2016 Château Citran, France, Bordeaux, Haut Medoc, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

For those who say that Bordeaux has  gotten crazy over priced, look no further than this wine which is a great value.  It is a blend of 49% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and shimmering bright in the glass.  The nose has black cherries, some chocolate and slight cigar box.  Medium bodied.  Wispy tannins.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Black cherries, some black raspberries with some underlying char and a bit of chocolate.  Good finish but there is some heat.  This is drinking well but still could use a bit of air.  Drink over the next

2006 Opus One, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$450.00USD

Inky purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, graphite, dark chocolate and cigar box.  Full bodied.  Tannins mostly resolved but a few hanging around.  This is complex and layered and unwinds beautifully in the glass.  Notes of cassis, black cherries, and underlying earthiness.  Good acidity.  Good finish.  This seems at or just past peak, but drinking well.  The vintage was a bit difficult but there is no lack of ripeness.  Drink up.  This will be better with food.  It would work well with beef stroganoff.  

2002 Château Haut-Brion, France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$400.00USD

From Magnum.  This was an ok year in Bordeaux, but Haut Brion may have made the wine of the vintage.  In regular bottles, this should be at or past peak, but in Magnum it was doing just fine.  Purple in color, ruby at the  rim, mostly opaque and flat.  The nose is mature with cassis, cigar box, gravel and slight char.  Medium bodied.  Medium silky tannins.  On the palate, cassis, with some tobacco, gravel and char.  Some complexity.  Good finish.  Older bottles are always variable, but these should be drunk sooner than later.  This will work better with hearty food.  Cassoulet would work we

2016 Promontory, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
100
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$899.00USD

Stunning wine.  This was tasted blind in a flight with some truly great labels and this was my favorite.  Blind I guessed that this was a 2013 Schrader Cabernet.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is gorgeous with cassis, pencil lead, cedar chocolate and gravel.  Full bodied.  Medium to firm tannins.  Incredible, seamless texture.  Great balance.  On the palate, cassis, slight blueberries, chocolate and char.  Long finish.  Complex and deep.  Very impressive.  This is young and will no doubt evolve more but its great right now.  Drink over the next 25 years.  

2014 Château Latour Grand Vin, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$589.00USD

Tasted blind.  I guesses a 2017 Napa Cab with mountain fruit (Continuum?).  In a flight of 6 great wines, this was the one I was the most disappointed in after the label was revealed.  It is an outstanding wine, but with Latour, one expects more.  It is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon,  9% Merlot, with some Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot as well.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  On the nose, cassis, some graphite, a bit of forest floor and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, Cassis, slight cedar/woodiness and char.  Long finish.  I believe this to be at least p

2018 Château Mouton Rothschild, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$695.00USD

Tasted blind, I guessed Napa Merlot (Screaming Eagle The Flight).  It was so open and accessible, it was quite surprising to find out it was a five year old First Growth.  Gorgeous wine.  It is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is tight but with air, black cherries, chocolate, cassis, spice, and dust.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, cassis, and a slight dry earthiness.  Deep.  Complexity that unwinds in the glass.  Long finish.  Delicious.  It will definitely get better, but was s

2016 Square Nail Napa Valley Red Wine, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

My first time trying this.  It seems to be associated with Ghost Block wines.  This is a blend of 56% Malbec and 44% Petite Verdot.  Inky purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has plums, cedar, clay and spice.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, plums with a bit of black raspberries.  More one dimensional with out a lot going on.  It drinks very easy.  Nice on its own, this would be a nice mid week burger wine.  drink over the next five years.  

2015 Rudd Oakville Estate Proprietary Red, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$220.00USD

This is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is lovely with cassis, cedar, black cherries, slight dried tobacco, spice and an interesting menthol note.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Cassis, black cherries, spices and graphite.  Lovely texture.  Long finish.  This is young but drinking well.  It is great on its own and would work well with roasted meats and/or root vegetables.  It will still improve.  Drink over the next twenty years.  

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