Zenith Vineyard

Domaine du Pegau

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2013

2013 vintage. Nice fill. Excellent cork. No Durand needed. Decanted with some sed and tasted multiple times over the course of two hours. Origin story medium-heavy body now a light-medium body but with zero loss of color intensity. Primary flavors completely evacuated with secondary and tertiary flavors rushing in to fill the nature-abhorred vacuum. Initially, pretty bretty and likely too much for many...especially those not enamored with/used to such. Black olives, garrigue and cracked black pepper throughout mitigated the sweaty saddle and in serious leather (apologies to Frank Zappa) tendencies in the first hour. Overt, bretty notes dissipated after 45 minutes, This particular wine and vintage at the zenith/absolute top of its' particular bell curve and tastes like it can hover there another 5-6 years without drop-off or apology. 10.28.25. — 2 days ago

Azienda Agraria Lisini

Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2004

ESF
9.4

Big Brett nose, had to open something else… fortunately this was NYE so 6 hrs later I came back and it was fantastic! Classic textbook Brunello, aristocratic bearing, such finely grained tannins & detailed, delineated flavors. Worth the wait and I believe is at its zenith. — 3 years ago

Doug, Scott@Mister and 9 others liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

This is just fantastic. Sous bois and dusty books for the perfume. Same on the palate along with fresh dark fruit, tobacco, leather with a medium length finish. Tannins are still pronounced but soft and velvety. This could still not be at its zenith - still, nothing wrong with enjoying this remarkable wine now. — 5 years ago

Jim, Alex and 6 others liked this
Phil Castellano

Phil Castellano

Awesome. I have 3 bottles so I will crack one over the next week. Cheers!
David Nicewicz

David Nicewicz

Yeah it’s an awesome wine. Don’t hesitate to drink

Adelsheim

Zenith Pinot Noir 2013

Black cherries, black currants, raspberries, and a hint of spice. Very tasty. — 6 years ago

Château Rayas

Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache Blend 2005

2005 vintage. Decanted and tasted immediately and over the course of 4 hours. Medium body with a continually morphing nose. Super-impressive bouquet throughout the night. Overt fruit fallen off the framework and replaced with secondary attributes/complexities. @Bill Bender remarked twice about a lack of “heat”since the usual CDP ABV range seemed underwhelming One might think that would present issues but, rest assured, it did not. Great wine possibly at its’ zenith/top of the bell curve and living its’ best life now. Backed up the hype and then some. Tied for WOTN along with the 2006 Krug Clos du Mesnil Champagne (missed a picture for that one) for both myself and @Shay A 09.21.25. — a month ago

Shay ABill Bender
with Shay and Bill
Scott@Mister, Shay and 25 others liked this
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

🙌
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Effing banging. Thank you @Bill Bender !!
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

My first Rayas! So grateful to @Bill Bender for the experience (as well as the other wines) to finally check this off the list. I’d say that between the five wines of the evening, this and the ‘06 Krug CdM evolved the most. This is the most powerful and aromatic CdP I’ve ever had. The red/black cran-raspberry profile was like a missle on the palate…so youthful, even tangy the beginning. A lot of CdPs have this dirty/figgy profile but this was so clean and pure. Verve for days. Probably still rocking in another 5+ before evolving to the next stage. Epic.
9.7

Pujanza

Rioja Tempranillo 1999

ESF
9.5

Transcendent - loved this wine & winery for years, believe this is my last bottle & perhaps caught it at its zenith: deep dark ruby, still inky & opaque - soaring aromas of cherry liqueur, red berry fruit, licorice, dried herbs, tomato plant, tobacco, leather and some Earthy secondary notes. Still w/decent heft from a wine that for me has always had impressive extraction, power & vigor. Juicy acidity & elegant structure, plenty of ripe fruit - on the palate it shows like finely aged Sangiovese. Wonderful accompaniment to Christmas evening ham. — 4 years ago

Severn, Andrew and 10 others liked this
ESF

ESF

Indeed, got your Xmas card - great to see your family - need to catch up IRL
Andrew Holod

Andrew Holod Influencer Badge

It worked be great to share a bottle it two again. Let me know if you are headed to DC any time soon.
ESF

ESF

I’ll be @ Ft Lee till late April, let’s chat: 719.649.6280

Vincent Wine Company

Zenith Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023

Old school whole cluster PN — 2 months ago

Ira liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

2014 vintage. Light-medium body. Excellent cedar and tobacco notes floating amidst the soft tannin treatment. Verry harmonious currently. Maybe 2-3 years more before hitting the absolute top of the bell curve. Maybe. This vintage is rocking right now and arguably at its absolute zenith. So good. 8.8.24. — a year ago

Ruud, Jan and 15 others liked this

Montes

Montes Alpha M Santa Cruz Apalta Single Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2000

ESF
9.5

Creme de la Creme of South America right here, aristocratic, reminiscent of properly aged, classified growth Left Bank… all the aromas & flavors - seamless, harmonious, generous and at its zenith. Paired w/birthday dinner of roast leg of lamb — 3 years ago

Lyle, Severn and 8 others liked this

Evening Land Vineyards

Seven Springs Vineyard Chardonnay 2011

Gavin brought this and the Pinot Noir to our little party. Meursualt-like aromas, color(pale) and tension. Exquisitely balanced citrus, apple flavors zenith medium length. Still youthful and aging gracefully. Oregon! — 5 years ago

Gavin WilliamsMaureen Williams
with Gavin and Maureen
Kurt-Inge liked this