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Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Chardonnay 1996

Medium lemon colour . Lovely lemon, buttered pastry nose , still so fresh and lively . Mineral with a honeysuckle note , touch of blanched almond . On the palate quite rich and complex , with high acidity and mineral , honied , brioche notes , still quite fresh though with lots of creamy lemon hints. Long mineral tinged finish . Lovely now and over the next 5-10 years . — 8 days ago

Tom, Bob and 12 others liked this

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1985

Medium ruby , garnet rim, touch of terracotta rim . Slightly dusty , animal touch , with leather , spicy and herbal , soy , iodine . On the palate quite strict , grafite , slightly more red fruit , cranberry , then blackcurrant and grafite . Slightly dusty dry tannins , balanced acidity . Slightly spicy , mineral , grafite tinged finish . This needs a bit of time to open but shows quite well , slightly herbal , and perhaps lacks a little charm , but is quite classic in style if not a great 1985. From now and over the next 10 years . On the night this was probably only ahead of the 1977 , and my least favourite of the 1980s vintages . — a month ago

Jan, Anthony and 7 others liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Opened several hours prior and decanted off sediment and a portion of the cork that had broke and crumbled before returning to the bottle. The 2007 “Howell Mountain” pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and very slight rim variation. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous notes of dark fruit: black currants, blackberries, tobacco, leather, earth and gentle spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory. This is firing on all cylinders right now and the structure suggests the power of the 2007 vintage is not slowing down anytime soon. Drink now with a decant and through 2037 with ease. — 2 months ago

Tom, Ming and 12 others liked this
David T

David T Influencer Badge

One of the very best Howell Mtn. producers.

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2018

Quite floral with plummy cassis, creamy blackberry and a touch of pencil lead, crushed rocks . On the palate this has quite good freshness , ripe cassis and blackberry , but with dusty firm tannins . Mineral , seashell hints of on the good length finish . Quite richly fruited but well balanced overall . This needs more time but for 2018 is promising, balanced with good freshness . Come back in 10 -15 years and will show well a further 10 — a day ago

Tom, Bob and 10 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2006

Served alongside beef short rib, xo sauce, pickled mustard seed, cumin stir-fried asparagus. This bottle of 2006 was throwing a ton of sediment. Showing mostly red fruits with red currants, new leather, tobacco, earth, forest floor, baking spices…a touch green. Hello Cabernet Franc!! Good structure. The finish is long. Every time I have the opportunity to enjoy Sassicaia, I am reminded why it’s one of the great wines of Italy. I just wish it wasn’t so expensive. Drink now through 2036. — 23 days ago

Ira, Jan and 15 others liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2012

Medium deep ruby with ruby pink rim. Spicy cassis , dark blackberry , violets , red pepper. A touch herbaceous with tobacco and graphite. On the pallet, nice volume, ripe blackberry , dark cherry, cassis, with that herbal touch from the nose. Quite firm sweet tannin and balanced acidity . Medium length graphite and cassis tinged finish. This is still quite young but approachable, will last well over the coming 10 years or so. — 2 months ago

Tom, Shay and 10 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2004

First time with this wine. PnP and probably could have used a decant. Great weight. Lots of black olive, herbs. Good but missing something (touch of acidity?) to make it great — 14 days ago

Ira, Jan and 9 others liked this

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2012

Medium light lemon yellow colour . Quite open and fruit driven , lemon peel , touch of seashell and ripe apple . On the palate a bit more of the citrus fruits with some brioche and ripe apple , mineral tinged finish . Very fresh and vivid . Long mineral tinged , citrus peel finish . Showing pretty young, really fresh and fruit orientated. This is still very nice now , but will obviously benefit from further aging especially in magnum . From now on, but better in 5-10 years and will last well a further 10-15 — 2 days ago

Tom, Tom and 10 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2001

The 2001 Opus One is a masterful blend that truly embodies the elegance and structure of Napa Valley wines. The deep ruby color is immediately captivating, and the nose opens with rich aromas of black currant, dark cherries, and subtle hints of tobacco and cedar. On the palate, it delivers an impeccably balanced experience, with layers of ripe blackberry, plum, and a touch of dark chocolate, all interwoven with earthy undertones and a refined minerality. — 2 months ago

Michael Cammarata
with Michael
Bob, Rob and 8 others liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend

Drinking well. Lovely nose of crushed rose petals and a hint of grilled meat and scintilla of tobacco. A touch dry on the palate but otherwise smooth and a nice long lasting finish — 2 months ago

David Stein
with David
LM liked this