2010 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape Sanctus Sanctorum, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
100
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$1353.00USD

This is 100% Grenache from vines that are over 100 years old.  Incredible wine with only 400 Magnums being released.  Purple in color, slight ruby line at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, slight raspberries, minerals, slight anise and floral notes.  Full bodied.  Incredible texture.  Its a big wine but with so much energy and so light on its feet.  On the palate, this is complex and concentrated.  As it unwinds on the palate, there are black raspberries, lots of minerality, some anise and spice.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is drinking quite well now but just s

2016 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Deux Frères

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
100
Grade: 
A+

Wow.  Incredible wine.  Served from Magnum, this is still young but with some air was singing.  100% Grenache.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, spices, floral qualities but also a bit or roasted meats and herbs.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is concentrated, intense and delicious.  Cassis, lavender, slight black cherry with underlying char and minerality.  Voluptuous texture.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and went very well with Mushroom Agnolotti.  Still young, especially from Magnum, this will make gr

2019 Domaine la Barroche Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pure, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+

This is one of my favorite Chateauneuf's although not always easy to find and not inexpensive.  It is 100% Grenache from century old vines.  While this is still quite young, it is delicious and intense.  Deep garnet in color, opaque and bright.  The nose opens in the glass to show black raspberries, black cherries, spices and subtle floral notes.  Full bodied with a wonderful texture.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries with underlying spice and minerality.  Clean.  Great balance.  Long finish.  While no doubt not giving up everything, it is so delicious.  It went wonderfully

2019 Domaine Saint Préfert Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes Clairette, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

My first time trying this (available only in Magnum), it was obviously young and needed some time to open. The  is made from 100% old vine (80 to 100 years old) Clairette grapes.  Very concentrated and unique.  The nose shows almonds, limes, some peach and wax.  Full bodied.  It seemed a bit blowsy.  On the palate, almonds and limes come thru along with some wax.  It is very concentrated yet also has some volume to it.  With every sip my palate adjusted and I enjoyed it more and more.

NV Billecart-Salmon Champagne Brut Rosé, France, Champagne, Wine Review

Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

Tasted from Magnum.  Great showing.  In the world of semi-affordable Champagne, this is one of the top Rose's.  Ruby/copper in color, clear and bright.  A steady steam of tiny bubbles form a pretty mousse.  The nose has strawberries, slight orange peel and just a hint of currants.  Medium bodied.  Nice acidity.  Fresh and clean.  On the palate, the red currants really come out along with a bit of red raspberries.  Nice finish.  This drinks easily and served as a wonderful prelude to a long dinner, both stimulating the palate and working well with Potato Pave.  Drink over the next few years

2010 Hobel Wine Works Cabernet Sauvignon Engelhard Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Nice to revisit this with some age.  It is doing fine.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, dust and spice.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is still a bit youthful.  Plenty of cassis and oak showing.  Deep.  It probably needs another five years until fully mature.  Still drinks great today with some air.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  It drinks great on its own and will work well with a grilled steak.  

1997 B.R. Cohn Cabernet Sauvignon Olive Hill Estate Vineyards, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1997
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Purple in color, opaque but flat.  The nose is dusty with cassis.  With air some dark cherries come out.  A slight minty note on the end.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, black cherries, some cassis with a velvety lush texture.  The nose full mature and a probably a bit past prime.  Good balance.  Still drinking well.  Drink up.  This will work better with food.  Roast chicken is a nice choice.  

2002 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill, France, Champagne, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$421.00USD

Always a pleasure to try this wine although it underperformed expectations for the  wine in this vintage.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  Nice mousse with lots of tiny bubbles.  The nose is toasty with slight lemon and a hint of smoke.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has tart acidity.  Green apples with slight lemon.  Very long on the finish.  This is very tasty.  It seems to be about at peak or at least turning from a young vibrant Champagne to a mature one.  Drink  over the next ten years unless you like them old.  This is very food friendly and would work with just about any fo

2008 Joh. Jos. Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese, Germany, Mosel, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Yellow/green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has slight diesel with lemons and wet rocks.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet (much less than expected).  Slightly viscous.  Lemons with nice minerality.  Long finish.  Great on its own it will work well with lighter salads or with savory desserts.  drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

2016 Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Altagracia, USA, California, Napa, Calistoga, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$130.00USD

This is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Petit Verdot from the Eisele vineyard in Calistoga.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, cigar box, cloves and dust.  Firm tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this has cassis, cedar with an underlying char.  Long finish.  This is young and will still get better but it is delicious today.  Maybe about five to eight more years until peak.  It will drink well for the next fifteen to twenty years.  Great on its own or with food, lamb chops would be a nice choice.  

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