This wine of the winery is clarity and has a full-bodied fruit-smell, unisonous and long after taste.

Actual notes: tastes of unusually strong grape juice. Tastes of table grapes. Unusually sweet. Zero body. Color was a clear strawberry red. Tastes closer to 5% abv than the listed 8%. Was consumed via baijiu glasses

China has some really fun and interesting wines these days but this ain’t it. Allegedly the original juice comes from France

Friend took me up north to Ad Hoc for lunch. Walk-ins. Could never have done that back in my day. Great cocktails. Surprisingly cheaper than Seoul. Then along the way to a cafe near Press, I saw a sign for Oakville Grocer / Wine Merchant and remembered someone recommending the place to try nicer wines as they have some on pour. I tried to take advantage of the opportunity, but was quite full. Quick notes from a few notable ones and pictures of what they had on tap the first week of October.

Eisele Vineyards, Sauvignon Blanc, 2024, 14.1% abv.

Yep starting off with a legend! Nose was very fruity, fruity jellies with a majority of lychee and mango, hints of florals on deeper inhalations... after smelling this, I realize I stink... travel laundry... sigh. Hahahaha, this is great! Light body, entry is very floral, a bit bitter, fruit peel? Mid palate has a good amount of tropical fruit, but subsequent sips showed more sourdough bread crust, going downhill from here... back palate showing various spices, something i would call as "not so pungent curry", these spices attenuate on subsequent sips. With time there are some bitter elements that distract from the tropicalness. Short to medium finush, white pepper and... man the abv is hitting hard on this... damn, this started off soooo good but literally fell off the cliff! Was it in the machine for too long? Anyone know?

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JCB, No. 76, Chardonnay, 2023, 14.5% abv.

Seeing JCB all over the world, but I have literally no idea who or what they are. Napa locals also tended towards JCB bottlings on my visit. Their distributor is doing a great job. Still not hearing much from consumers, so thought I'd try. Nose has floral orchard fruits, getting cactus on later susequent sniffs. Nothing much here though. Palate suggests a light body to me, entry is light bitter florals, mid palate showing hints of fruit but these transition into some milk-related components, back palate showed toasty caramel notes, bits of caramel candy too, quite sweet here on the first few sips... and it disappears into dusty orchard fruit. Ends up being a bit strange for me. Short finjsh, like the aftermath of eating a leafy salad with no dressing... nothing. Surprising. Not even close to the Eisele SB, but also dropped off a... step.

Paradigm, Zinfandel, 2022, 16% abv.

Realized I wouldn't be able to do a full round since i was so full, so started hitting the non-CS I was interested in. Since I like jammy and spicey zinfandel, I was gonna try this. Nose shows sweet red fruit, ferric, a bit savory. can tell its gonna be "big". Full body even for my mashed potatoes standard, entry is thick red and bramble fruit juice, mid palate is quite sweet and spicey, well balanced between the two though, but the back palate has the spices calm down. Quite a "big" wine, very spicey. Simple and tp the point. Medium length finish, drying, spicey, can feel that abv everywhere. Not as good as the legends, but interesting.

Larry Hyde, Merlot, 2019, 14.9% abv.

Nose is suprisingly salty and fishy, or maritime as they say, ferric, darker fruits come out with time. Medium body, entry is light red fruit juice, mid palate is quite beautiful, bit of red and bramble fruit oils, back palate showimg bits of red fruit, again hints of spices that amplify with time, also gets sweeter but no toasty vanilla I usually get. Nice. Balanced. Medium finish. I am in a rush, gotta hit the big ballers.

Lithology, Cabernet Franc, 2019.

Heard this was famous, had access to a few boxes of their single vineyards but was more into Leflaive at the time. Thing with LA is that there are no wine bars... and good wine bars MUST serve baller bottles by the glass. I guess the same reasons nice things in LA don't exist is the same reason no ranked French restaurant has succeedsed in LA. In any case, nose starts off with dusty black and purple fruits, grapes, ... that inky area. Medium body, mostly sweet red and black fruits, quite sweet... not sure how it got to this level of sweetness, especially for a CF, but not as intense as some zins. Back palate has that extra oomph, quite nice. Finish is short, lightly spiced bramble fruit, rockdust feeling. Interestingly, I can feel the tannins drying out my cheeks, but didn't really feel/taste them on the palate. On the fence with this one... but definitely a step up from the Paradigm zin earlier. Later on the CS from Hundred Acre and Eisele will blow everything else away.

Eisele Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2023.

