This Is Elleven

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2002

Intoxicating nose. Tres Bordeaux, complex, high bore, intriguing. On the palate, this is youthful, red fruited, tart and fresh.
Drinking lovely at the moment. Still has some future.
— 2 days ago

Paul, ESF and 4 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2007

Can’t recall one much better. The 07’s are peaking and this is no exception. — 10 hours ago

Dave liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

This 1994 vintage is an exceptional wine. We saved it for special l occasion and it really was special. A rich earthy unctuous sip which has an after taste of terroir and plum. The minerals are present and balanced by the deep fruit. Dry and just so complex. Every dip is a bit different. Sometimes earthy highlights and other sips more plum. Out of this world!! — 4 days ago

Paul liked this

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne 2015

This vintage from Cristal is outstanding and delicious. 👏👏 — a month ago

Ron, Joe and 9 others liked this
Neil Valenzuela

Neil Valenzuela

Fantastic wine. Cheers!

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

This is really great stuff. Thought it was a left bank Cabernet dominated Bordeaux from 2010. Well. I was wrong. This is so self assured, layered and smooth, without exaggerating. Truly amazing. — 24 days ago

Berry and Jan liked this

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

2021 vintage. Decanted and passed, with high air, between two decanters four times. If it were Caymus, woulda used a blender and forgotten. Last tasted 8.5.26 (9.6) Older (60's, 70's and early 80's) vintages more fruit driven which is quite the surprise in the current Napa Cab climate. Arguably the best GDL Private Reserve this estate has ever made. That goes back six decades. Supple, velveteen entry without the temptations of appearing over-extended. Structured mid-palate. A seeker's wandering, yet undeniably substantial finish. Taste it and you tell me. — a month ago

Alexandre, Barny and 17 others liked this

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay 2014

Medium lemon yellow . Quite closed at first , with some toasted brioche and touch of lemon peel , white flowers, stem ginger , quite rich impression . On the palate this is quite creamy and rounded , candied peel , honey , rich pastries , with quite high mineral tinged acidity . Good long , mineral tinged finish . Needs a bit more time though I don’t get the feeling this will be as profound or as long lived as the 2012. Better in 5 years and will continue to drink well a further 10. — a month ago

Jan, Jeroen and 6 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2023

Medium deep ruby with a quite thin bright ruby violet rim. This is quite closed on the nose at first with bright cherry fruit , red plum , blueberry, blackberry , some floral hints and underneath a touch of slate . On the palate this is quite focused and lean , lovely red fruits , hint of spiciness and red cherry floral hints . Really fresh , vital acidity , with fine but very noticeable tannins and a very long focused red cherry , mineral tinged finish . Needs time , but is very promising, great freshness. Probably not at the level of the 2021 , tasted previously , but it’s close . Leave another 5-10 years and will show well a further 10. — 19 hours ago

Joe, ESF and 4 others liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

I would probably only have this beautiful wine only 10 years later but the 375ml brings things forward, showing why this winter if 2016 vintage is so highly regarded. I think the juice is ready now but will be a long runner for decades — 12 hours ago

Tom and Dave liked this

Château Calon-Ségur

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

I always get excited when there’s a bottle of Calon-Ségur open. Classic Saint-Estèphe and, to my palate, these wines consistently deliver what I want from a Left Bank Bordeaux. I believe this bottle was double-decanted prior to service. The 1988 pours a garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with winsome notes of ripe, tart and dried fruits: cassis, mixed brambles, pencil shaving’s, tobacco, capsicum, a whiff of horse blanket, gravelly earth and a mix of herbs and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long. I absolutely love it. This is the picture of Bordeaux in the dictionary. Drink now through 2048+. — 22 days ago

Jan, ESF and 10 others liked this

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend

The ten years release of this 2015 vintage is drinking very nice now.
A bit overdone on the toasted wood perhaps.
— 15 days ago

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009

Dark ruby/ inky in color with a short reddish rim. Not showing age at all.

