Velvet Crush

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2015

2015 vintage. Decanted and tasted immediately. Very little sediment. Medium-medium-heavy body. Structure and both ample grip and fruit in a beautiful balance currently and for the foreseeable future. No rush to crush. Revisit in a decade. Wowzers. 5.17.24. — 7 months ago

Ted, Jan and 14 others liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1945

Tasted blind. Deep purple color. Looks very young, compared to the 45 Margaux next to it. Almost opaque. Notes of black fruit, cracked walnuts, sweet fruit, raspberry and some cedar desk. Super rich in the mouth. Seems young and is firm, but tannins are softened and the mouthfeel is velvet touch. Long finish. It peacocks all night. The walnuts thing leads my guess to Latour, but can this be the 45? Is it a 61 or 82? Could be... I go with it being a 59 given how young it seems. Just an amazing bottle of wine, open for ~9 hours by the time we left, it seemed to effortlessly power along. Thanks Stan! — 3 years ago

Shay, Andrew and 28 others liked this
Brent Young

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Wow 😯. Fantastic. 9+ hours is impressive 👍

Charles Smith

The Velvet Devil Washington State Merlot

Beautiful and very well rounded. Less sweet than I usually like but still so tasty. Very full on the nose- hints of flush red fruit. Nice acidity and tannin balance. — 2 months ago

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1999

1999 vintage. Decanted and tasted after four hours. Medium/heavy body. Intense, dark color. Earthy, tannic nose. Plenty of grip and fruit and showing beautiful balance now. Not an Insignia fan but this was excellent and has plenty of quality time left. No rush to crush. 71% Cab, 21% Merlot, 6% PV, 1% Cab Franc, 1% Malbec. 3.5.24. — 10 months ago

Ira, Jan and 11 others liked this

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah 2000

The weekend upon us and we're hosting another dinner party for a couple of friends. Tonight's theme was Rhone wine, so good stuff on deck, with age.

Notes pending... (Entertaining guests first 😉)

Absolutely perfect, yet only coming into it's zone, decade to go here...

Notes from +24H open:
Nose has ripe cherry, dried cherry, dried blackberry, red velvet cake, ripe plum and dry, mineral-ly earth.

Palate has silky-sweet cherry, ripe red currant, (light) cigar wrapper, dried cherry, faint eucalyptus, faint wood notes, dry earth, faint iron notes on the long finish. Mild tannins persist today. Expect to enjoy this vintage another +10Y when held in proper storage.

This bottle was singing at the top of its register last night, slightly diminished today. Absolutely perfect cork, no Durand required for extraction. Acquired a mere two years ago, from a local retailer beginning to close down his shop. He purchased a case on release, stored in his cold cellar; when I got to hunting it only a single bottle remained.

I've had the 2000 vintage before, and it was a treat in a more youthful stage, but a delicacy with our meal last night. We baked a 3lb beef tenderloin (Kinderhook Farm; Valatie, NY) coated in an herb paste then an herbed panko crumb crust with parmesan. About a 50m cook, 30m rest yeilded a perfect 130° center. Served alongside smashed potatoes and roasted brussel sprouts with thick cut bacon. We had fantastic company, connecting again with a wine trade friend and his wife after a few years break in our dining schedules.
— 3 years ago

Andrew, Arden and 41 others liked this
Severn Goodwin

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It did a pretty good job last night!
Joseph Barsky

Joseph Barsky

Best cave tour on our visit to this area. Amazing history as well.
Severn Goodwin

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@Joseph Barsky We haven't visited the Rhone yet, but Jaboulet will be on my short list of must visits the next time we're in France again.

Apothic

Apothic Crush Smooth California Red Blend 2021

Headline: “Yep that’s wine.”

A little more ‘watery’ and ‘grap-y’ than I think most would prefer, but very drinkable.
— 3 months ago

Mollydooker Wines

Velvet Glove McLaren Vale Shiraz 2006

This was a lucky acquisition in 2008. Two states, five cities and seven homes later, survived. I'm so happy and relieved that it kept as well as it did! A truly amazing wine that lives up to its reputation! Sublime Velvet. — 8 months ago

St. James Winery

Velvet Red Sweet Concord

Sweet at first and then tart to finish. A very good contrast. Not too sweet and not too tart. My favorite wine so far. — 3 years ago

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1995

Cathy Corison
9.5

5/2/21 Tasting group. My 1st, group 1st. Black cherries, plum, anise. Velvet texture. Flavors follow aromas. Nice grip. — 4 years ago