So This Happened...

Thierry Allemand

Cornas Reynard (R) Syrah 2014

Medium ruby , quite wide medium ruby garnet rim . This is quite aromatic , with earthy sous bois , violets , black pepper , garrigue . On the palate quite elegant and dark fruited , bright acidity and quite strict tannins . Good cassis, blackberry , menthol touches , sous bois , grafite finish . This is ready and drinking well but will probably continue at this level for another 5-10 years or so. At Drouant Restaurant, Paris . — 9 hours ago

Dave, Daron and 3 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Do you live in Paris?
Andrew Cullimore

Andrew Cullimore Premium Badge

No @Dave , just here for a couple of days …. So any suggestions of places to go are very welcome ! Was impressed by the wine lists at Drouant to be honest , lots of depth and prices that were really quite reasonable, and the food was pretty good too …
Dave

Dave

I'm not sure where you're staying, but i always hang out at Robert et Louise. It's got a nice vibe, great food, and a sensible wine list. Prices are pretty good, too. Just across the river from Notre Dame. https://www.robertetlouise.com/

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Somm David T
9.6

I think if you read this nonsense I post, you know how I feel about this producer, past & present. This 07 is outstanding & top of its bell curve. It is so good to revisit these great vintages of Caymus Classic.

This is fresher than the 97. It is rich/lush, cassis to currents, ripe, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, raspberries & strawberries. Dark chocolate, mocha, classic, beautiful, Caymus Classic spice that I miss dearly in their new wines, black licorice, fudge, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg & vanillin, most top soil, limestone, dry herbs, dry tobacco, barrel shavings, taut leather, volcanic grey clay, dark, fresh & slightly withering flowers, violets, beautiful round acidity, balance, structure, nice tension and elegant finish that last minutes and falls on spice and evoluted earth tones.

This bottle is in fine shape. Still strong and will last another 10 years of fine drinking. Phenomenal vintage and time to enjoy.
— a month ago

Rob, Vanessa and 14 others liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2012

Plenty of tannins left. 25bucks. Those were the days! 14%| Quite classic. Browne tinge. Needs at least 2-3 hours of air. Quite harsh and astringent. Roses, earthy and dusty, very dry. Hint of truffles. - Not super exciting at first (15min) so wait. Will last another 10 years - but i do worry about the fruit component if you need space in your cellar - i would suggest drink up. I will. Some folks tend to hype these wines i don’t - after all this is their most basic version with a large production volume. Total volume is 500,000 bottles a year at this cooperative. My guess they to make a lot of this one. — a month ago

Tom, Rick and 7 others liked this
Dave

Dave

I believe I gave this wine an enthusiastic review as well. Cheers!

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2009

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour or so. No formal notes due to the setting. The 2009 seems to break from the reputation of the vintage with a freshness and verve that surprises. The typical quality of Cristal is there with its persistent mousse and attractive texture. Good acid too. Pretty tasty stuff and I’m not sure I would ever turn down a glass of this. Drink now through 2039. — 5 days ago

Lyle, Jeroen and 12 others liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2004

Medium ruby garnet quite narrow terracotta rim . Quite herbal , dried strawberry and red cherry nose , touch of iodine , sous bois , dried mushroom notes , discreet roasted coffee note after a while. Quite pretty red fruits on the palate with good freshness , strawberry , earthy cherry and a marine , iodine like note , sous bois underneath . Quite elegant and well balanced acidity with fine tannic grip . Good red fruit , earthy tinged finish . This is showing more advanced than the 2001 Reserva , and would like to try another bottle of this , as I suspect this half is a bit below par. On the basis of this bottle drink now and over the next 5 or so years . — a month ago

Tom, Shay and 4 others liked this

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

From magnum. Medium deep ruby , thin ruby rim . Deep and perfumed , floral with violets , iris , summer fruits , spicy notes and warm embers . Quite rich and ripely fruited , cassis , blackberry , sweet cherry . Good freshness and ripe , very fine tannins . Long and detailed , so elegant on the palate . Balanced Red currant , cassis tinged finish , mineral and saline hints . Come back in 5-10 years will show well over the next 10-15 years . This shows pretty similar to last year , a really elegant and refined edition of this wine. — a month ago

Jay, Scott@Mister and 19 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1992

So young and vivid and fresh….
Served single blind….; I thought this could be the Pontet Canet 2009…. 😱
— a month ago

Tom, Stef and 4 others liked this

A. Rafanelli

Unfiltered Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 1997

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 1997 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with beautiful notes of cherry lozenges, star anise, leather, horse blanket, black pepper, organic earth, and 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+. I recently got to spend some time with Ren and Marilyn Harris of Paradigm and he shared with me that he thought Zinfandel was a variety that has the potential of being longer lived than Cabernet Sauvignon. I didn’t argue with him. Anyway, this is a killer Rafanelli Zinfandel that is aging ever so gracefully. Drink now through 2037. — 14 days ago

Zach, Paul and 13 others liked this

Pierre Gonon

Saint-Joseph Syrah 2012

Been hanging on to this for 12 years; yikes. From Jason at Solano Cellars. At La Posta in Santa Cruz. Not quite past it yet! But waiting for the character. Tight on nose, not too past it lacking perspective so far. — 25 days ago

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2021

So velvety and rich! This vintage is #3 wine spectator / cab / full body!! — a month ago