Strong nose of black currant, blackberries, black plums, black cherries, cedar, vanilla, licorice, tobacco, light earth, herbs, mediterranean spices, black tea and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, blackberries, light cedar, earth, cherries, light vegetables, tobacco leaf, black tea, herbs, light vanilla, mediterranean spices and dark chocolates.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Elegant and nicely balanced with great complexity.

Needs 2 hours in the decanter to open up properly, so be patient. Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.

This 17 year old Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley is starting to drink at its peak, although I'm drinking out of a Magnum.

Showing a beautiful nose with lots of complexity. Rich and extracted, elegant and powerful.

Robert Parker 97 points. Wine Enthusiasts 96 points. Wine Spectator 91 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec. Aged for 24 months in all new French oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

95 points.

$450 (Magnum).
— 8 days ago

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

Quite deep with a ruby core , light garnet rim . Quite young looking . Quite tertiary , with cigar box , grafite some cassis and a grafite note , still very alive and relatively young . On the palate this is quite dusty and earthy , menthol, cassis , tobacco and that grafite hint . Ripe but noticable tannins and refreshing acidity with good lightly grippy length, quite classic . Compared to the Poyferre this is younger but sterner and more foursquare , but classic and unapologetically traditional claret in style. From now with a decant , but this will probably keep well and perhaps improve over the next 10-15 years . — a month ago

Jeroen, Jan and 7 others liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2021

Tight when opened; needed an hour or so. This is going to be a cellar selection. Gobble these up — 7 days ago

Ray, Joe and 4 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

The pinnacle of elegance and grace, this is as beguiling and captivating as a wine can be. Perfect balance, complex aromatics, wonderful mouthfeel. Impressive for its charm and pure class. Wow. — 2 days ago

Paul, ESF and 7 others liked this

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Strong nose and full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate and already very complex.

Showing black fruits with cedar, vanilla, leather, light earth, chocolates, tobacco, spices, peppercorn, coffee, cola and licorice.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This young Cabernet Sauvignon from Stags Leap District in Napa Valley is already drinking beautifully. Rich and extracted. Fruit forward, elegant and nicely balanced. Soft and smooth.

In your face kind of wine, with a teeth staining color. Bold and beautiful. The high alcohol is still noticeable, but will integrate with time.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after a few hours of airtime.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 to 20 years. Showing good potential to become a 95+ point wine.

Wine Spectator 93 points. Robert Parker 99 points. Wine Enthusiasts 97 points.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged for 28 months in all new French oak barrels.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$300.
— 9 days ago

Dave, Juan and 10 others liked this

Château Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

Medium ruby garnet , medium garnet rim . This is quite aromatic with dusty summer fruits , tobacco , burnt embers , quite classic . On the palate this is quite strict with refreshing acidity , spicy mix fruits , slightly gritty tannins. Quite good length , with dusty , grafite tinged finish . Quite classic and lean in style , with good balance and length . Perfect now and over the next 10 years . — a month ago

Tom, Ira and 8 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2001

Don’t know if this is representative or not, but it’s definitely not what we were expecting. All sweet and nutty and balsamic but no fresh acidity, which was to be expected, nor anything else that pointed in the direction of a Sangiovese dominated wine. Seems to be in an indian summer kind of phase. Drink up we thinks cause it seems to be going down hill. — 24 days ago

Peter, Berry and 1 other liked this

Château Cheval Blanc

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2004

WOTN resolved tannins and brightness in it acidity. Both red and dark fruit. It gave me this sensation of just comfort. Another example that a poor vintage is not an indication that great bottle can’t be made. — a month ago

Dave, Joel and 1 other liked this
Dave

Dave

Wow!

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Tasted blind. Deeper slightly brighter in colour, deeper ruby and a thinner garnet rim . Bit more closed and deeper in fruit , grafite , blackcurrants , wet stones , mineral . There is also a seaside , sea shore hint coming back to this . On the palate this has more volume than 1 , richer in style . More dusty and drier tannins , balanced acidity and good grafite tinged length . Mouton ? Lovely depth and expressiveness , exuberante, young still but with time really shows well. From now and over the next 10 -15 years. This was the Lafite , which surprised me , but still a beautiful wine. — a month ago

Jeroen, Tom and 16 others liked this