Andrew Cullimore

9.3

5th wine . medium deep ruby , touch more garnet . Slightly wider rim . Quite cool and mineral again , more grafite with some cool cassis , blackberry. On the palate this is slightly lighter in body , leaner perhaps but very elegant , fresh and quite saline, tobacco , grafite and herbal tinges on the finish . Reasonable saline length. Fine lightly grippy tannins , good acidity . This is showing quite well though would perhaps benefit from a few more years . Better in 3-5 years and drink well a further 7- 10 . The next day this actually shows a little better , elegant and refined, nothing showy , very Lafite , so I’m glad I guessed this correctly ! Overall this was a very interesting tasting , there is nothing showy or remarkable about the 2006 1st growths , they are quite classic and also showing quite a lot of structure still , with good freshness though they perhaps lack a little stuffing and intensity . They were quite even quality wise, with the high points being the Mouton (though the Lafite improved the following day to upgrade its score and draw level ) and the low point being a relatively disappointing Margaux . The vintage will continue to improve over the next 5 perhaps 10 years in general , though they may always just lack a little density and excitement . — 3 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.8

The 2019 Vieux Château Certan was picked from September 23 after light showers the previous day. "We dared to add some Cabernet Sauvignon in 2019, which gives complexity," Alexandre Thienpont remarks, "but the Cabernet was 'killed' in 2020." It has a much more discrete bouquet than the 2018, unfolding with truffle-tinged black fruit. There are fewer marmalade scents than I noticed a couple of years ago, but there is absolutely stunning delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins, like a cousin of the superlative 2016 in many ways, but it may be silkier towards the finish. Elegant yet paradoxically intense, this is VCC at full flight. And it's only on its opening pages! Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove, Belgium. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2024)
— 2 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.1

Cathy Corison's 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is a very pretty wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. Sweet dried cherry, mint, licorice, spice, tobacco and dried herbs are all signatures of a wine that has reached its plateau of maturity. There is more than enough freshness to ensure at least another handful of years of fine drinking, but I would not push my luck on aging. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, April 2023) — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

This estate owes its name to Connetable Talbot, the English general & governor of the province of Guyenne who was defeated at the famous Battle of Castillon in 1453. Aromas of sweet black fruits with floral and earthy notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry & blueberry with cacao and tobacco spice, on a well balanced frame. Fine rustic tannins, long savory ending with fruit, spice and cedar character. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Est., in the early 1950s, producing and selling only grapes and just a few years ago Giampaolo Pira began aging and bottling its own wines. Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruit and earthy spices, 100% Nebbiolo. On the palate flavors of ripe cherry and plum with earthy pepper spice, well balanced. Fine tannins, vivid acidity, long finish ending with earthy mineral notes, drink now. — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

To bring in the New Year, here is a delicious wine, one of California's icons. Happy New Year to all of you.

Dark ruby in color with a short brick rim. Not showing age at all.

Great nose of blueberries, cherries, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, spices, graphite, dark coffee, chocolates, tobacco, beef jerky and peppercorn.

Full bodied, elegant and smooth, with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, plums, currants, oak, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco leaf, peppercorn, pencil lead, light vegetables, coffee and chocolates.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a great Cabernet blend from California. Showing great complexity with a soft mouthfeel.

This 13 year old is a delicious Bordeaux blend. Well balanced and engaging, with a tangy finish that makes it interesting.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, show the tannins and become its own.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with light appetizers. A good wine to pair with BBQ Meats.

Thank you Scott for sharing this with me.

Drinking very nicely now and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 18 months in mostly American oak barrels.

13.1% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$230 (current vintage). — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Best on Day 2. The 2017 Caravina pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of cassis, blackberries, plum, tobacco, violets, cocoa, well-oiled leather baseball glove, Poblano pepper, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long and ashy. It’s been almost 5 years since my last 2017 and I’m just as excited about it today as I was back then. Drink now with some patience through 2037. — 5 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

Pnp beauty, completely open and giving wafting a distinctive Roumier raspberry and rose petal laced whole cluster perfume with a seductive and seamless palate with fine grained tannins and a long mineral inflicted finish. So much more accessible than 21’s right now which are far more closed and reductive. Last glass a couple hours open was just perfect Burgundy. Village at its finest. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Best on Day 2. The 2013 “Les Pavots” pours a deep ruby with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of light sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with wild brambles, Korean bulgogi, some purple flowers, tobacco, cedar box, some VA, and fine baking 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 zippy. To my palate, a lot more interesting than the “Au Paradis” from the same vintage. There’s just a lot more going on. Drink now with patience and through 2040. — 2 years ago

Shay A

9.5

When I purchased this five years ago, it was without a doubt the nicest bottle of Bordeaux I owned. 2001 was a good vintage for certain producers, and with Haut Brion being my favorite first growth, I wanted to have one of these with some age to see how they evolve. I slow ox’ed for 1-2hrs, consumed from bottle over the next three hours, and saved the last quarter for the next day.

