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2010 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$180.00USD

This is in a great place right now.  It has started to shed some of its oak coat and the fruit is coming thru.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, spice, slight lumber, black pepper and roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice texture.  On the palate, boysenberries, vanilla, spice, black pepper and roasted herbs.  Long finish.  This could use a few more years but should drink well for another ten to fifteen.  Right now it could use some fatty food to match it with.  

2011 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard, USA, California, Napa,

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$195.00USD

One of the few less than good vintages in Napa, yet, this wine rocks.  Purple  in color, opaque and bright.  The  nose has cassis, blueberries, gravel and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cassis, with slight blueberries and a bit of earthiness.  Good finish.  This has some depth and complexity.  Drinking well now on its own, this will work well with a steak or burger.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  

2002 Beaux Frères Pinot Noir Beaux Frères Vineyard, Oregon, ribbon Ridge, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

From the excellent 2002 vintage, this should answer any doubts about whether Oregon Pinot Noir can age and also how it ages.  This was a huge wine on release but now it is mature and drinking beautifully.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight sour cherries, a hint of black cherries, some earthiness and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Wispy, mostly integrated tannins.  On the palate, this has a nice complexity.  Layers of black cherries, sour cherries, earth and slight char.  Great energy.  Good finish.  It would have been interesting to stick this in

2002 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$395.00USD

My second time in the last month or so drinking this and I am not complaining.  I had a small taste at a wine dinner featuring many other bottles and then a small glass on the next day.  Fantastic wine.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, pencil lead, cedar, smoke and leather.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is deep and complex.  Flavors of cassis, graphite dry earthiness, char and leather.  Long finish.  Delicious.  I won't give this a 100 score as I just didn't pay enough attention to it, but was fantastic.  

2006 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$225.00USD

It is always a real treat to drink this wine.  The price has gone up quite a bit in recent years but for the quality, it is still fairly priced.  One hundred percent Sangiovese from Tuscany.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is powerful with black cherries, cherries, sandalwood, black olives and spice.  Full bodied.  Still very firm tannins.  On the palate, this is showing some early maturity with flavors of black cherries, cherries, tea leaves and spice.  Long finish.  This still has another ten to fifteen years on it for well stored bottles.  Delicious on its own, this would

2004 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes, France, Burgundy, Wine Reivew

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$480.00USD

Count me among those who find a certain greenness to the 2004 Burgundies.  Others at the table loved this wine and either didn't find that quality or didn't mind it.  Ruby/purple in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, a bit of earthiness and an herbal quality hanging around the background.  It comes across as a sort fresh thyme mixed with cilantro.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, black cherries, some cherries, herbal notes and char.  It is also complex and layered.  It works better with food and it would be nice with fresh sashimi.  It has plenty

2006 Domaine Bruno Clair Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$1387.00USD

From magnum.  This bottle seemed to get mixed reactions from the table.  Some thought it needed a long decant and others were more positive.  I found it young, but very enjoyable.  Like many Pinots, a lot depends on what style you like best.  This seemed on the darker, more ripe side especially in this format.  Deep ruby in color, purple at the core, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, black tea, char, and slight earthiness.  Great texture.  Good energy.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, cherries, with some char and earthiness/minerality.  Long fin

1993 Chateau Musar, Lebanon, Bekaa Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1993
Score: 
97
Grade: 

This had been given a long decant (5 hours) and then double decanted back into the bottle.  It was just right.  Really an awesome showing for this wine.  It is a blend of 1/3 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1/3 Cinsault, and 1/3 Carignan.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has just a touch of volatile acidity which really serves to lift the aromas.  There is also some Brettanomyces (barnyard notes) but not really much to speak of.  Also, plenty of cassis, cherries, red currants, dust and spice.  Full bodied.  Light tannins but mostly resolved.  Bright acidity.  On the palate, th

2017 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis 1er Cru La Forest, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$899.00USD

From one of the top producers of Chablis.  Impressive showing.  Light gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has crushed shells, green apples, lemons and a slight waxy note.  Great texture.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Crisp granny smith apples with crushed shells and slight lemon notes.  Deep and complex.  Long finish.  This drinks well on its own and is very food friendly.  Obviously shell fish but this went quite well with sweet potato sushi and even asparagus sushi.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

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