The City Runner

Herman Story

Smash City California Pinot Noir

Interesting Pinot, dark and deep up front yet also light on the palate. — 10 months ago

Diamond Creek Vineyards

Red Rock Terrace Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1988

Shay A
9.2

One of the bottles I provided for a co-hosting with Mark at the City Club wine group.

Always a treat to open a birth year wine. I had this last year and this bottle seemed to have more stuffing. It was less muddled/clay driven and more distinctly black fruit and spice heavy. Next to a ‘79 Montelena, it wasn’t as full-bodied, but it certainly had more tannin. The tannic finish was quite pronounced and bolstered throughout the lunch. Mid-palate was herbal and black currant with faint tart red fruit and tobacco. Fun to drink.
— 3 years ago

Ron, Ted and 22 others liked this

Round Pond Estate

Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Huge amounts of extracted red fruit and a nice layer of fine oak. The tannins are silky folks. Fruit bomb city...🤘🏼🤘🏼🎉🎉🍷🍷 — 6 years ago

Rob, Paul and 22 others liked this
Rob Brobst III

Rob Brobst III Influencer Badge

I’m in Long Beach, California... my buddy Paul is down the road 15 minutes!!!! @Paul K @Shay A @Ron R @Eric S come hang with us some time.
Rob Brobst III

Rob Brobst III Influencer Badge

Yo Paul we got peps that want to hang. @Paul T- Huntington Beach @Eric S @Shay A @Paul K
Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

Cool, you guys play golf & I’ll drink the wine

MicroBio Wines

Correcaminos (Road Runner) Red Blend

Day 2 Brig, loved it. Almost effervescent — 7 years ago

J. Rieger & Co.

Rieger's Extra Fine Kansas City Whiskey

A blend of Straight Bourbon, Corn 🌽 Whiskey, Straight rye and a plush of 15 YO Olorosso Sherry. All the whiskies are at least 4 YO. Unique and flavorful. — 7 years ago

Ron liked this

Lucia Vineyards (Pisoni)

Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir 2015

At Crafts, Century City, LA with Executive Committee. 6/10/19. — 7 years ago

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Who am I argue with 100 point rating from Dunnuck and Wine Advocate? And it is a youthful beauty. I typically find the great vintage of ‘09 approachable earlier than ‘05, also a great Bordeaux year. This is perfectly enjoyable right now but I’ll SAVE at least 6 of these because this baby is a distant runner with lots of legs left. Wow! — 4 months ago

Tom and Andrew liked this

Herman Story

Smash City Pinot Noir 2021

Delectable Wine
9.1

The 2021 Smash City is bright and floral with a wild blend of crushed strawberries, dusty rose, citrus and spice. This is juicy and fruit-focused, with crisp red berries elevated by traces of citrus under an air of violet inner florals. The Smash City cleans up beautifully, full of energy and perfumed, leaving the palate nicely refreshed. This lively Pinot Noir is produced with all Bien Nacido fruit. (Eric Guido, Vinous, May 2023) — 3 years ago

Cigar City Brewing

Humidor Series India Pale Ale

Hazy double IPA . Good balance. Not too sweet but no citrusy either. Good taste for the alcohol level and value — 5 years ago

Swick Wines

City Pop Viognier Blend

Lively with effervescence. Give it a slight chill. Notes of nectarine and yeast — 6 years ago

Cigar City Brewing

Good Gourd Imperial Pumpkin Ale

Powering through the last of the oak beers on the way to wine immersion. On a positive note, the baby now has a room! Anyway, last year’s Good Gourd! Looks like dark tea or a hot cider, nice eruption of bubbling magic. Orange tinged; good start! Super spiced cinnamon apple, caramel, vanilla, nutmeg, and oddly smelling of a California wine. Sierra foothills mascarpone notes and also a hot buttered rum smell. Cinnamon tea, clove studded orange, whiskey-lemon-honey tea, toasted coconut, sweet tobacco, brown sugar, dates, fruitcake candied notes with a nod to its density. A cream soda finish with raisinets. #cigarcitybrewing #cigarcitygoodgourd #goodgourd #imperialale #ale #beer #bier #biere #birra #imperialpumpkinale #pumpkinale #pumpkinbeer #ccb #halloweenbeer — 7 years ago

Sharon liked this

Piper-Heidsieck

K&L Redwood City Brut Champagne Blend

Very good celebratory toast! — 7 years ago

Château L'Evangile

Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

Somm David T
9.3

Masterclass in San Francisco with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite. Chateau L’ Evangile is owned by the Rothschild Family.

