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



Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7
Cool, you guys play golf & I’ll drink the wineDay 2 Brig, loved it. Almost effervescent — 7 years ago
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
At Crafts, Century City, LA with Executive Committee. 6/10/19. — 7 years ago
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
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
Hazy double IPA . Good balance. Not too sweet but no citrusy either. Good taste for the alcohol level and value — 5 years ago
Lively with effervescence. Give it a slight chill. Notes of nectarine and yeast — 6 years ago
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
Very good celebratory toast! — 7 years ago
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
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

Great IPA to start a Monday evening! #cigarcitybrewing — 6 years ago
Perfect white burg for a night in the city. #roulot #whiteburg — 7 years ago
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

Bubbly lovely goodness. Disco. — 7 years ago
Hamilton Schwartz
Passover 26 — 3 months ago