Spice Trail

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2007

Bit volatile day one, all business day two. Big Xmas spice, feather light feel. Beware the bottle variation. — 5 days ago

Andrew, Austin and 6 others liked this

Thierry Allemand

Chaillot Cornas Syrah 2012

Shay A
9.5

Opened for a buddy’s birthday, alongside a 2005 Tatty Comtes, 2015 Cristal, 2018 Realm Falstaff and 2023 Kobayashi M/R.

I still remember my first Allemand seven years ago and how it immediately reeled me in and every bottle since has been the exact same. The rusticity and feral nature of Cornas is why for me, as a Syrah fanboy, it’s the best and most pure region for this wonderful grape.

Removed cork about an hour before pouring. Initial notes of olive, black pepper spice and herbs, some smoked meat and a brief blood-orange citrus aromatic. Deep red/black in the glass. There’s a layer of brett (low level, adds to the intrigue, doesn’t detract) and lavender bouquet before peppered strip, herbs, raspberries and blackberries, and a sanguine tang hit the palate. Not sure of whole cluster use here but seems there’s a little bit (which I love). Wild but civilized. Medium-plus bodied with beautiful acidity and plenty of tannin for this to cruise years. On the early side, but these are so hard to resist in every phase.

I wish I could drink this every day. I need to find a wine of similar style at a better price point.
— a day ago

David, Paul and 1 other liked this

Thierry Allemand

Cornas Reynard (R) Syrah 2016

Killer nose showing dark fruits, meat, olive, spice, menthol, graphite & violets — 2 months ago

Andrew, Scott@Mister and 7 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

Youthful, structured with mostly black fruits, cassis, sweet spice, graphite, cedar, leather & tobacco — 12 days ago

Andrew, Jan and 16 others liked this

Domaine Dujac

Morey Saint Denis Pinot Noir 2019

Great vintage for this showing lots of red & black fruits, spice, earth, mineral & violets. A wine I buy every year that always delivers — 19 days ago

Shay, Lyle and 4 others liked this

Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier

Clos de la Maréchale Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2017

Always delivers with its red & black fruit, spice, earth, mineral, underbrush & floral notes — a month ago

web, Jan and 12 others liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1986

Medium deep garnet ruby , quite thin garnet terracotta rim . This is quite classic and more austere on the nose after the 1990s , grafite , cedar, sweet spice , earthiness and mint. More dry and four square on the palate compared to the 1990s but enough stuffing to fill out. Cassis , plum and blackberry , coffee , grafite . Refreshing acidity , slightly grippy drier tannin. Sous bois , grafite , herbal character with good length and earthy cassis finish . This got better with time in the glass and probably should have been decanted . This shows there is some upside , from now , with time in the glass, and over the next 10 years. The wine that improved the most during the dinner , quite impressive . — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister, Ira and 12 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

A previous, all-time fave. Haven't had it in a larger format in the last decade which I feel would yield a 9.5-9.6 now. Out of a 750ml package currently, feel like the 1996 (difficult to source) is the superstar right now.
Andrew Cullimore

Andrew Cullimore

Yes @Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego I would imagine in large format this would be spectacular, in regular bottle still needs a little time to show its full colours . I remember having this at my 21st birthday party in 2001 …. Everyone complained it was too young and tannic , typical 1986 , though in 12 people (and pretty light drinkers I might add) we still managed to struggle through 7 bottles !

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2002

Ron R
9.6

Not the best of vintage in Bdx, but the winemaker clearly pulled off some acrobatics here.
Nose displays the usual Cos spice-box signature, along with notes of forest floor, sage and mushrooms. Palate is rich and dense showing no signs of age. Nice mature casis profile links up with brambles and sandalwood. Tannins continue to prop up this outstanding example.
— 5 days ago

Andrew MooreRick K
with Andrew and Rick
Paul, Ted and 17 others liked this

Clos des Papes

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2015

Initially sooty, tarry notes with dried herbs and garrigue generally. The mid weight palate has sweet ripe red and black fruits typical of the 2015 vintage with spice and a little pepper. A lovely wine and a faithful rendition of a quality CdP. — a month ago

Paul, Somm and 20 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

This wine is a well-balanced Napa Valley red showing both power and elegance. It offers aromas of blackcurrant, cedar, and tobacco, with flavors of black cherry, cocoa, and spice on a silky, structured palate. Love it. — a month ago

Daniel CammarataMichael Cammarata
with Daniel and Michael