The Black Bottle

Wynns Coonawarra Estate

Black Label Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 1996

Bought at the winery after tasting in 1999, my first pilgrimage to Coonawarra. Opened very stinky but blew off with air over 30 mins to beautiful fragrant nose and that sweet soft tannin of an aged Coonawarra Cabernet. Drank gloriously over the next two hours. Still full of life at 29 years old. — 4 days ago

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

With air this developed nicely showing mostly black fruit, cassis with sweet spices, graphite, cedar, leather & tobacco — 22 days ago

Daniel, Ted and 18 others liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

A knockout left bank Bordeaux. I’ve read that the 2005s may go longer than the potentially even more vaunted 2000s and I might agree based on this bottle. Decanted 5 hours. Cork in perfect shape. Amazing depth of fruit and a ton of Bordeaux earth. Nose goes on and on as does the finish. Was an excellent pairing but a very good but simple roast chicken. — a month ago

Ira, Neil and 20 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2015

Sweet and Smokey. Loved this. Perfect mix of ripe dark fruits and kick. Great length. Half bottle. Awesome! — a month ago

Dave, Jean-Philip and 22 others liked this
Audrey Nadeau

Audrey Nadeau

Wine Glory!

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2011

Could do with more time in the bottle but it's a special occasion afterall. Noses rose petals, vanilla, leather, capsicum and tobacco, black fruits and pencil shavings....and date I say onions! Huge body. Palate is savoury yet so layered and structured. Dark chocolates galore with a generous scatter of sea salt. Harmonious! Precise! — 14 days ago

Tom, Jay and 1 other liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2021

Aidan’s 21st bday. amazing bottle of OPUS ONE — 25 days ago

Ted, Dawn and 1 other liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

1989 vintage. Last tasted 3 years ago (9.6). Nice fill. Durand used to open. Cork 95% saturated with extensive bottle rim cleaning involved before pouring. Not decanted. Tight, minty nose throughout along with a decided, lingering zinc note under the tongue at the finish line. Tasted 2 hours after opening. Power but without delineation. Just a consistent, forgettable push. Nothing wrong with the wine...it just needed more air/time and a decant but it wasn't my call. Feel like the zinc flavor would have dissipated/blown off with more time. Good but more memorable for what it wasn't vs what it was. Pity and an entire wasting of what could have been. 11.21.25. — 15 days ago

Tom, Paul and 15 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

Very interesting and diplomatic note.
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

@Pinotman /// Andreas Had to bite my tongue.

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

This was drinking beautifully showing rich red & black fruits, earth, cedar, leather, spice & tobacco — 11 days ago

Tom, Somm and 21 others liked this

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1955

My late grandfather’s bottle. Stored poorly but showing well. Watching it turn from rust and come alive. A little higher acid than expected but not vinegar! — 9 days ago

Rob, Ira and 2 others liked this

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1983

Slightly lighter garnet core , lighter terracotta rim . Quite muted on the nose , quite herbal and spiced notes, some red plum and floral sous bois , black tea . After a while this opens up slightly , showing a bit more detail , but never jumps out and grabs your attention as other bottles have. On the palate this is better , with the roundness and slightly sweet , red plum , summer fruits , sous bois and lightly herbal , grafite tinged , saline finish of reasonable length . Quite refreshing acidity and suave tannins . On this basis drink now and over the next few years. However , there are better bottles out there . This was disappointing compared with other bottles I’ve had , though the palate was more sound and it wasn’t flawed. A bit of a perplexing bottle. — a month ago

Scott@Mister, Ira and 20 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

I bought a case of this wine on original release, and still have 5-6 left. Last one I opened, with ‘82 Pichon-Lalande and ‘82 Gruaud-Larose, it was CLEAR WOTN, it blew me away, nearly perfect. Of course, as my brother always tells me, there are great wines, but great bottles are never guaranteed!! Cheers!
Andrew Cullimore

Andrew Cullimore

Great anecdote @Doug Powers and very true. That event of yours must have been a fantastic experience! I have had this Palmer 83 a few times and it normally is a fantastic experience, seductive , aromatic … yesterday , was below par … from a beautiful looking case from an excellent UK cellar … but there you go! Nothing is guaranteed. Hopefully the next bottle will be back to par !