WOW. 2000 great vintage. Please post tasting note when popped Jim. Thanks
Will do. I need to find the right occasion for one. I just opened this one last night for my wife’s birthday. Fantastic as always. Image Unavailable, Please Login JK
Great weekend in Calistoga, a few notables from various tastings. No pictures, but for your radar to the extent you can get this stuff, a few highlights: Hourglass - always our top winery, extremely reliable elevated cabs, notably Blue Estate Cab, Cab Franc, and 36. Bright, fruity, balanced minerality. Also rolling out a terrific rose. Great price points all around for the caliber of wine they're producing Vice Versa - the surprise of the weekend. Every cab was tremendous, from entry level "spinning plates" all the way up to "Magnifent 7." Lot's of Beckstoffer offerings, Dr. Crane/To Kalon/Las Piedras all silky, big, and balanced. Expecting big things from their '23 vintages which will be delivering next fall. I think Vice Versa has a great future Momento Mori - great wine but not worth it IMO Fisher - nice old school Calistoga family run business, solid chardonnay ("Whitney's") and enjoyed their Mountain Estate reds as well as Calistoga vineyard "Lamb" Cab
Completely at the other end of the spectrum. Had a 2017 Henry Fessy Gamay noir two days ago. For about $20, it was absolutely brilliant. The funny thing with Gamays, they're either complete crap, or very good. Seems I've never found anything i between.
Was looking at a collection to possibly purchase. 400-500 bottles of wine but nothing special except …….. This
You probably know 84 was not the greatest vintage and the ullage on that bottle would concern me. Good luck with your decision.
Exactly. The foil and cork showed signs of seepage too. Just an odd story and you never know what you’ll find.
Big night. May have been a little overserved. I stopped taking photos after the second bottle. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login View attachment 3167062 View attachment 2964848
Some great choices in there for sure! How did the 1988 hold up? Oh, the black / yellow is okay too… JK
I opened this one last night for Mother’s Day. No apologies for drinking this one young although it would certainly age. I’ll leave the Grand Vin for that purpose. Nice concentration, plus the sort of balance between dark fruit and body that I expect from Haut Brion. Image Unavailable, Please Login JK
The Vosne-Romanee was about as expected. Definitely softer and more mellow. Still plenty of classic pinot notes but slightly faded or more nuanced. The SQN “way to heresy” was an impressive contrast and a better fit for the meal. The burgundies were all excellent.
Opened a 2014 Montelena Estate Cab that we picked up a few months ago when we visited them. My wife is the wine person, and she really liked it. Coincidentally, I had lamb chops tonight as well. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Graeme MacDonald is winemaker on this project: Palisades Canyon. Release prices supposed to be around $150 for Cab Sauv. Sign up early. I have no interest and not signing up for this (too much wine). I do buy MacDonald and 001 Vintners. https://palisadescanyonwines.com/wines/
Caymus 50th Anniversary has been released (‘22 vintage). Having difficulty waiting min 5 more years to taste. One of my all time fav wines is their 40th Anniversary. I understand ‘22 wasn’t the best year for wine, hopeful.
So I was a total Caymus head for many years. I feel like regular Caymus Cabernet has dropped in quality. The Special Selection is still the same quality wine, but the regular Cabernet is NOT. And now the horror Caymus released a California Cabernet...... I will not even waste my time trying it. Chuck Wagner must be rolling in his grave to see what the Grand children have done to his winery!
Hey @Maxige! Do you have any recommendations on vineyards worth visiting around the intersection of Tuscany/Lazio/Umbria for tastings? Time to start exploring Old World .
