Take It To The Grave Wines
Château du Cèdre (Verhaeghe et Fils)
Cahors Malbec 2021
Château Cos d'Estournel
Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2001
I remember this wine being quite fruit forward upon release. Almost 20 years later, it opens with notes of dried and slightly cooked red fruits, leather, tobacco, earth and a dash of vanilla. On the palate, the 2001 Château Cos d'Estournel has a surprisingly sweet flavor profile and good concentration. The tannins are well integrated and take a backseat to the fruit. Although miles away from the quality level of recent vintages, the 2001 is still quite enjoyable. Drink now. — 2 years ago
Frédéric Magnien
Jeunes-Rois Gevrey-Chambertin Pinot Noir 2002
Dark fruit, earth/iron/funk. Probably peaking or close to it, as the fruit is starting to take a back seat and I think this one needs the fruit to stay in balance — 3 years ago
Moss Wood
Moss Wood Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
See previous notes on July 2018 and October 2021. This is maturity nicely. Keith Mugford, the owner and winemaker said on release “It will take at least 10 years to develop some bottle age characters and will probably reach its peak somewhere around 20 years old. However it should continue to be drinkable up to 30 years old, at least and especially for those bottles under screw cap.” (Which this was). Showing cassis, mulberry, cedar and a little tobacco. Mouth filling and delicious. Rich and sweet - could be described as a Shiraz lover’s Cabernet. Great persistence - smooth and slippery tannins. A very good vintage in Margaret River. I have 3 left - next one in late 2026 or 2027 when 20 years old. I also have a Magnum which should not be touched until at least 25 years of age. — a year ago
Saxum Vineyards
Paderewski Vineyard Zinfandel Blend 2014
Needed a little bit of air but it did not take long to start singing. Consistently good. — 2 years ago
Domaine de Fondrèche
Cuvée Nadal Côtes du Ventoux Red Rhone Blend 2011
2011. Very interesting up or down reviews on this wine. Several mention funky notes, where I tasted none. Several noted high tannins, where maybe mine had mellowed. Body was a little thin and it did take over an hour to start opening up, but I paired it with some Indian takeout and it paired great! — 3 years ago
Philip Togni Vineyard
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1990
I usually bring at least one older wine to a favorite BYOB restaurant for NYE dinner. I selected this 33 year old cab and trying to open it the cork crumbled and some came out and some stayed it so decanted through a tea strainer into my take out bottle. I could tell just by the color this wine had promise. Poured about 2 hours later and the color was deep dark red to the edge. Not much on the nose but the taste had a lot of black fruits and a bit of spice and seemed like a young wine. The finish was long and smooth. It was still drink great as we finished the bottle about 2 hours later. Luckily I have another bottle and have to figure out when I’m going to open that one. At Anthony’s in HH — 10 months ago
Amuse Bouche
Napa Valley Red Blend 2015
Presented double-blind. The wine pours a deep, ruby color with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with significant signs of sediment. Moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, dark fruits are predominant with some purple flowers, tobacco, subtle pyrazines and a touch of earth and baking spice. On the palate, the fruit set is confirmed. The wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. The finish is very long and savory. I believe a significant amount of new French oak is being used. Based on the aforementioned, possible varieties are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc or some combination of Bordeaux varieties from either France or California. While the fruit is no-doubt abundant, there is hefty structure and a complexity that makes me lean towards the Old World. And now that my head is there, it’s very hard for me to get outside of Pomerol and I think the fruit is more of a result of the vintage. So I went with it, calling it 2009 Pomerol from a great producer. Welp…I was close and probably a huge compliment to Amuse Bouche since I think this wine is supposed to be their take on Pomerol. A very sexy wine that is drinking very well right now without a decant. — 2 years ago
Albert Boxler
Alsace Pinot Gris 2019
New arrival in the shop but had to take a bottle home. Coravin the first night, it was closed and a little bitter on the finish. Pulled the cork the next night and it was a different wine. Tart fruit and great minerality, 14 ABV but didn’t drink hot. No RS. Gong to let the other bottles sit for a while. — 3 years ago
Daniel M
One of the bottles we brought back from our stay in the Lot region. Opened 1 hour and 30 minutes before serving. Served over a charcoal grilled super ribeye piece. Great pairing!
Very different take on cahors than the ones we tasted over there. Oak, chocolate, cassis, blackberry, cherry, a menthol thing too. Very inviting and complex. The palate shows a very long acid drive, some nice matter, a soft mouthfeel, some cherry, chocolatey and blackberry notes, some typical grainy, dusty tannins, and a long, everlasting finish with that dusty layer, some cherry, an oaky note reminiscent of the nose and a nice, delicate, savoury touch in the rear, with a very nice pinch of umami to make it great. Less extracted than expected (and than Le cèdre cuvée I had a few years ago), an elegant, modern Cahors. Great stuff! — 4 months ago