Nose showing savory red, black, ans bramble fruits, strong darker florals, a variety of cooming spices, wow quite expressive given the age and my prejudice against young CS. Quite enjoyable. Medium to full body, fruity, spices, complexity, great flavor definition although difficult to describe. B level but I can sense this will easily hit A level in a decade or two, at least faster that Bordeaux. Medium to ling finish, getting light chocolate, some dessert elements, but mostly carryover from the palate. Excellent.

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Bond Pluribus, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2022.

Have a feeling this will be too young to get a good assessment, but lemme see. In a rush, dusty mostly, confirmed too young, other than that its sweet red and black fruits, olive oil? Herbal hints on the back palate. Medium finish. Yep, thats it.

Hundred Acre, Wraith, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2022, 15.5% abv.

Nose is just ferric fruit juice. Not bad, but the palate changes all! Smooth, spiced and dessert oriented red and black fruits, perfumed wood, wow! So much going on. The back has some of that pastry bread, spices everywhere else, the vanilla and caramel creep up the palate. Delicious and the only one at the same level as the Eisele CS in this tryout. These go for USD$750 from their club, should I get the 3-pack or wait as I heard things are not going well.... but I see some on secondary for cheaper? Is this an SQN thing?

Fairest Creature, Polyspline, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021, 15.6% abv.

Reminds me of Naruto more than Pokemon. Very young florals, freshly cut cactus, cut agave leaf? Dusty, old celery, no fruit... hmm... has it been in the machine too long? Palate is closer to full bodied, has major spiced red and black fruits with more participation from the black, well made. Some ink, cobblestones, big, massive. Medium finish, quite concentrated on the sweet fruit. I like, but given all these CSs are quite young and out from a machine, it is hard to evaluate unless super obvious. Damn time to hit the road!

One of the most noble crus of Verduno, this barolo combines perfectly intensity and delicacy without compromising either of them. To the nose it reveals notes of rose petals, strawberries, rainier cherry, blood orange and herbal nuances, followed by a sharp intricate mineral character. On the palate it’s vibrant acidity and remarkably fine tannins stand out creating a sense of tension and precision with an elegant finish.
2020 as a vintage is already drinking well, but can still evolve wonderfully
180€ 97pts

This is the third year of a birthday tradition, dinner at Niku Steakhouse in San Francisco with a 1991 vintage wine. First year was a '91 Chateau Montelena, and last year was a '91 Dominus.

The somm, Matt advised that early 90s Dunn was drinking well with no decant, and he was spot on. The wine was slow ox'd through the dinner except for a filter decant for the last 1/4.

Strong eucalyptus on the nose, with graphite, a bit of cedar, and very dark cherries. Eventually a tobacco note came alive.

On the palette, the tobacco and cherry were most prominent, and I'm blown away by the tannins on this 35 year young wine.

95 pts.

1989 Chateau du Moulin Rouge

Late to the game on this producer, have only been enjoying the incredible value of this estate since the 2010 vintage. I believe the 2016 was selling for all of $15/btl at K&L. So when I saw a case of this 1989 version pop up on K&L’s auction site last week, my interest was peaked.

This must have went right from the shop to someone’s cellar where it rested comfortably for 30+ years. Wine was in amazing shape, full on tertiary aromas and on the palate. Tannins soft, acidity offering a perfect framework.

Less than $20/btl delivered. Why wasn’t anyone interested in this? Damn, I’m going to enjoy this one over the winter.

I spent five nights in the finger lakes region last week, tried nine different wineries and about 5-6 wines from each (mostly Rieslings). I picked up what I thought to be the very best individual bottles from what I tried. I’m planning on opening all these together in the next month and posting more thoughts. In no particular order, here they are with a couple tasting notes:

-Hillick & Hobbs — 2022 Dry Riesling: The best of the Rieslings they poured in the tasting room. Integrated, fruit forward with some stone fruits.

-Apollo‘s Praise — Dry Riesling (Lahoma vineyard): Bright and acidic, fresh and interesting.

-Apollo’s Praise — Pentecostal Block Dry Riesling (Lahoma vineyard): Almost double the price of their standard dry Riesling, from a vineyard where the yield is much smaller. Bigger flavors, probably superior to the main label one.

-Weis — 2025 Dry Riesling: Surprisingly good, the quality here was top notch. On the limey acidic side but very integrated.

-Ravines — 2022 Dry Riesling (16 falls vineyard): I was slightly disappointed by the wines here. They had a bitterness and acidity that didn’t feel was as tight and refined as some others. But this particular bottle was very good and more what I associate with a very good Riesling.

-Forge Cellars — 2024 Bellows Riesling: It was a very nice tasting experience but this bottle was by far the best. Lime, minerals, stone fruits, in a tight and expressive package.

