The Cellar

Heitz Cellar

Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

1 hour decant(little sediment). A striking deep dark magenta with bricking. On the nose: subtle seductive notes of dark red fruit, wet earth, eucalyptus, mushroom, toffee. Taste: silky, balanced, fresh, elegant wine with dark cherry, currants, leather, minerals, herbs, mint, and a earthy raspberry espresso long lingering finish. YUM! — 2 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Dave and 13 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Awesome
ESF

ESF

what a pull

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

Double-decanted prior to service. The 1989 pours a garnet/purple color with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of cassis, brambles, tobacco, leather, cocoa, some graphite, inorganic earth and a mix of herbs and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+. The fruit is generous and sort of the star of the show. There is no wonder why so many love Cos. Still years and years to go. Drink now with some air and through 2049+. — 6 days ago

Jeroen, Juan and 8 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009

Just peaking in my estimation. May sill have a couple or three years before its decline starts. Opened and sat in the bottle for 2 hours. Poured a glass which sat another hour. Bold forward fruits. Blackberry, Plums, Black Cherry, hints of spice herbs that quickly fade into a smooth, luxurious taste of velvety tannins. Backend is just as the Front, Luxurious Bold Fruit but just a touch of old earth, lite tobacco and chocolate/cherry. — 18 hours ago

Letha Phillips
with Letha
Rick, Tom and 5 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Sounds wonderful!
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

Nice review, got a few bottles. Cheers!

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

2021 vintage. Decanted and passed, with high air, between two decanters four times. If it were Caymus, woulda used a blender and forgotten. Last tasted 8.5.26 (9.6) Older (60's, 70's and early 80's) vintages more fruit driven which is quite the surprise in the current Napa Cab climate. Arguably the best GDL Private Reserve this estate has ever made. That goes back six decades. Supple, velveteen entry without the temptations of appearing over-extended. Structured mid-palate. A seeker's wandering, yet undeniably substantial finish. Taste it and you tell me. — 17 days ago

Alexandre, Barny and 17 others liked this

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2015

Fill was 3cm below the cork and there were signs of seepage, so I assume this was better a few years ago, — 14 days ago

Jan, Tom and 2 others liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2021

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Delicious throughout. The 2021 pours a bright garnet color with transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of Morello cherry, raspberry, cranberry, red flowers, orange zest, some tar, talcum powder, dried herbs and dry, organic earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is about as sapid of a young Classico I’ve had from Produttori. It’s a bold wine right now but some time on its side will bring more into balance. Drink now with some patience through 2051. — a month ago

Zach, Sagee and 16 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Have six of these on hold for a bit longer.
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Somm David T you could easily enjoy one now because the fruit is so special. But years and years to go

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1998

A real treat as I’m in town for the Rush show. Sourced from his cellar. - at Little Beast — 16 days ago

Brian, Steve and 9 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

Double-decanted prior to service. The 1988 pours a garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with beautiful notes of cassis, brambles, tobacco, capsicum, leather, inorganic earth and a mix of herbs and fine spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+. The label is beat to hell but the condition of the wine inside the bottle was perfect. Classic, old school Bordeaux from a classified growth. Drink now through 2043. — 9 days ago

Somm, Juan and 15 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

I don’t know that paper labels pair well with older Bordeaux. 😂

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2010

Love this wine. Still young ish but very nice drinking window. Love the texture and tannin structure. Long finish. — a day ago

Ted, Ira and 3 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2013

Floral note’s of blackberry and blueberry, baking spice, cedar, tobacco and dark chocolate. It has plush, velvety tannins that enhances the smooth finish. — 7 days ago

Letha Phillips
with Letha
Rick, ESF and 7 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

I am torn with the rating here. We had this after the Dom Rose and man did this need a lot of air. Very closed and tannin forward upon opening and decanting, then slowing opening up - an hour was not enough. It really came together after 3-4 hours and then had an amazing balance. Evolved from 9.0 to something 9.6 through the course of the evening. — 13 days ago

The Prisoner Wine Company

The Prisoner Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend

Full body zinfandel. Fabulous for the stake or cold weather occasion. — 8 days ago

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2017

Excellent follow up to the classic 2016 Vintage. Blend of Mourvèdre (30%), Grenache (30%), Syrah (15%), Counoise (10%) and the balance (15%) made up of other approved CDP varietals led by Vaccarese’. Aromas of red and black fruit, garrigue, leather and earth. Flavors of black raspberries, currants and cherries, Asian spices, smoked meat and truffles. Long and lingering (slightly spicy) finish and beautiful balance. Full bodied and dense, but not overpowering. Fine grained tannins and amazing complexity. Great now, but there is another decade (or so) of aging potential. Just incredible. — 21 days ago

Joel, Paul and 6 others liked this

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay 1995

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90min before and during dinner. The 1995 pours a straw color with a gorgeous, persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with apples, ripe passion fruit, fresh brioche, lemon curd, toasted marshmallow and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. A freaking delicious Champagne. Drink now through 2035. — a day ago

Jeroen, Matt and 10 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

So did this still taste fresh, curious? I know you liked it. Was just curious about its freshness.
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

I’ve had a lot of good, old Champagne. I love good, old Champagne. This was fresher than a good, old Champagne.

d'Arenberg

The Dead Arm McLaren Vale Shiraz 2019

vintage 2019 | Still too young, quite a blockbuster but also very lush, smoked meat in smell, brushwood, good balance, Dead Arm seldom dissapoints — 5 days ago

Peter, Dave and 6 others liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Somm David T
9.4

My last of three.

The 05 vintage is basically perfect fruit etc…

This started a bit slow from an hour decant. It really pick up steam w/ the Waygu Ribcap.

The Bordeaux elegance & earth profound. The fruits are floral-laden. Dry blackberries, raspberries, both plum, with skin, dark cherries, dry strawberries, baked rhubarb, hints of raspberry, dark chocolate bar, light caramel, dark spice with a little heat, dry limestone. topsoil, dry riverstone, cigar box with ash, old used leather, dark forest floor with leaves, clove, touch of cinnamon, vanilla and a pinch of nutmeg sweet graphite, used charcoal, black tea, mid berry cola dark wuthering flowers, hence of lavender and old violets, perfect around acidity with a well-balanced structured, evenly tensioned finish that last minutes and lands on dry earth and spice with florals
— 3 days ago

Jeroen, Rick and 8 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

F. Haven't had the 05 and it's a fave BDX producer. Priorities...

Chateau Montelena

The Montelena Estate Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Oak, leather, hazelnut. Rich and bold but very smooth. — 9 days ago

Billy, Sagee and 2 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2001

Strange….
Evolved bouquet, plummy, balsamic notes, mocha, touch of sweetness, dark fruit, low acidity. Made me think 07 chateauneuf.
Although this was certainly enjoyable and intriguing, I couldn’t get past the impression that this was not a representative bottle.
— 11 days ago

Tom, Tom and 2 others liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1966

Appearance didn’t seem to be for a 60yo. No orange hue clear rim. The bright red fruit faded within a half hr and died within the hour. 11.5% was a nice surprise. — 22 days ago

Dave, Joel and 2 others liked this

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend

introed to me at cote 550 as the “monster” champagne they serve on JAL. I loved it though. holds it’s own against a steak — 8 days ago