$75. — 14 days ago
Château Saint-Pierre
St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2012
2012 vintage. 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot. An excellent effort in a largely forgotten vintage. Cassis, blackberries, cedar, and Pauillac-like lead pencil. — a year ago
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2014
2014 vintage. Already rocking and a-rolling splishing and a-splashing. No one does silk and gossamer elegance better. Only getting better in the near term and far beyond. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 7% Cab Franc and 6% Petite Verdot. Always a top fave. — 3 years ago
Viña Cartín
Ruta 49 Albariño
Excellent wine for TJs! Mineral, very light green apple, citrus. Great with food or alone. Chilled. — 6 months ago
Château Fleur Cardinale
Grand Cru Classé Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2012
Drank 12 /7/23.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!
Scents of plum, blackberry, currant, and chocolate. Flavors are similar, with blackberry, plum sauce, and soil. Tannins are still firm, but, well integrated and mix with black fruits on the long finish. This one goes on for over a minute. Drinking well now, but showing no signs of slowing down. This should last another 10 plus years, but is in a nice place now.
4/22/8/4/5 +50 = 93 pts.
Great with a NY strip, but even better with the balsamic glaze that complimented it. This pairs wonderfully with sweet dark fruit flavors. — a year ago
Château Calon-Ségur
Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2001
‘01 is drinking beautiful in ‘22. Primo. 21 years old is drinking age, how about that?
This wine has aged beautifully and remains strong. Dense and rich, but soft and supple. I’m leaning heavily into the current and jammy notes that remain, but the obvious flavors are the old leather, tobacco, and sage.
Color comes out dark ruby red, but after about an hour in the glass you can see the oxygen taking hold. No decanting required. Glad I bought two of these! — 3 years ago
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego
2021 vintage. The best, sub $20 resto cost Napa/Sonoma Zin I've had in ages. May hafta pick up a few cases. Excellent balance and concentration throughout. Gives me hope for CA Zinfandel that I've not had in nearly two decades. That's a whole lotta Zin under the bridge. 0 — a day ago