2016 Realm Cellars The Bard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$185.00USD

This is one of the  better "values" in Napa high end wines.  It is a proprietary blend of 70% Cab with the rest Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, blueberries, slight black cherries, spices, and leather.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, juicy cassis and black cherries with underlying char and spice.  Some leather notes.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is young but drinking well. Drink over the next ten to twenty years.  Great on its own, it would be perfect with a roast or steak.

2013 Kapcsándy Family Winery Rapszodia, USA, California, Napa, Yountville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$300.00USD

This is a blend of 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot from one of the premier vineyards in Napa, the State Lane Vineyard.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, blueberries, slight cigar box and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Juicy acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Black cherries, some black raspberries and blue berries with a bit of leather and earthiness.  Long finish.  This is drinking well and may still improve.  It should drink well for another twenty years.  Great on its own, this would work well with roasted duck or even roast r

2005 Château Margaux, France, Bordeaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$750.00USD

A First Growth in a top vintage?  Yes, please.  This is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color with some ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, leather, perfume, slight cigar box and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is tight and young but delicious.  Cassis, black cherries, spice and slight chocolate.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This is drinking well but will get better with further cellaring (or air).  Drink over the next twenty to thirty years.  For now, it will be a t

Canvasback 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$44.00USD

In just a few short years of production the Canvasback Cabernet Sauvignon has become one of the de facto wines from the Red Mountain AVA in Washington state. Having reviewed this wine from multiple vintages, there is a clear consistency to its quality. Like most Cabernet you will find the requisite black cherry, blueberry, blackberry notes, but this adds huckleberry, boysenberry into the mix along with dusty tannins and a light mocha quality. But Red Mountain fruit also offers an earthiness and minerality with richer fruit.

1997 Carruades de Lafite, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1997
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$175.00USD

Very nice showing for this second label of a First Growth Chateau Lafite.  It has about 40% Merlot in it (according to an early Robert Parker review).  The nose is earthy, with tobacco, cigar box, dust but also vibrant dark cherries and some cassis.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, earthiness and some spice.  Good finish.  Well stored bottles should have a few more years out of this.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  Roasted duck or chicken would work well.  

1990 Château Mouton Rothschild, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1990
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$525.00USD

This is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 9% Merlot.  On release, this seemed to be a bit of a disappointment for a First Growth form a great vintage.  At this stage, 33 years later, it has closed the gap somewhat and while perhaps not as good as a 1989 tasted side by side, it was till good.  Ruby/brown in color.  A very earthy nose but also some cassis and dried cherries.  Also some cigar box/tobacco.  Medium to full bodied.  Tannins all resolved.  Nice texture.  On the palate, much livelier.  Cassis, cherries, dried cherries and spice.  Moderate finish.  These nee

1989 Château Mouton Rothschild, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1989
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$550.00USD

What a treat to drink.  Ruby/brown in color, mostly opaque and bright.  This is apparently a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc.  Georg Baselitz is the artist who did the label.  Perfectly mature if even slightly past, this bottle was singing.  The nose has cassis, dried fruits, cigar box, dust and spice.  Full bodied.  Tannins pretty much resolved.  Good balance.  On the palate, there is cassis, coffee, spice and some cherries.  A bit of anise on the finish.  These probably should be consumed as they take the slow ride down.  Very nice on its own, but a bit of

1999 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1999
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Bought on release at the winery.  This bottle has held up quite well and while mature, did not seem like a 24 year old Oregon Pinot.  Ruby in color with no browning and a bit of purple-ish at the core.  The nose features cherries, sour cherries, some earthy funk and a bit of char.  Medium to full bodied.  Tannins are there but wispy.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  Cherries and some dried cherries with earthiness.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  Drinking well but still, I wouldn't sit on these for too much longer.  Good on its own but better with food.  This would be perfect with gril

1996 Jean Raphet Charmes-Chambertin, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1996
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$185.00USD

Ruby in color, some browning at the edges.  The nose has cherries, spice, dried flowers, and slight liqueur notes.  Medium bodied with a lovely, smooth texture.  On the palate, there is some fresh cherries but this is teetering at the edge.  Dried, macerated cherries with spice and a bit of earthy funk.  Slightly drying at the finish.  This is complex and contemplative but still would be better with food.  Maybe some crusty beread and Epoisses cheese?  Drink up.  

2020 Domaine Louis Michel Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$90.00USD

This is quite good if still young.  A more feminine side of Chablis.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has apples, slight anise and gun powder (reduction?).  Medium bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this drinks very smooth.  Lemon cream notes.  Quite refreshing.  Deep, it does open up in the glass but could really benefit from more cellar time.  Nice finish.  This drinks well on its own but with some oysters or other sea food, it would be even better.  Cellar for another few years and drink for ten to fifteen after that.  

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