2002 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$185.00USD

What a beautiful showing for this red wine.  This has aged beautifully despite having 15.5% abv.  Another in a long line of high alcohol Napa Wines that have stood the test of time.  It is a blend of 75% cabernet sauvignon, 22% merlot, and 1% of each cabernet franc, petit verdot and malbec.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, leather, spice and slight cedar.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is vibrant with layers of fruit over a nice earthy/leathery base.  Cassis and black cherries.  Medium tannins.  This is mature but not old by any means.  This sho

2012 Château Lafite Rothschild, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$545.00USD

This showed surprisingly well for such a young Lafite.  It was splash decanted for about 20 minutes prior to serving.  Purple in color, opque and bright.  The nose is big with cassis, graphite, cedar and spice.  On the palate, this drinks young but like a pedigreed Bordeaux (which, of course, it is).  Deep.  Plenty of energy.  Spry is perhaps a better word.  Lots of cassis with underlying cedar and spice.  Medium tannins.  Good finish.  This drinks great on its own right now and will work well with a roast or steak.  It probably need another decade or more to get to peak but should drink we

1996 Château Haut-Brion, France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1996
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$460.00USD

Typically, Haut Brion is my favorite of all the first growths.  Perhaps because the blend is a bit different.  This vintage is 50% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11% Cabernet Franc.  At age 24, this is just about at maturity.  Purple/ruby in color, but starting to show some browning.  Mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, tobacco and slight earthiness.  On the palate, a nice tart but sweet fruit - cherries, black cherries and slight black raspberries.  Layers of complexity.  Long finish.  This won't get better from here, but should have ten to fifteen years a

1998 Château Latour Grand Vin, France, Bordeaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1998
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$450.00USD

Chateau Latour probably takes the longest to come around of all of the first Growths.  Most of the time, patience is rewarded.  This showed quite well for the vintage.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is very earthy with Bordeaux funk but also cassis, black raspberries, tobacco and slight cedar.  Medium bodied with medium tannins.  At age 22, this is more of a teenager than an adult.  The palate goes from heavy cassis to cranberries and back with underlying funk and earth.  There is some complexity.  This should drink well for another fifteen to twenty years.  It drinks nice alo

1998 Château Margaux, France,Bordeaux, Margaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1998
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$400.00USD

Any time one gets a chance to drink a first growth, it's a true pleasure.  They have become prohibitively priced, so its nice when a bottle actually gets open and consumed.  Perhaps not the greatest vintage of Margaux, but a very good one.  At age 22, this is pretty much at peak and drinking very well.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The  nose has a bit of that Margaux liquor/perfume with cherries, cassis, slight spice, and leather but clean.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  The palate has black cherries, slight black tea, and slight soy.  Long finish.

2007 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

This performed above expectations.  It is in a really great place right now.  Purple in color with a thin ruby lip.  The nose is classic with black cherries, cherries, black olives, garrique and slight dried flowers.  This is a bit bigger than most vintages but still has that Charvin sinewy texture and energy.  It is not a big wine.  Nice black cherry fruit with a base of semi-clean earthiness.  Great balance.  Layers of depth and complexity.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This bottle seemed just about at peak but should be hears for at least another decade.  Drinks great on its own but will wo

2008 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Brut La Grande Dame, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$130.00USD

This is the top "Luxury Cuvee" from this Champagne house.  They nailed it in 2008 and while it might not be quite at the levels of some of the top Champagnes, it isn't priced like they are either.  Another great showing for this wine.  Silvery gold in color, clear and bright with a nice mousse of lots of tiny bubbles.  The nose has smoke, minerals and light chalk.  Full bodied with excellent acidity.  The minerality and chalk carry thru to the palate.

2008 Dom Pérignon Champagne, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$170.00USD

This is one of the better vintages of Dom Perignon.  It is truly amazing to make a wine of this quality at the amount of quantity they make.  Drink alongside some other 2008 heavyweights, and this more than held its own.  Light golden in color with a touch of green, clear and bright.  Lovely mousse with lots of small bubbles.  The nose has brioche, lemons and smoke.  Very big and powerful.  On the palate, tart lemons over a nice minerality.  Great mouthfeel.  So smooth and easy to drink.  Yet, deep and complex.  Starting to get past the baby stage and flexing some muscles at this point.  Gr

2008 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
100
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$270.00USD

Wow.  An ethereal wine that is both intense and present yet also so light as it dances on the palate.  Silvery gold in color with a fine bead of tiny bubbles making up the mousse.  The nose has some smoke and light citrus but the minerality steals the show for m.  On the palate, the lime and tangerine come out a bit more over a nice mineral base.  More lemon on the very long finish.  It is also delicious.  This is young but drinks so easily.  Can it get better?  I would say no, it will just change.  Drink any time over the next couple of decades.  This would work with just about any food an

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