Looks like a nice Columbia Valley Cab. Dark color. Heady and dense nose. Maybe a herbal and earthy streak in with the plum sauce on the nose. Flavors are chewy and vicious. Horehound meets berry cobbler and a bit of flint. Plenty bittersweet like a good Cab should be. Has a big style, but holds a bit of elegance as well. Will be great with the grilled steak I’m going to have with it later. A nice find at the grocery outlet 20% off wine sale. — 6 months ago
Intense sundrenched dark berried fruit with a lovely fresh energy, blackberries, blueberries, cassis. dark cherries and peppermint. Very integrated oak profile with a gentle touch of vanilla and sweet tobacco followed by a underlying stony minerality.
Dry palate with a medium + acidity, high tannins with a fine grained qualititave texture, well integrated alcohol in a full body that is balanced by a fresh acidity. Nuanced palate with a good complexity and characters of ripe dark berried fruit, vanilla and sweet licorice that evolves through a solid lenght that falls a bit short from the major league.
— 4 years ago
The 2006 Bordeaux vintage. The vintage while wasn’t Bordeaux’s best, it certainly wasn’t one of its worst. It had the unenviable position of following a grand 2005 vintage. I think better than 2000, maybe 09 & 10? Jury is still out. The Bordelaise also got greedy and raised their prices from 05. That was a mistake when it came to selling the 2006 vintage and it laid another layer of bad taste in consumers minds.
I really enjoy Pichon Lalande’s style/craft. The 06 is good, not great. In fact, I enjoyed this better w/o the lamb.
The fruits are just ripe. Velvety, rounded M+ tannins. Brambly blackberries, dryish black plum, black cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, some raspberry hues, oak barrel shavings, graphite, dry soils, dry tobacco & leather, dry clay, soft but dark spice, some dry herbs, soft baking spices- clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, light milk chocolate, caramel hues, black tea, anise, some mid berry cola, dry & withering, dark & red flowers, violets, decent, round acidity, balanced, neatly structured/tensioned with an elegant finish that lasts just over 90 seconds and falls on dry earth and soft, dark spice.
Still acceding and has 15 plus yrs of good drinking ahead. Could make a case for rounding up to 93.
Paired w/ Grilled Rack of Lamb, Served with Rosemary Jus, Fondant Potatoes and Steamed Broccoli.
@EK148 — 19 hours ago
Leaner than the El Puntido. This is more classic Tempranillo. Drier & earthier.
Beautiful wine. Ripe, juicy & slightly candied & floral fruits of; mid to dark cherries, black raspberries, black raspberries, dry blue berries. Cherry cola, dry tobacco w/ ash, dry leathery, barrel staves, muddy herb mix, dark, dry spices, steeped, sun tea, mid; clove, nutmeg, vanilla, limestone minerals, crushed limestone/dry rocks, dry flowers that are black, red w/ dry lavender, round, high acidity with a high, dry tannin finish that falls on to the wild, dry, earthy, wildest finish that is balanced for many minutes.
Paired this with/ a dry rub tri-tip and a burgundy marinaded Cardiff Crack tri-tip. Both very different and enjoyable, but liked the dry rub with the Rioja.
Photos of, my visit to the Bodega, old oak vats that are decades old, neutral wood that is still used as of 2015 when I visited & been repaired endlessly, old wood press and tasting room outside their cellar/tasting room. — a year ago
Happy New Year! 🎉🎊🎈🎆 🧨
1997 Jones Family, the year prior to TRB taking the helm and yet still a fantastic Napa vintage that is singing.
For me, this is classically styled Napa Cabernet. This is still not descending. Has another 5-8 years of good drinking and perhaps beyond.
Showing dark, meaty, dry, velvety tannins. Dark currants-blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, raspberries, plum pudding, chocolate mousse/cake, caramel, mocha powder, dark spice, dry top soil, dry, crushed rocks, anise, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanillin, used leather, graphite, dry stone, volcanic clay, withering, dark, red, purple flowers, excellent round acidity and a well made, balanced, nicely tensioned, elegant finish that lasts two-minutes and falls onto earth & spice. — 10 months ago
ok had with Penny Feb 1/22; $29 — 4 years ago
As I poured this wine the smell of roses hit my nose, with a swish of light-bodied wine in the cup. The palate was quenched with sweet ripe blackberry flavors and juicy zest — 4 years ago
Chance Miller
Left by guest, thank you! — 17 days ago