2012 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave St. Joseph, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

Purple in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black pepper, slight charred meats and hints of bacon.  On the palate, this is pretty ripe for St. Joseph but well with limits.  Lovely, full texture.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with underlying earth.  Deep with layers that unwind in the glass.  Still young but getting there.  Needs bigger or spicy foods to match.  Works well on its own.  A bit expensive for a St. Joseph but well worth the $60 tariff release price. 

1963 Cockburn Porto Vintage, Portugal, Oporto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1966
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$250.00USD

The cork was soaked thru but did not leak.  This drank well.  Not amazing but excellent and correct.  This actually looks more like a tawny that a vintage port (ruby).  Same with the nose.  It is nutty with some raisins.  On the palate, this is sweet.  It is sadly Maderized, but that said, it drinks nicely.  Went well with a Spanish Musicians Tart (lots of dried fruit).  There is hear and alcohol.  Obviously, not what this wine should have been in its youth but it is 55 years old and a fine way to end an evening.  

1996 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Falletto di Serralunga d'Alba, Italy, Piedmont

Vintage: 
1996
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$650.00USD

The last Bruno Giacosa was one of the premier producers in Barolo.  Sadly, he passed away a couple years ago.  The top wines he made were given a red label and Riserva status.  This bottle is still youthful but it is drinking great.  Purple, ruby rim.  Still looks quite young.  Tight nose; cherries, slight tea leaves and dried roses.  A bit of tar.  Just the slightest bit of VA with air, which is good as it ends up bringing out the aromatics.  Delicious on the palate.  Tight layers of cherries, cherry candy, anise and earth.  Firm but manageable tannins.  Finish goes on forever.  Needs anot

2005 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
100
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$300.00USD

Yowza!  What a great wine.  Seems to be at peak right now though should stay here for a while.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  What a great nose.  Cassis, black licorice, spice and slight blueberries.  Very deep.  On the palate, this is deep and complex.  Lots of black cherry and cassis fruit.  Underlying minerality.  Spice.  Amazing texture; luxurious.  Lots of glycerin.  Long finish.  Will work with bigger foods.  One of those wines where each sip makes you want another.  

2007 Kapcsándy Family Winery Roberta's Reserve State Lane Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$300.00USD

Perhaps the best Merlot made in America.  This is drinking great right now, at or near peak.  Purple in color, thin ruby line at the rim.  The nose is great with coffee, cherries, black cherries, and spice.  On the palate, this has a wonderful texture.  Rich and luxurious.  Slight tannins.  Black cherry fruit.  Long finish.  This is deep and voluptuous with lots of complexity.  This should be here for a while (ten years?) and still last another decade after that.  

2012 Château Haut-Brion, France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$450.00USD

Its hard to believe that a First Growth can exceed expectations, but this one did.  From a good not great vintage, this wine was tremendous.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is great with cherries, chocolate, and slight tobacco.  A soft texture that makes the wine very accessible.  Some silky tannins.  This is delicious.  Young but open.  Cherries and milk chocolate on the palate.  This will work with heavier foods.  This should get better over the next couple of decades, but it is great right now.  

ZD Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Abacus II, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is an interesting wine.  It is a Cabernet made in a Solera style.  The first vintage had 1992 thru 1998.  This is the second vintage and then included a Solera of 1992 thru 1999.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cedar, cassis, dust and with air, an earthiness comes out.  Layered and complex on the palate,  Cassis and spice and underlying earthiness.  Good finish.  Basically, this is high end Napa Cab, but the Solera gives it a bit of complexity.  Needs big foods.  

1995 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, France, Bordeaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1995
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

Decanted for sediment and served.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is earthy with cedar, spice, cassis, and slight celery note.  Much more developed and intense on the palate.  Cassis and slight tobacco.  Good finish.  Classic Bordeaux.  Served with hearty foods and meats.  This producer had some issues in the late 80's but since the mid-90's they have been doing a great job.  

2014 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echezeaux, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$1800.00USD

Its always a treat to drink wines from DRC.  This is obviously young but was drinking quite well.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  An intoxicating nose.  Earthy with macerated cherries, spice and a slight clay note.  On the palate, this took some time to open.  Sour cherries with a soft texture.  Tightly layered.  Long finish.  Very smooth, not bite.  A couple of ounces saved for day 2 was even better showing more depth and medium tannins.  Also a bit of anise on the finish.  For those lucky enough to be able to afford this and can find it, ageing will be rewarded.  

2013 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$250.00USD

Gorgeous wine.  A blend of mostly Marsanne with some Roussanne.  Drinking great right now but Rhone white wines are always unpredictable.  Golden in color.  The nose has some peaches, wax with an herbal note floating above the rest.  Very nice.  It has a slightly oily texture with lots of body weight.  The peach notes carry thru to the palate.  Slightly orange citrus on the finish.  This will probably shut down at some point but then reopen and last for a couple more decades.  This will work with moderately hearty foods.  

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