Norman Gennaro

9.5

This is re-casked (believe correct term) in an Octave and therefore only 60 bottles available. I and the tasting group did not taste some of the flavor profile the bottler saw - pear/citrus and found it more wood/dried fruits/caramel/toffee. This one was the darkest brown if the group and I found the most flavorful. It’s power at 51.8%. Adding a drop of water I thought really changed the profile and made it run hotter for me. The finish on this lasts well past a minute. I usually don’t notice the finish for that long but this one stayed there for a whole and made so you didn’t forget it. Might be best if the night or at least tied with Blackadder. — 7 days ago

Shay A

9.4

A winery I seem to forget about at times, though every time I open a bottle, I realize I shouldn’t. Consistently delicious Napa cabs from Veeder, on a stunning property.

This is their “extended” aged cab, and 2012 was the current release when we visited the winery in 2019. I believe 2014 is current release now.

I opened this and consumed it initially as a pop and pour as I wasn’t able to plan too far ahead. For the most part, I think the 2012 vintage for Napa cabs are in a sweet spot at the moment. This was unabashedly Napa cab in profile with a purple core, aromas of baked mixed berry pie, espresso and nutmeg baking spices, and a bit of a bull in a China shop feel to it as it was just really powerful. Very tannic at the finish. After this sat in the decanter close to three hours, this blossomed. Much more layered. The aromatics revealed more cordial and even violets, and the palate became more finessed with a streak of mineral/stone down the middle. Veeder cabs, for me, have more opulence than the other mountain AVA cabs, and this stayed true as it turned silky. I’d either decant this 3+hrs or hold another 3+yrs if opening soon. — 2 months ago

Por La Vida

9.1

What was probably a relatively run of the mill Bordeaux a decade ago is so a hearty, delicious, smoky, black fruit delight. Probably at the very end of its drinking life it is heavy with sediment. But once cleared and aired, excellent. White viscous at this age, best drunk slowly enjoying each small sip. — 3 months ago

Michael G

8.9

Some peach and other tree fruit, but also some lemon. It’s balanced. Sweet, but not so sweet. Off dry blend. Seems like it’d be good would with spicy food. — 2 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Light gold, young and vibrant in the glass with nice weight. Cochey nose... notes of citrus and pineapple, petrol and wet stone, tan spice and some hazelnut. Massive core of acidity battles against the rich/round fruit. This is a home run in terms of hitting this at a peak drinking window... everything you want in a nicely aged white burg. Decanted and let it sit for 3 hours before attacking it at dinner. Outstanding tonight. — a month ago

Megan West

8.9

A good jammy wine, as I’d expect from a red blend. But with a bit of tannins and still light enough to drink in the summer. During the first glass I kept catching a bit of tobacco flavor, which wasn’t working for me. There was also a peppery/spicy flavor at the end that I didn’t care for (this is just how my tastes run, I don’t like peppery wines). But this wine really mellowed with time and when I paired the after-dinner glass with some dark chocolate...WOW! Perfect pairing right there. — 3 months ago

Fredrik Finn

9.2

They have done it again, another home run from Alheit, amped up to eleven but in a fresh casing. A stunning Chenin that is all about texture
Pronoucned intense, somewhat reductive at first, but soon blooms out to expose an amazing array of aromas of fresh but ripe fruit, ripe lemons, bruised apples, honeydew melon, orange blossom followed by beeswax, cashew nuts and a very present savoury complexity with a salty breeze and dusty rock minerality.
Rich palate with a focused and tactile, high acidity that penetrates the medium full body with a pronounced fruit profile of juicy but fresh fruit, lemon juice, melon, honey, expansive complexity with a rocky and salty base note that evolves into a toffee and milky like texture through a long finish. Brilliant
— a month ago

Craig Marino

9.2

Very nice Virginia IPA; gift from senor Abend — 3 months ago

Michael Duffy

9.3

Fantastic. Toasty, bright, mineral but lush and generous. Gives good champagne a run. In a perfect spot at 8 years old but with this acidity/vibrancy could go another 10 at least. — 3 months ago

Will Stanley

9.2

First bottle of a case of this 2016 Ch. Marquis d’Alesme, a modern Margaux property run by the Perrodo family with an all-female team in charge. I’ve been excited to try it.

Safe to say, it’s young. Quite austere at the moment, but incredibly promising. There are intense and angular aromas of cedar, sandalwood, tomato leaf, blackberry, blackcurrant, with the palate showing a similarly hunkered-down profile. All the fruit seems to be kept in reserve for now, behind a convincing body of coarse tannin, a graphite edge and a gorgeous vanilla note through the finish.

Very promising stuff, this should be left for at least another 2/3 years and keep for many more thereafter. A gorgeous wine in the making. — 3 months ago