Top Of The Block

Ghost Block

Pelissa Vineyard Zinfandel 2021

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Fruity nose of red berries, cedar and chocolate notes.

Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, blueberries, oak, licorice, cola, coffee, peppercorn, light earth and herbs.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of airtime.

This Single Vineyard Zinfandel is elegant and not 'in your face' kind of wine, which is nice to see out of Napa. Tasty and easy drinking.

Good by itself as a sipping wine and would pair nicely with a burger.

100% Zinfandel grapes were aged for 14 months in American and Hungarian oak barrels. Only 25 barrels produced.

14.9% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$45.
— 19 days ago

Tom, Shay and 12 others liked this

Ghost Block

Estate Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Inky in color with a reddish rim.

Strong nose of black fruits with chocolate notes, cedar, vanilla, tobacco, Indian spices and licorice.

Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, licorice, vanilla, chocolates, tobacco, spices, peppercorn, coffee, cola and herbs.

Long spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is another terrific wine from the problematic 2020 vintage in Napa Valley. Nicely balanced, complex and smooth. Elegant with a great mouthfeel.

Rich, extracted and in your face kind of wine. The nose is really gorgeous at this point.

Drinking beautifully now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 7 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes in the decanter. Good by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. Organic.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$80.
— 6 months ago

Daniel, Lyle and 17 others liked this

Hunnicutt

Brinkman Block Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Paul K
9.4

Great tasting last night of wines below with @Justin Stephens and @Andrew Bohi over Zoom with a great group of friends including @James K. We missed @Vanessa and @J Greene.
It seemed everyone had a different favorite which speaks well to the quality and consistency from Hunnicutt. My WoTN was the Brinkman.
Dinner at Our Paladar in Rochester, MN. If you’re in the area or visiting, you have to check it out! Food and people are amazing!

2019 Richard Donner Chard
2019 Napa Cab
2019 Eastline Cab
2019 Wayside
2019 FS81
2019 Brinkman Block
2019 935
— 9 months ago

Justin StephensJames K
with Justin and James
James, "Odedi" and 21 others liked this
James K

James K

Thank you, @Paul K, for organizing!
9.4
Vanessa

Vanessa

Wow — what a spectacular lineup and tasting experience! 🤩🤩. Surely it was a grand affair with amazing food, wine, and company. We’re sad we missed being there with you all and hope to make the next one!! 😆🙏🏻 Cheers!! 🥂

Hirsch Vineyards

Block 8 Pinot Noir

Light ruby with aromas of red cherry, raspberry, violet, blueberry, and earthiness. On the bud, sour cherry and baking spices. Nice long finish. — 20 days ago

Boekenhoutskloof

The Chocolate Block Cinsault Blend

Medium ruby color. Aromas of dark chocolate, brick, plum, blackberry and lead. Fantastic wine from South Africa! Full of dark fruit and minerals. — 3 months ago

Ron, Vanessa and 9 others liked this
Sharon B

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Good one!

Foxen

Block 8 Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020

Cherry, Raspberry, strawberry aromas with a touch of sage. Red cherries on the palate with a medium tannins. I think will benefit from a bit more cellar time. — 7 months ago

Shay and Scott@Mister liked this

Venge Vineyards

Block I-4 Stagecoach Vineyard Syrah

Great Syrah from one of my favorite wine producers. — a year ago

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

Forty-plus years on, people still talk about the greatness of the 1982 vintage in Bordeaux. There are multiple factors that contribute to this and it’s fair to say that Robert Parker’s reaction played a major role in the early popularity; certainly in the States. While some may say that 1982 was merely a “good” vintage by today’s standards, I think history has proven it to be empirically special; there was just so much quality from top to bottom. And yet, even with the high praise of the vintage, the tone shifts to hushed whispers when the 1982 Mouton gets mentioned. Up until that point, the Chateau had sort of underachieved after receiving its unprecedented promotion in 1973. But in 1982, a year full of great wine, they created a legend and firmly cemented their First Growth status. Today, I’m pleased to report the plaudits for the ’82 are all warranted.

Opened and double-decanted earlier in the day. The ’82 Mouton pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core with some sediment; almost youthful when compared to many of the other older wines poured on the night. On the nose, the wine is developing still; loaded with cassis, black berries, leaf tobacco, leather, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with fabulous structure. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and full of power. A stunning wine and well in its prime…a window I expect will remain open for a longtime to come. Drink now with bacchanalian abandon and through 2082.
— 17 days ago

Ira, Jan and 27 others liked this
David T

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I picked the Mouton Merlot in 2012 for a day. At the two harvest lunches I attended, they served the 82. Every time they bottle, they take the remaining barrel juice, filter it and then serve the remains at their harvest luncheons for workers & guests. The second lunch I attended, we were seated at the Baroness’s table may she RIP as she passed in 2014. In 2012, they drank the last of the 82.
Jay Kline

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@David T what an awesome story and experience
Bob McDonald

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@Jay Kline I agree re the 1982 Bordeaux vintage. The Chateau Margaux was one of the greatest wines I have ever drunk whereas the Lafite Rothschild was somewhat underwhelming. Bought at the same time from the same shop and stored the same way.

Viña Ventisquero

Grey [Glacier] Single Block Trinidad Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Quite bold and full and nice. Good balance of fruit and tannins with hint of smoke. — 8 months ago

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

1989 vintage. WOTD! Funky, old grandparents nose for a spell, then blew off. Still a bit of the feminine (blueberries, raspberries, cocoa powder) characteristics evident. Better than the last bottle tasted (4.4.23 a 9.4) but not as good as another fairly recently (12.9.22 a 9.6). Still pretty damned delicious and still at the top of the bell curve for another half-decade or so. Hit. It. Now. Ain’t getting better. 5.5.23. — 2 years ago

Jan, Bob and 14 others liked this
Severn Goodwin

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Very nice!