Shoe Shine Wine

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

What a nose. Deep plush plummy fruit with violets, roses, bloodiness, iron. This is so lively and bright still. Very delineated and plush but with structure that makes everything shine. Lush and gorgeous. — 2 months ago

Bex GreenDavid Schachter
with Bex and David
Mark, Shay and 14 others liked this

Pierre Gonon

Saint-Joseph Syrah 2017

Is there a better SJ on the planet? This had a shoe polish, glycerin note with a silky, elegant texture showing black cherry, raspberry, black olive, sweet & savory spices, graphite & violets. — 4 months ago

Severn, Tom and 11 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

To answer your question...probably not.
Conrad Green

Conrad Green Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Agreed. Only the Trollat is better and they’re rarer than hen’s teeth and 10x the cost. These are made from the same vines as far as I’m aware and they’re as good as the very best Northern Rhône’s. Our palates are, as usual, aligned
Ron Siegel

Ron Siegel Premium Badge

I have only been able to try the 96 Trollat. As you stated super rare & rarely seen.

Vietti

Castiglione Barolo Nebbiolo 2019

Ming L
9.2

This, along with the Massolino Serralunga d’Alba bottling, are my go-to regular Barolo.

Excellent fruits and acidity as usual, the ‘19 has quite firm tannins, and will require longer cellar time than the ‘15 or ‘16 to truly shine.
— 10 months ago

Tom, Daniel P. and 1 other liked this

Cantina Bartolo Mascarello

Barolo Nebbiolo 1964

Very light. Cherry and light still acidity. Soft and long. Maybe needs a bit more time in bottle to really shine. Surprising given the vintage — 2 months ago

BOT Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with BOT, Matt and 1 other
Tom, Juan and 6 others liked this

Laurent-Perrier

Grand Siècle Grande Cuvée Champagne Blend

Wow! Delicate bubbles let the chard and Pinot noir shine through. A bit of vanilla and bright lemon and brioche. Not too dry and a lovely bright mouth feel. Fantastic! — 4 months ago

The Mascot

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Jan A
9.4

The Mascot is made from the young vines of Harlan, Promitory and Bond and you can really taste the royal pedigree here. Still in the fruit/primary phase with drying tannins. Very singular palate with a lot of concentration. Give these some additional cellar time to really shine. 95/96 potential — 5 months ago

Tom, Peter and 13 others liked this
John Van Trijp

John Van Trijp Premium Badge

Give it a day of decanter next time

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 1981

Perfumed nose of black & red fruits, shoe polish, tar, savory spice, menthol & dried rose petal. Btl was pulled from an owc. — 2 years ago

Eric, Mike and 19 others liked this

Williams Selyem

Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2014

David T
9.5

I may have posted close to a hundred Williams Selyem’s. These are just ok young. It is when they hit 10-15 years they shine. This one is really good tonight after nearly two-hours decanted.

Nose of floral; dark cherries, black plum, blackberries, black raspberries, plum with hues of blueberries. Softly layered baking spices-cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, baking soda, black cherry licorice nibs, red cola, steeped black tea, sandalwood to cedar, sandstone-limestone mixed marl and brilliant, bright, dark, red, blue flowers framed in violets and lavender.

The palate is, rich, lush and juicy fruits of; dark cherries, black plum, blackberries, black raspberries, plum with hues of blueberries. Softly layered baking spices-cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, baking soda, dark spices, black cherry licorice nibs, red cola, steeped black tea, sandalwood to cedar, sandstone-limestone mixed marl, dark, rich, turned earth and brilliant, bright, dark, red, blue flowers framed in violets and lavender, cool, spring shower acidity, excellently; structured, tensioned, balanced with a brilliantly elegant & polished near two-minute finish. Impressive & impressive style.
— 2 months ago

Juan, Paul and 17 others liked this

Sandhi Wines

Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

Medium to full bodied Pinot from Sta. Rita Hills. Medium weight in the glass with notes of red berries, cinnamon, damp earth and spice. Decent length in the finish. This could use another 2-3 yrs and really shine. — 5 months ago

Williams Selyem

Eastside Road Neighbors Pinot Noir 2013

David T
9.3

I get why people who generally always review this producer as just good consuming it young. This is ten years from birth, eight years in bottle and it is still not at its peak. it has ten years and perhaps more properly stored. Very good tonight but better things ahead. It takes this long and longer for WS Pinots to shine.

The palate is, juicy, ripe, rich, a bit lush; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, purple fruits, hues of blueberries, plum and ripe to dry strawberries with a pomegranate overlay. Then, dry earthiness, top soil, crushed rocks & powdery limestone & chalkiness, dark spices, some black pepper, dry brush, eucalyptus, tree sap, sun tea, black and red cola/licorice, drier tobacco, barrel dust to shavings, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanilla, touch of dry herbs-bay leaves & sage, bright red, pink, blue, purple florals framed in dark slightly withering florals, rain shower acidity, the finish is; well structured & balanced in fruit, earth & flowers, some more tension than I like but will soften & fade nicely in 3-5 years. But, wire to wire really even and stunning. Evolution & integration is good but needs 3-5 years to be its best. Coravin glass.

IMHO, one of the outstanding CA Pinot producers. Walter Hansel gives them a run for the money at their fantastic price point.
— 7 months ago

Severn, Dawn and 18 others liked this