Tight Lines

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

1990 vintage. Last tasted 10.26.24 (9.3). Bottom neck fill. Opened with a Durand and decanted. Cork about 70% saturated. Throwing a mix of lentil-sized chunky and powdery sediment. Surprisingly dark color. Nose initially had the funk while decanting. Tasting 30 minutes after the open, the funk had blown off. Light body. Coffee grounds and tobacco throughout. Some damp and decaying forest floor matter/earth (but not mud) notes along with a cedilla of lean, dark cherry. Based on this specimen, feel this can hold tight in this phase for another 3-4 years. 2.27.26 — 3 months ago

David, Jeroen and 14 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Much respect for this producer.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego, thanks for the update, I still have some of these in my cellar.

Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona

Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2019

Dark ruby red color. Smoky aromas of red berry/cherry fruit, rose petals, exotic spices, garrigue and violets. Plush red cherry fruit on the palate with additional notes of fresh herbs, black licorice, dried mushrooms and earth. Difinitive bit of black pepper spice on the long and lingering finish. Medium-plus body with noticeable (but not overwhelming) tight tannins. 15% Alcohol. Powerful. Probably needs a bit more bottle age, but certainly well crafted. — 7 months ago

Dave, Tom and 2 others liked this

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2002

Such a deep and youthful colour!! Black fruit, ink, leather, cedar. Still tight and tannic, yet sufficient fruit, freshness and stuffing to go on for another decade…
Remarkable wine.
— a year ago

Dave, Jan and 7 others liked this

Bodegas y Viñedos Vega Sicilia

Valbuena 5° Ribera del Duero Tempranillo Blend 1997

Mariano García’s final vintage at Vega Sicilia. What a great bottle.

The nose opens with damp forest floor, leather, cedar, and quiet red fruit; subtle, reserved, endlessly composed.

On the palate, it’s silk laid gently over structure: dried cherry, tobacco, graphite, and savory earth carried by fine-grain tannins and measured acidity.

The finish reads like the final lines of a great novel: inevitable, complete, and exactly as it should be. And already, there’s a touch of nostalgia, because I don’t know when I’ll encounter something like this again.
— 5 months ago

Ira, Daniel and 12 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

Awesome. Excellent notes.

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2012

Tight on PnP but opened up at 45 mins. — 6 months ago

Peter, Andrew and 6 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Not sure I’ve had any other 2006 Bordeaux but decided to pull this to give it a go at nearly 20 years of age. Nice wine but perhaps not one that justifies the price point. At first quite tight, but after a 5 hour decant this really comes into its own. Lots of leather and dark blue and black fruit. Oak is really only apparent in structure now. Great acid. 13% which is nicely balanced. — 9 months ago

Severn, Andrew and 15 others liked this
Severn G

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Oh yeah! Our favorite S-J producer ❤️
Jay Kline

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@Severn G That’s a big statement!

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

1989 vintage. Last tasted 3 years ago (9.6). Nice fill. Durand used to open. Cork 95% saturated with extensive bottle rim cleaning involved before pouring. Not decanted. Tight, minty nose throughout along with a decided, lingering zinc note under the tongue at the finish line. Tasted 2 hours after opening. Power but without delineation. Just a consistent, forgettable push. Nothing wrong with the wine...it just needed more air/time and a decant but it wasn't my call. Feel like the zinc flavor would have dissipated/blown off with more time. Good but more memorable for what it wasn't vs what it was. Pity and an entire wasting of what could have been. 11.21.25. — 6 months ago

Tom, Paul and 16 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

Very interesting and diplomatic note.
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

@Pinotman /// Andreas Had to bite my tongue.

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend 2008

Intense and pure. Beautiful balance. Focused and saline with great minerality. Young and tight but so much in the future — 6 months ago

Bex Green
with Bex
David, Juan and 8 others liked this

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Still tight. Let em sleep. — 10 months ago

Bob, Austin and 18 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2015

Lucid and supple. Rounded fruit. Contained. Not too hot with lovely purity. Great stuff. A little tight. Some dried herbs. Delicious. — a year ago

Rick K
with Rick
Jay, Shay and 10 others liked this