The Good Lot

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

Shay A
9.2

Annual birthday WWC hosting. As normal, 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert, all presented blind.

Fun to open birth year wines around your birthday, especially when you can do a Bordeaux and Napa side by side. While not a great vintage, this held up well after a few hours and presented as expected. Clean and zero Brett. Great color! Deep ruby with hardly any bricking. Leather, cassis, vanilla pipe tobacco on the nose. Sporting a good bit of dusty red and black fruits (mostly tart raspberries and blackberries), there was a little savory truffle note mixed with an herbal and mocha finish. Still quite grippy. Pretty.
— 7 days ago

Pinotman, Tom and 18 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2020

Wonderful wine. One of my favorite vineyards. This is always a high quality wine. This one is still young but getting its legs. Vibrant and fresh if not yet rounded out. There is complexity that will only build. The length is good now but I know will be significantly longer in near term. Cherry. Fig. Eucalyptus. Loved this wine. Looking forward to sampling the next few I have over ensuing decade. — a month ago

Shay, Joseph and 18 others liked this
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

When did you take delivery of this?
Vino Joe

Vino Joe Premium Badge

Sorry. Just saw this: ordered in Aug ‘23. Picked up Jan ‘24

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend

Good birthday dinner with outstanding wines. 2014 Cristal, 2013 marcassin chardonay, cos d’estournel 1982, figeac 1990, 2019 nuits St. George’s clos de la marechale mugnier. Cos unfortunately corked. — 2 months ago

Billy, Jan and 1 other liked this

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1989

June 2022 - last visit at WS. This was a 1939 vintage (not 1989). Unbelievably “fresh” and good level of acidity for its age. Very special! — 15 days ago

Eric liked this

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2023

So deep and layered nose. Just wanna dive in and stay there. What a wonderful World. Despite The palate does not fully respect the nose, it is very balanced and integrated. Don’t say 2023 isn’t a good vintage!! 98-99. Elegance. — 3 days ago

Vino liked this

Bodega Catena Zapata

Alamos Mendoza Malbec

Pretty good. Like! — a month ago

Jill Katz
with Jill

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 1998

Calm and resolved noise with gorgeous fruit. Poised on the midpalate. Very good — 2 months ago

Paul WoollsAra Aslanian
with Paul and Ara
Jay, Shay and 4 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Can’t tell if not in a great spot or maybe some slight heat damage—but leaning to the latter. Tasty, but not as good as it should have been — a month ago

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1998

David T
9.4

1998 not the best Napa Cabernet vintage. However, good producers still find their way through difficult vintages. Joseph Phelps is the rule rather than the exception.

This was poured out of magnum and drinking beautifully by their Hospitality Manger.

Nicely ripe, lush juicy fruits of blackberries, blackberries, both plums, some purple & blue fruits. Dash of spice & lead pencil, anise-black licorice, soft baking spices, caramel notes, some dark chocolate, fresh dark flowers, round acidity and a well balanced, softened structure & tension, elegant, nicely evolved finish that lasted a full minute.
— 19 days ago

Shay, Paul and 18 others liked this

Jean Foillard

Côte du Py Morgon Gamay 2020

So fckn good. 20 Bojo. Get on it. — a month ago

Austin, Shay and 11 others liked this
Shay A

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Love it.