Amongst quite a few first growths (and a ‘94 and ‘04 Haut Brion) this held its own. Compared to HB, it doesn’t have that brooding power and deep fruit core as intensely, but it wasn’t too far behind. More red fruit/black cherry than the dominant black I normally get with HB. Potpourri, baked black cherries, and cherry pipe tobacco showed strong on both days. No reductive funk to blow off. Faint notes of mocha, scorched earth and peppered strip, but it meshes with the cassis and grippy herbal tannic finish. What I didn’t expect was how vibrant the acidity was on both days. A beautiful example of high quality Bordeaux, and one I wish I had more of. — 4 years ago

Tom Garland

9.7

A happy Father's Day....this wine should do

1.5 hour decant (fine/cloudy sediment). A fantastic inky dark purplish garnet color. On the nose: very aromatic nose with dark cherry, crushed stone, that sweet aged cab perfume, smoke, forest floor, little blackberry, minty pine, and slight funky earth. Taste: a creamy, soft, juicy full body wine with blackberry, cedar, smoke, dark cherry, black licorice, and a chocolate tar long finish complimented by the silky fine tannins. YUM!

What more can I say except as the farmer says at the end of the movie Babe......"That'll do pig. That'll do." — 5 years ago

with Brenda

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.5

Just in from Jersey, $22.00 no tax free shipping. Buy it by the case all day long. Skip the Bevan & buy this
Retail notes,

There’s a sweet-spot for domestic Sauvignon Blanc found in a special part of Bennett Valley that experiences a strong maritime influence as it flows through the Petaluma Gap to Sonoma Mountain. Within that funnel of cooling coastal air, the Dry Stack Vineyard is in a prime location at 550 feet elevation at the base of Mt. Taylor. I’m continually drawn to Sauvignon Blanc from Dry Stack and the vineyard produces fruit with detailed notes of fresh guava, rocky minerals, ripe tangerine and mineral infused citrus. You might be familiar with Russell Bevan’s version from Dry Stack, and Grey Stack has been a pillar on our tasting list in Yountville.

With Grey Stack, everything begins in the Vineyard with exceptional quality fruit, but from there, the wine is given a voice by winemaker Patrick Sullivan, whose experience includes making wine at Peter Michael, Paul Hobbs, Lewis Cellars and Rudd. This is absolutely one of the finest examples of California Sauvignon Blanc with its superior focus and incredibly vivid, distinctive flavors. If you love Sauvignon Blanc, or better yet, even if you don’t… Try this one and you’ll probably never look back. — 6 years ago

Doug Boatman

9.6

Still in its prime. Great fruit. Body. Finish. All the elements of a mature fine wine. — 6 months ago

Tom Garland

9.5

+2 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A prodigious purplish dark ruby red color. On the nose: intoxicating nose of dark fruit, musty forest floor, cigar wrapper, smoke, worn leather. Taste: Wow! Juicy, structured, layered, silky, mouthcoating wine with plum, blackberry, vanilla oak, cocoa, earth, and a baking spiced iron dark chocolate long finish with a slight tannic kick. YUM! A wonderful wine early in its drinking window. — a year ago

with Brenda

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.8

So elegant Montrose. It builds up an epic journey in the aftertaste. Rich and opulent as usual but with a fine touch of incredible level.
Softer extraction resulted on a fruitier, more sapid and rounder wine than usual. It feels it’s going to be approachable in its youth. — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Terre di San Leonardo is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (40%), and Carmenere (10%), run by the Gonzaga family since its inception in 1724. Wine is fermented with ambient yeasts in concrete tanks and 20% is aged in French oak barrels. Ruby with aromas ripe red fruits and floral notes. On the palate flavors of rich plum and blackberry with herb, light spice and slight earthy notes. Medium+ finish, fine soft tannins, ending with fruit, floral and earthy mineral character. Tremendous value! — 4 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Of course this is young and primary but 2015 is just so juicy and giving and offered plenty to justify an early pop, especially from a list at a good price. Previous Roumier experiences with surrounding vintages like 12, 13, 14 and 16 across the line always seem to be shut down and just simply not ready to drink. But 2015 Les Cras wafts from the glass with gorgeous floral and juicy dark fruit aromatics. The palate is pure silk with an incredible purity and focus to its ripe fruit expression and underlying mineral backbone. It saturates and wraps around the palate with stunning length, fine grained tannins and vibrant lift. Lovely at this stage, but in 10 years it’ll be a true stunner. — 4 years ago

Mike Evans

9.2

I can’t overstate my love for the Cordier stable in the 1980s and this reinforces that passion. From a 375 ml bottle in a Gabriel Glas Gold, savory leather and a streak of mint play off brooding dark currant to deliver fine depth. It initially seemed a little dilute, but 30 minutes of air brought out the fine tannin and acidic structure it needed to frame the flavors. While fine on its own, it really took off when paired with a prime ribeye. A terrific final red for this challenging year. — 5 years ago

Pooneet K

8.9

Very nice Rosso. Certainly needs time or a lot of air - better on day 2. A touch unresolved on the finish. But great red cherry fruit. Mouth filling with good acid. Tannins are quite present - excellent with some grilled skirt steak, but slightly difficult on its own. — 6 years ago

John Visto

9.4

A saved treat for the right day, celebrating Bens arrival. Black fruit, herbal, integrated tannins and light on its feet for packing in so much into the glass! — 6 years ago

with Madison and RLT