Time Out

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Ron R
8.9

I can’t remember the last time I tasted this brand, and while it’s very approachable, it’s a total construction site. Vanilla and over-sweet brown sugar with resolved tannins. Not my cup-of-tea, but will be enjoyed by others. — 5 days ago

Andrew MooreRick K
with Andrew and Rick
Tom, Jay and 21 others liked this
Jay Kline

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Ron R

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@Jay Kline, I have older vintages of Napa and Alexander Valley, and they are nothing like what I tasted here. Just so you know, the 94 Silver Oak Napa cab was the wine that actually helped to create my current, measly credit score… Silver Oak has certainly sh!t the bed (in my opinion) since the late 90’s.
Jay Kline

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@Ron R I agree. I’ve had some vintages from the early 80’s that were really good but man…the oak has been overbearing for probably 20 years

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1986

Mary H
9.2

Age is just a number. Still has strong, heady aromas and flavors of apricots, stone fruits though no more tropical notes.after some time, aromas of creme caramel. Powerful backbone of acidity, tempered by flavors of herbs and bitters. Beautiful but with some complexity that comes with maturity. Paired with a slice of basque cheesecake. — 22 days ago

Ron, Billy and 2 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

Even more fantastic than the previous bottle of 2010 I enjoyed a year ago. Decanted and enjoyed over 7 hours. This was good from first pour but became great and then magnificent over the next 3.5 and 7 hours. It was still full of verve on the last sip! Early only it was more dark fruit but over time the wines softened and became a bit sweeter and rounder. Tremendous length and complexity. — 2 days ago

Tom, Shay and 14 others liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2010

Medium garnet , quite pronounced terracotta , garnet rim . This is more closed on the nose , slightly darker , less fruited , more tobacco , earthy , iodine , mineral, dry spices . On the palate more intensity with fresher acidity and grippy tannin . Darker fruits , with cherry , blackcurrant , but with a strong seaside , oyster shell componente . Good length and very elegant , slightly tannic finish . This is quite serious and restrained, more complete and complex than the 2011. Needs a bit of time to open, probably better in a 3-5 years and will show well for a further 5-10. From magnum . — 11 days ago

Jeroen, Ira and 10 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2008

Private Dinner on the beach to celebrate my wife birthday. The Ritz went out of their way to find this 2008 Opus One. Flavors just burst open after decanting. Fruit was smooth with hints of blackberry and cherry. No earthy or leather just smooth fruit front to back. — 24 days ago

Letha Phillips
with Letha
Rick, Joe and 12 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Holy wow! This wine was a unique and memorable experience. It was zinging out from the first glass over the next few hours it only deepened and became more substantial. Very ripe fruit but not aged. It retained vibrancy with complex earthy notes. Absolutely fantastic vintage. Top notch. — a month ago

Tom, Robin and 25 others liked this
GaryWEdwards

GaryWEdwards

Beauty here and ‘09 vintage is more approachable than an excellent ‘05 at this time

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (91.3%) and Merlot (8.7%). A bit tight and unexpressive right out of the bottle. After a 45 minute decant, this wine was awake and very alive. Dark ruby color. Aromas of graphite, forest floor, wet gravel and dark black fruit. Flavors of black currant/cherry/berry/plum, tobacco, baking spices, dark chocolate and minerals. Distinct notes of smoky oak and wet earth on the long and lingering finish. Tannins were a bit lighter than expected at first but developed with aeration. Quite savory, rich, full bodied and powerful. Beautiful texture. Exceptional (once it opened up) but not the bottle of near perfection that I had heard so much about. Thanks for sharing, Petey and Happy Birthday, Kase! — 3 days ago

Austin, DAD and 5 others liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2018

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two hours. It’s been almost a year since my last visit with the 2018 vintage and it’s in a very pretty spot right now. All notes previously apply though I should point out that the florals are especially showy right now. The nose is simply beautiful to experience. The fruit remains fresh and mostly red fruited. The structure is still firm. Very, very easy to enjoy on its own or with a meal. Drink now through 2038+. — 12 days ago

Tom, Douglas and 16 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009

An exceptional wine that shows its age ability to endure and improve over time. The 2009 vintage has 76% Cab Sauv, 18% Merlot, 4% Cab Fran and 2% Petit Verdot and was aged for 15 months in French Oak barrels. Extremely opulent and luscious, though tannins were already falling, but its elegance and finesse was compelling. All ripe red fruits with a persistent perfumed aromas. Elongated finish with some fig notes as a bit of baked raisins. It can continue aging for another 15 years without compromising its elegance and complexity. This is a show stopper!! — a month ago

Iwan, David and 11 others liked this