This was decanted for sediment and then drink over a few hours.  This was drunk side by side with the 2012 Riserva which was interesting and fun.  This is a deep ruby with some purple at the core in color.  Darker than the 2012.  It seems to at peak right now.  Not showing old age but certainly mature, tannins resolved and getting close to sliding downhill.  The nose is earthy with damp tea leaves, cherries and just a hint of sandalwood.  Complex and layered with funk, forest floor and cherries.  Very good acidity.  Worked very well with food.  Nice finish.  This was probably never an amazi

It is amazing how much wine Moet can make and be so amazingly consistent.  Of course, Dom Perignon, is at the top of their heap.  Light gold with slight silver in color.  A steady stream of tiny bubbles form a nice mousse.  The nose is nice with slight toast and a sort of lemon/tangerine quality that is really nice.  Very clean.  On the palate, that lemon/tangerine quality continues with a nice dose of carbonation.  Incredibly smooth and easy yet with depth and also precision.  Long finish.  Probably not the greatest ever vintage of DP but still excellent.  Drinking quite well at the moment

An Internet wine friend passed away this week.  Although I never met him in person, we shared many discussions usually about German wines.  He took amazingly detailed notes.  This bottle was opened among people who knew him and shared with others with a toast.  AP 2 602 041 008 03.  Bought on release at a local wine store in Moreland Hills, Ohio (since changed ownership and moved).  The cork came out easily enough.  Medium golden in color.  The nose took a minute to blow off some bottle age, then showed nicely.  A slight diesel note along with wet rocks and slight pineapple.  On the palate,

From Magnum.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is dusty with black cherries and slight licorice.  Quite tight.  On the palate, the cherries continue, but this is really tight right now.  Seems monolithic.  Not sure where this goes from here, but hopefully, it starts to open up in the next couple of years.  Doesn't seem to really have great depth but who knows.  Perhaps some upside potential.  For now, however, it is very good and enjoyable.  One of those wines where expectations balance against reality.  

Ruby in color.  The nose has nice cherries with some floral notes.  A bit of spice.  On the palate, this has some depth.  Bright cherry fruit with an underlying mineral/char.  Still young but opens nicely.  Good finish.  Not a huge Pinot but certainly no wall flower either.  Should go with a good amount of foods.  Drink over the next ten years or so.  

Ruby in color.  The nose is a bit old.  Lighter with cherries, tobacco, dried fruits. bell pepper and slight celery.  On the palate, this is tart and dried cherries.  A bit of a bell pepper streak.  Still drinking ok but getting a bit long in the tooth.  Probably better ten years ago.  

From a Magnum.  This is a very nice wine and a crowd pleaser.  Not to big and fruity but enough of everything to please everyone.  It does not, however, resemble an Amarone.  Basically, a Valpolicella in an Amarone bottle?  Is that a problem?  Only depending on price and what one is looking for.  Purple in color.  The nose has cherries and canned cherries with a bit of minerality.  On the palate, a nice backbone of acidity.  Good cherry fruit.  Fresh and bright.  Light tannins.  Nice finish.  This is food friendly and would work with a wide variety of foods.  Nice finish.  

Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with cherries.  On the palate, light cherries.  OK finish.  Certainly a fine Pinot Noir.  This retails for around $25 which is a fair price.  Varietally correct.  Will work with a wide variety of foods.  Probably won't improve but should cellar well for another 10 years.  

A very nice example of a cooler climate Syrah.  At age 10, this is just sort of chugging along on its way, but not yet, at maturity.  Purple in color.  The nose is black raspberries with some black olives and slight bacon fat.  Very much a Northern Rhone profile.  On the palate, there is a grilled black raspberry fruit quality to this.  Slightly sour fruit.  Some slight heat on the finish.  Overall, very solid and enjoyable.  Food friendly.  Perhaps still some upside to go.  

This is painfully young.  Great stuffing but really needs at least five more years and probably more.  For all the talk about modern styles of Barolo's and making them more accessible, even the average ones still need a decade or more.  This is ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with cherries, macerated cherries and dried roses.  On the palate, this has firm tannins.  Sour cherry fruit.  A very nice finish.  Plenty of upside on this wine and it is probably still out in the marketplace.  I am told it retails for around $50 which is a great price for a Barolo of this quality.