Weingut Drautz Able

Château de la Font du Loup

Le Puy Rolland Vieilles Vignes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2020

There’s something here, but I’m not able to pinpoint it. — 5 days ago

Tom and Lyle liked this

E. Guigal

La Mouline Côte-Rôtie Syrah 1990

1990 vintage. Decanted and tasted after one hour. Medium body. A shade darker than the 1990 La Turque tasted alongside. Deeper smoky, gamey nose. Meaty, gamey, smoky and beef broth/sous bois in the flavors. Super savory. This was phenomenal. Should be able to sustain this performance for the better part of a decade before noticeable drop off. Wowzers. Last tasted 3.24.23 with the same score. 3.15.24. — 2 months ago

Shay, Jan and 19 others liked this
Shay A

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Poggio al Casone

Casone Toscana Sangiovese Blend 2017

Was worried this wine wasn't right, turns out something I was eating wasn't playing nice. Once my palate cleared I was able to get into the wine. Dark fruits, classic sangiovese characters throughout. Little sweet but pretty complex. Could use a little more tannin or acid. Would get again if I got it at the Trader Joe's price I did here. — 5 months ago

Jody WycechEthan HeyboerDiane Heyboer
with Jody, Ethan and 2 others

Realm Cellars

Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Shay A
9.5

I brought this to a big 2012 retrospective tasting of Napa Cabernet but wasn’t able to stop by my offsite in time to get a ‘12.

Cork came out terribly. Double decanted 30-45 mins. 100% Cabernet. Sporting a deep purple color even at 15yrs. Just shy of explosive aromatics…ripe red and black fruits, mocha, cocoa powder. Sheer To-Kalon power on the palate with the velvet glove approach…layered dark fruits, black currant, cassis, charcoal and graphite. Mid-palate here has great depth and the finish is beautiful. This has evolved wonderfully. Pop now but no rush.
— 8 months ago

Joseph, Jason and 29 others liked this

A. Rafanelli

Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1988

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over period that lasted a few hours. After removing the capsule, cork was revealed to be completely saturated and moldy at the top. It was positively nasty. After wiping it down, I was able to extract the cork intact, with the use of a Durand. The 1988 pours a deep garnet with near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment even after decanting. On the nose, the wine is a vinous mix of ripe and desiccated black and red fruits: brambles and currants, with tobacco, bell pepper, leather, organic earth and gentle warm 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 so delicious. Brilliant. The ’88 is ready to drink now with a short decant but has plenty of stuffing to drink well for at least another 10+ years and well-stored examples will be alive for much longer. — a day ago

Ira, Paul and 7 others liked this

Beaulieu Vineyard

Reserve Tapestry Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2004

Been hanging into this forever and definitely worth it - best Tapestry I can remember, not sure I’d be able to tell it from a GdL…punches way above its weight at 14.5…goodbye to a longtime cellar dweller — 4 months ago

Paul liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

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

1995 vintage. Great aging cork in good shape. Decanted and tasted immediately, after 30 mins and after 2 hours. Decent amount of sed. Slight brickish color. Initially and generally throughout, reticent nose and flavors. Very tightly wound overall. Eventually able to coax a small amount of black olive out of the nose along with minerals for days. Some dark cherry and plum allied with baking chocolate in the transition from mid-palate to finish. It was tough sledding in the frontal palate. Super dry with summer earth/dirt at the start. Obvious class but never really flashed more than a few cards to play. Perhaps a different bottle shows a little more love? Producer is always on the leaner side so unbridled optimism on that front is likely wasted energy. 10.25.23. — 6 months ago

Ted, Andrew and 9 others liked this

Paolo Bea

Pagliaro Secco Montefalco Sagrantino 2006

Gotta wait for it, but Sagrantino from Paolo Bea can be great. Best sagrantino I’ve had. Magnum. So happy to be able to share it with appreciators. — a month ago

Vicki SliwaTim BouchardEli Barton
with Vicki, Tim and 2 others
Tom, Doug and 9 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

Bea always fun.

Henriot

Millésime Brut Champagne Blend 2003

2003 vintage. Just enuff acidity to lord over the proceedings. Initially, “cheesy.” That dissipates somewhat and gets very harmonious very quickly. Cleans up a bit on the finish. Should be able to glide hither and yon for another 5-7 years at this level. 1.10.24. — 4 months ago

Austin, Shay and 8 others liked this

Barreri & Rovati

Riserva Barolo Nebbiolo 2016

2016 vintage. PNP. Decent nose. Light-medium body. Bit of oak afoot early on. Gets minimized fairly quickly and moves on to acidity and tannins along with unexpected balance. Some rose petal prettiness. Some earth. Good balance. Not the most, nor the least, structured. Should be able to handle a 15-spot without too much bother. Solid value and drinking well now. 11.28.23. — 5 months ago

Andrew, Ted and 8 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

Sounds OK but not really exciting.
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

For a reserva and 16
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

@Pinotman /// Andreas Picked it up at Trader Joe’s for $24.99. Riserva Barolos usually start in the upper $30 range. It was very solid but never spectacular. Nor did I expect it to be. Would I purchase it again for the same price? Absolutely. It covered the bases and checked off plenty of boxes on the checklist. Priced at $34.99, would prob keep investigating or upgrade.