This is another quality value from this Argentinian producer.  Made from a blend of organic grapes, it is 75% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Noir.  The Charmat method is utilized meaning that the bubbles are trapped in stainless steel tanks versus in the bottle.  While that does not have the tradition or "romance" of the Methode Champenois, to does allow for high quality wines at much more reasonable pricing.  And, this bottle is proof.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The wine is frothy on opening with lots of small bubbles.  On the nose, there are lemons, lemon peel, and minerals.  Good aci

Sometimes Tawny's get short shrift to vintage ports, but for the money, 20 year ports from top producers are well worth keeping around.  The bottle can be opened and consumed over a period of weeks.  This is one of the better ones.  Amber in color, clear and bright.  Lovely nose with toffee, caramel, burnt orange peel and slight nuttiness.  Full bodied.  There is some alcohol and heat on the palate, but more warming than hot.  Flavors of toffee, caramel and slight chocolate notes.

Its amazing that this wine doesn't get more buzz.  Most of that is because it has been around for so long and great, that people talk about the "newer" wines on the block.  Although expensive, this wine competes with lots of the "cult" wines that are three or five times the cost.  Of course, this is still young and if drinking soon, a five hour decant is not a bad idea.  It has 3% Petite Verdot blended in.  Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is classic with cassis, graphite, cedar and slight tobacco.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is deep but ta

What a treat to get to try a Schrader this old and note, before he divided his wines into different labels.  At age 20, this is still young and just sort of getting to maturity (maybe).  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, blueberries, chocolate, spice, tar and leather.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is delicious, complex and contemplative.  Medium to firm tannins.  Notes of cassis and blueberries with chocolate over char and slight earthiness.  Long finish.  This took about an hour to open so a decant might be a good idea.  Drink over the next twenty years. 

It's not often one gets to drink an aged Schrader and they are so good and get opened young.  What pleasure.  Actually, this is still youthful but getting closer to full maturity.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, cedar, sandalwood, chocolate and leather.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  It unwinds in the glass to show layers of cassis, some black cherries along with cigar tobacco, leather and char.  Great balance.  Long finish.  It can certainly be consumed now but a few hours in a decanter would help.  Drink over the nex

From yet another vineyard managed by Andy Beckstoffer in Napa.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The  nose is great with cassis, chocolate, cherries and a sea air note.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Lots of cassis, black cherries, some chocolate with a bit of char and spice.  At age 11, this opens slowly and needs time.  It kept improving all night long.  This should continue to drink well for another fifteen to twenty years.  It drinks great on its own, but a few hours in a decanter would work well.  It will work well with a steak or roast.  

Another stunning wine from Realm.  Inky purple in color, shimmering bright and opqaue.  The nose is a bit jammy with cassis, blueberries, cigar box, cedar and spice.  Full bodied.  Jammy texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Deep if still young and tight.  Firm tannins.  Lots of cassis and some blueberries with dark chocolate, coffee beans and slight tobacco notes.  It unwinds in the glass.  Each sip makes one want another.  Lots of energy.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now but should mature slowly over the next thirty years.  Drink any time although a few hours in a decanter

Wow, what a wine!  BTW, this is not to be confused with the wine of the same name without the "Elysian".  Inky purple in color, shimmering bright and opaque.  The nose has cassis, cedar, chocolate, graphite, tobacco, blueberries and just a hint of funk.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Rich, lush texture.  This is young but delicious.  On the palate, cassis, blueberries, chocolate, with some underlying leather.  Deep and complex.  Long finish.  This will evolve and may even improve but it is so good today.  Drink over the next twenty-five years.  Great on its own, it will need big food to matc

It is always a treat to drink a mature First Growth.  This is fully mature and drinking beautifully.  12.5% abv according to the importer sticker on the bottle.  Purple/ruby in color with some browning at the rim, mostly clear and a bit flat.  The nose is dusty with cassis and tobacco.  With air some dried fruits come out.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has a vibrant acidity.  Nice cherry and black cherry fruit with some cassis.  Layers of complexity.  Fruit over spice and dried forest floor.  Nice finish.  This begs for food and went well with a roasted Brie but would work well with

Though 1999 is a good if not great vintage, Palmer is certainly one of the top wines of the vintage.  This is a blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, and 6% Petit Verdot.  It is at peak.  This bottle was opened at 2:00 and allowed to breathe until 5:00 when it was double decanted back to its original bottle and sealed before serving at around 8:00.  That seemed to be about right.  Garnet in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, spice, cedar and floral notes.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is complex and layered.  Cassis