Spice Route

Ridge Vineyards

Three Valleys Sonoma County Zinfandel Blend 2019

Interesting Zinfandel (73%) based California blend. Also includes Petite Sirah (13%), Carignan (10%), Mataro (3%) and Alicante Bouchet (1%)). Dark ruby/purple color with a slight garnet rim. Pronounced aromas of ripe red and black berries, mint, violets moist earth and wet stones. Plush flavors of black berry/raspberry/plum fruit, mulberries, cola, dried herbs and sweet baking spices. Touch of smoky black pepper spice on the long and zesty finish. Medium-plus bodied and robust with a juicy profile and soft/silky tannins. Excellent picnic wine! Memorial Day 2026. — 10 days ago

Dave, Tom and 1 other liked this

Domaine Dujac

Morey Saint Denis Pinot Noir 2018

This is showing well with lots of dark cherry, berry fruit, spice, mineral & floral. — a month ago

Ira, Joel and 11 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Amazing producer.
Ron Siegel

Ron Siegel Premium Badge

Hey David one of my fav producers who’s wines I buy every year at all levels

Kosta Browne

Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

Cherry, smoke, and cedar with a touch of baking spice and blackberry. Rich and bold. — 2 months ago

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

2023 Vintage. A very pleasant and easy drinking Napa Cab up front. Decent aroma on the nose, vibrant notes of cherry and blackberry, delicately structured tannins, with a very smooth finish. Not chewy or viscous, but still a bold Cab flavor that resonates with the right amount of spice. Would gladly enjoy again. — 23 days ago

Tom, Robin and 2 others liked this

Thierry Allemand

Chaillot Cornas Syrah 2017

Dark fruits with notes of meat, graphite, spice, licorice, mineral & violets — a month ago

Joel, Jean-Philip and 13 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1988

More of a suave & polished version of LB that is showing well at 38 yrs. Notes of red & black fruits, spice box, earth, cedar, floral, leather & tobacco — 2 months ago

Rob, Tom and 8 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

4th wine . medium deep ruby garnet , thinner garnet rim . Quite deep and serious again , spicy with more cassis , touch smoky , mineral with touches of dry spice and cool sea breeze . On the palate this again has more grip a touch more mid palate , quite masculine in style, cassis , tobacco , grafite and resonable length. Polished and quite suave in style , more intensity and density than the others , more generous too. Probably better in 5 years and will last well a further 10. Guessed Mouton on this one . — 2 months ago

Somm, Scott@Mister and 8 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Somm David T
9.2

This 2006 was a tale of 1/2 of the bottle decanted in a wide decanter and the other 1/2 left in bottle. The bottom 1/2 bottle better than the 2 hour decant. The decanted part lost complete Bordeaux character, mid palate and depth. A shorter decant was in order, but that doesn’t mean this 06 is waning. It has another 7–10 yrs from bottle.

2006 was the vintage that followed the grand 2005 vintage, not an entirely fair growing seasons. Based on the 2005 vintage, the Bordelaise overpriced the 2006 vintage. The Bordelaise disappointed in the price they sold 2005’s looked to make up their perceived losses in 2006. Except, the quality wasn’t the same. Not even close.

The nose shows brambly, ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, dark cherries and lean raspberry edges. Dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dark chocolate bar, mid berry cola. steeped black tea, charcoal, graphite, soft, fresh tobacco, used leather,. softy layered baking spices, black licorice-tarriness, dry river stones, dry limestone powder/bits, dark, red florals with fresh, blooming violets & understated lavender.

The palate is ripe, juicy w/ medium, rounded tannins. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, dark cherries, strawberries and lean raspberry. Dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dark & slightly melted chocolate, mid berry cola. steeped black tea, charcoal, graphite, soft, fresh tobacco, used leather, softy layered baking spices-nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & vanillin, mid dark spices w/ some palate heat, black licorice-tarriness, dry herbs, dry river stones, dry limestone powder/bits, dry top soil, moist, grey, volcanic clay, dark, red florals with fresh, blooming violets & understated lavender, very nice acidity, nicely balanced, well structured/tensioned w/ an elegant finish that lasts a minute plus and lands on earth & spice with mid intensity palate heat.

92 decanted. 93 the bottom 1/2 of the bottle, not decanted.
— 12 days ago

Scott@Mister, Daniel and 9 others liked this

La Rioja Alta

Viña Alberdi Reserva Rioja Tempranillo 2020

4/2026. Good fruit with some spice. Full flavor that paired well with the dry aged ribeye at Halls Chophouse. — 2 months ago

Ed, Scott@Mister and 1 other liked this

Thierry Allemand

Cornas Reynard (R) Syrah 2014

This had amazing aromatics showing black cherry, meat, graphite, licorice, savory spice, violets & tobacco — 2 months ago

Jonathan, Severn and 7 others liked this