The nose reveals; ripe, ruby, brightly floral fruits. Blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum skin, baked strawberries with hints of pomegranate & cranberries. Steeped fruit tea, cedar, dry clay, crushed rock powder, sandy soils, graphite, dark rich soils, vanilla, touch of caramel & mocha, anise with fresh and dry dark & red florals.

The body is full. It’s mouthfeel beautiful and gorgeous already. Brightly floral, ruby fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum skin, baked strawberries with hints of pomegranate & dry cranberries. Steeped fruit tea, dry cedar plank, dry clay, crushed rock powder, sandy soils, graphite, dark rich soils, crushed rocks, dry underbrush, volcanic minerals, vanilla, touch of caramel & mocha, anise with fresh and dry dark & red florals. The acidity is round & really nice. The structure, tension, length and balance are just hitting a good stride. The finish is well balanced fruit & earth, elegant, beautifully floral and persists for several minutes. Needs to be held 15 years from birth and will drink through 2035+. 93 now with room for more down the road.

All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.

Photos of; the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, tasting set up, our double decanters and pourers and another view of the city of San Francisco and the Bay.
— 7 years ago

Severn, Ryan and 15 others liked this

Charles Smith

M.C.K. (Motor City Kitty) Syrah 2022

Beast! Big, burly, brooding, and bawesome.
Rich and gamey with smoky olive brine and savory layers of earth. Tucking a couple away.
— 5 months ago

Tom, Steve and 3 others liked this

Podere Sapaio

Volpolo Bolgheri Red Blend 2022

Sitting for lunch in the heart of the city of Bolgheri, at a great restaurant, I had to try something I never had before. This entry level Bordeaux blend was a nice surprise.

Purple in color with a purplish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing blueberries, plums, black currants, cherries, light oak, spices, light earth, herbs, tobacco leaf, dark chocolates, licorice and a touch of vanilla.

Tangy finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This young Bordeaux blend from Tuscany is already drinking nicely, even right out of the bottle. Spicy and rich.

Opulent with lots of fruits, but also some earth notes to compliment the fruits.

Tannins show up after 30 minutes of airtime. A great nose shows itself after 90 minutes in the decanter. Much better once it opens up, so be patient.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food. Tangy, spicy and entertaining. I paired it with beef stew.

A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 15% Petit Verdot. Aged in oak barrels for 14 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$30.
— 2 years ago

Tom, Ted and 11 others liked this

Cigar City Brewing

Jai Alai India Pale Ale

Great IPA to start a Monday evening! #cigarcitybrewing — 6 years ago

Jim, Chris and 3 others liked this

Domaine Roulot

Bourgogne Blanc Chardonnay 2014

Perfect white burg for a night in the city. #roulot #whiteburg — 7 years ago

Arden, Sylvain and 22 others liked this

Peter Michael Winery

Point Rouge Chardonnay 2012

Shay A
9.5

Today was an absolutely fantastic Friday hosting at the City Club by @Dan Fitzgerald. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert wine. Great job Dan!

My notes against the first white were that this was more lifted and slightly lighter in body. In fact, I called this 2012 Aubert (one of their Sonoma Coast Vineyards) as I picked up lemon cream on the nose and palate. Sea salt, marzipan, honeycomb and lemon pound cake dominate the senses. Touch of heat on the finish. This is drinking marvelously right now.
— 7 years ago

joe leatherwoodDan FitzgeraldMark Flesher
with joe, Dan and 3 others
Mark, Ryan and 34 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Severn Goodwin : I believe this is their highest end Chardonnay. Not seen often! 99points (for those who like to know points).
Severn G

Severn G Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Shay A I'm not about critic points, they don't always align with my personal scores. Nice notes, sounds like a fun bottle to seek out.
Mark Flesher

Mark Flesher

Wow, what a Chardonnay! This was served next to the 2012, both served blind. This Chardonnay was the total package. I guessed the approximate year and region. Lots of guesses for Aubert here. Nose and palate of toasted brioche, peach, pear, white flowers. Thick, full-bodied, viscous, rounded, 30-45 second finish. perfectly balanced and integrated. Ready to kick some ass. This is probably in the running for best domestic Chardonnay I have experienced to date. And amazing how different this one was served right next to a Peter Michael that was one vintage younger!
9.5

MicroBio Wines

Correcaminos (Road Runner) Rose Blend

Bubbly lovely goodness. Disco. — 7 years ago