The Dark Side

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2007

1 hour decant(lots chunky/fine sediment). A gorgeous inky purplish garnet color. On the nose: dark fruit, forest floor, smoked meat, floral, cigar wrapper, pencil lead. Taste: smooth, rich, creamy mouthcoating wine with blackberry/dark cherry, dark chocolate, earth, tobacco, baking spice, and a cedar/graphite medium plus finish with some slight dusty tannins. Had this 2 years ago, and it's improved. In the beginning of its drink window at 18 years? Wow — a day ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Brenda and 14 others liked this

Corison

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

Double decant for sediment and pour (lots of chunky/fine sediment). A striking still dark ruby red color with bricking. On the nose: wonderful fragrant nose of brambly red fruit, leather, loamy earth, mint, pencil lead. Taste: smooth, elegant wine with dried red fruit, cedar, dried herbs, tar, smokey earth, gravel with a medium plus finish. YUM! Still hanging in there and a pleasure to drink. — 7 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Rick and 15 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1989

It's Open That Bottle Night(last Sat in Feb), and thought this would be a nice pull to celebrate the occasion.

1 hour decant(decent sediment). A striking still dark garnet with some bricking. On the nose: perfumed stewed cherry/plum, smoked meat, worn leather, cigar ash,milk chocolate, rich soil, some band-aid(brett) Taste: smooth, polished, vibrant wine with plum, tobacco, bitter chocolate, worn leather, earth, and a long graphite coffee ground finish. YUM!!!!
— 15 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Tom and 27 others liked this
Rick Phillips

Rick Phillips Premium Badge

Just show out brother! Great selection!
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

@Rick Phillips Thanks. Cheers!
David T

David T Influencer Badge

Nice treat.

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah 2012

This is still youthful with notes of dark fruits, floral, meat, lavender, underbrush, & spice — 8 days ago

Severn, Shay and 8 others liked this

Stags' Leap Winery

Napa Valley Petite Sirah 2020

Mostly Petite Sirah with small amounts of Syrah, Grenache and other mixed Rhône varieties, aged 14 months in American oak, 19% new, very dark Ruby-purple with aromas of ripe dark fruits and an array of spices from cigar box to full spice cake. On the palate flavors of black cherry preserves and blackberry jam, layering in some licorice, leather, tobacco and black pepper spice. Savory grippy tannins, long finish ending with fruit, spice, oak and earthy character. A powerhouse! Decant first! — 6 days ago

Neil, Douglas and 4 others liked this

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend

Classic CdP and an iconic producer. Blackberry, dark fruits, herbs, spice, olive, earth. Full bodied, but low-to-medium tannins and great concentration. Fantastic with Mediterranean food. — 9 days ago

Vanessa liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1983

Shay A
9.3

(Two previous 1983 wine reviews never made it on here, so copying from my CT).

Continuing a run of ‘83s over the last 3-6 months, this not only showed quite well, but it was at its best after almost two hours in the bottle. Whereas the ‘83 Pichon was clean and elegant, this was a bit more dense and powerful. Beautifully expressive aromatics of potpourri, espresso, fig and leather with a flavor profile mostly on the red/black fruit side of the spectrum. The mid-palate showed good weight and continued to bulk-up during the evening. Old cherry-tobacco note at the finish. Honestly, this drank like it was more early ‘90s than it was early ‘80s. Good.
— 20 days ago

Scott@Mister, Jan and 34 others liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2003

This was rich, ripe, round with dark, berry almost plum like showing good balance that is not your typical Montrose — 5 days ago

Ira, Shay and 13 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1986

Flight 2 , wine 1 . Quite deep garnet , less terracotta rim . This had a whiff of oxidation about it at first which seemed to somewhat dissipate with time . Some dark spiced fruits , liquorice and menthol hints , cedar and sous bois . On the palate good ripeness and spiced dark cherry hints . Good acidity and rounded tannin . Nice length also , offering some spiced black fruits and menthol hints . Don’t think this is a pristine bottle but was enjoyable none the less , I was unsure at first if this was Napa , but coming back to it … and reading my notes , it became quite obvious . However I had this down as the Ch Montelena , not the Dominus — 17 days ago

Anthony, Jan and 8 others liked this

Silver Oak

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

From a 5 Bordeaux grape blend: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 2.5% Cabernet Franc, 2.3% Petit Verdot & 0.3% Malbec, aged 24 months French oak, 85% new, Deep Ruby with aromas of ripe dark fruits, cedar and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, black cherry and currants with notes of herbs, pepper spice and earthy notes. Fine sweet tannins, long finish ending with cacao, smoky oak, fruit and mineral tang. Very nice, aging well, but time will reward! — 12 days ago

Helen, Juan and 7 others liked this