Bruce Phillips and his wife were pouring their 2021. Talked w/ him at length. Very nice couple.
The 2021 showed well young with room for improving with 10-25 years in bottle and beyond. It showed some evolution, wasn’t all primary. Elegant, very well balanced with excellent structure and finish. Drink 2033-45 properly stored.
The general Napa consensus on 2022 vintage will be a story of did you pick before or after the 6 days of extreme heat during the harvest window. One producer told me his would add 5% of 2023 to some of his 2022’s, which is allowed. He mentioned that he was going to add 15%. But, I think he just misspoke? Get ready for an amazing 2023 vintage from Napa. It was a cooler, not hot-hot, which was a near perfect growing season for long slow even ripening. Some say a vintage of a lifetime and others would only say exceptional.
The Saturday-Sunday Pavilion tasting at Pebble Beach Food & Wine is an excellent four hours to taste a lot wine, taste curated dishes from chefs from all over the country and meet the people behind the bottle. These short ribs were one of the top two or three things I tasted at the Pavilion Saturday. — 18 days ago
Very dark in colour - almost black. Lots of everything - ripeness, oak, blackberry, dark chocolate. The sort of wine I would have loved in my 20’s, not so much in my 70’s. Not for lovers of delicate wine - this is full throttle. This Australian producer is probably better known in the USA than Australia - like Mollydooker. A full bodied palate with M plus intensity and grainy tannins. Ranked No. 3 in Wine Spectators Top 100 wines of 2012. Not sure that extended cellaring will make a huge difference but will try to have the last one in early 2027. — 20 days ago
#AgedWineTuesday
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish/ brick rim.
Nose of black currants, blueberries, black cherries, light earth, tobacco leaf, cedar, light vanilla, licorice, eucalyptus, forest floor, mildew, black pepper and herbs.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, oak, chocolates, vanilla, licorice, herbs, earth, light vegetables, tobacco leaf, eucalyptus, Indian spices and peppercorn.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 24 year old iconic wine from Australia is still drinking beautifully. Tasty and smooth with good structure and great complexity. A little bitter on the ending for me, though.
Feels like a 30 year old Left Bank Bordeaux. Might be a bit past its prime, but Interesting stuff nonetheless.
Robert Parker 93 points.
Needed 3 hours of airtime to open up properly.
It is delicious, but I expected more from it. Might just be this specific bottle. I've had a few different vintages of this great wine and it is always an experience.
Good by itself or with food, like a nice piece of steak.
100% Shiraz grapes from Barossa Valley were aged in American oak barrels for 18 months.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
94 points.
$400. — 23 days ago
Tart - Apple/grapefruit taste. Excellent with cheese and crackers. Roast pork with a pear based sauce and roasted carrots. Very enjoyable! — 5 days ago
Paul K
Bought at Wally’s @ Resort World. Big fan of this store. Great selection and not insane prices. With $50 cork fee pretty much everywhere in Vegas, very good option. I will say they don’t have many wines that are “ready” outside of the high end room.
Not rating yet as just popped in the room while watching women’s final. Heart says Iowa, bet says go SC. — 18 days ago