-Anthony Road — 2018 Art Series Riesling: Another unexpectedly good tasting and a bottle that stood out above all others. Spontaneously fermented but had all the characteristics I associate with a great Riesling.

Once I open all these and compare side by side I will post more thoughts.

Recently discovered Rieslings from the Mosel river lands have extra quality. Tried out Clean Slate last week.

My plan was to drink half, and half for late-night. BUT, I drank it ALL at once.

Cat figurine seems girl-like, adding to the ambience.

On par with clean slate, Rieslings from the Moselland ARE better. Hoping tomorrow I wake up strong, like it was with clean slate.

Now, thinking... what it would be like to have 10 of these cat bottles?

Mosel river Rieslings are highly recommended.

I had grand plans to open up some Howell mountain cab tonight to go with dinner but while sifting through my embarrassing and poorly arranged wine fridge, I saw this dude in the back with a moldy bubbled up label and it called out…..’drink meeeeeee’.

I immediately grabbed the durand and popped it open for a smell, and I was beyond excited. 21 year old Bordeaux blend from an island on the river across from Chateau Margaux and Brane-Cantenac is still middle aged! Licorice, black cherry, leather and cigar box all wrapped up with tannins and acidity that makes me regret not buying a case. Oh well, that’s what makes hidden gems so special. Cheers!

Tonight’s wine - 2023 Chateau Troplong Mondot

I recently posted about getting into Bordeaux wines and after a lot of feedback and doing my own research, I landed on a couple of Saint-Émilion wines - one of which being Château Troplong Mondot.

And before people jump on me for opening a 2023 Bordeaux, I understand it’s far too young to be doing this, but I need to start somewhere.

This wine did not disappoint. Very reminiscent of Napa cabs (which I have come to love), it is more full-bodied than I had expected. While not quite as bold and fruit-forward as a Napa, it still satisfied the need I was looking for, and at half the price of some of the wines I love. This bottle came in around $130, and I think it was worth every penny.

Red Blend - Breakdown: 84% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Cabernet Franc

On the nose: floral and herbal with some minerality, not overwhelming. Leaves a little to be desired but I think that’s due to it being a 2023. Again, lighter than Napa cabs, but I assume that will be a common theme as I get into other heavier reds.

On the palate: still with that minerality but with more dark fruit (blackberry, blueberry, little bit of black cherry). The mouth feel I typically get from heavy Napa cabs is also there, but not to the same - sometimes overwhelming - extent of Napa cabs. Definitely hitting the sweet spot.

To those that have recommendations thank you. This wine was exactly what we were looking for, and I’d venture to guess will be spot on in 5-7 years time.

I’d give it a score of 95/100, though I have a feeling it will be swinging well above its price point in the future.

I was celebrating my co-workers birthday and she wanted me to cook pasta for her instead of take out, i prepared this mushroom, olive and truffle paste pasta that’s really earth and my first instinct was to pair it with Pinot N. Or a Nebbiolo then while buying the ingredients for the pasta, I came across this 2006 great reserve Rioja from perhaps its most famous producer, and it occurred to me it could work.

I’m glad i went with it; the wine was pretty much alive , despite not knowing the storage conditions I paid $110 for it, worth it!

On the nose;
Cassis, black currant, plum, black cherries, mushrooms , cigar box , leather and cedar.

On the palate;
Plenty of fruit still, cassis, dark fruit, some red in the back and integrated wood(traces of it not pronounced) and silky tannins. Cigar Box, Earthy, some leather and very elegant .

I was so happy I opened it , sometimes we chose wine with the head but when we go with the heart, that’s when its truly an amazing experience.

Absolutely singing! Darlish purple in colour. Amazing aroma of fresh fruit. Long, powerful finish with well integrated sweetness.

Glorious!

Happy Friday y’all! Nice weather in Texas today. Great to finally be able to sit on the porch.

CM was closed at first showing red cherry, strawberry, raspberry, with rose petals and violets. After about 30 mins to an hour of air it was showing some minerality (having trouble finding the correct note for this), black truffle, mushrooms and vanilla.

With air I felt like the vanilla overshadowed a lot of the fruit and floral aspects of this wine which left me a bit disappointed. Alcohol was 14% reflecting the warmth of the vintage.

Has anyone else tried this Chambolle-Musigny yet? If so how did you guys feel about it?

I've had this Champagne four times now, and every single bottle has impressed me.

For me, the 2014 Louis Roederer Blanc de Blancs drinks at least one league above its price point. It honestly feels closer to a tête de cuvée than its price would suggest.

What makes it so good is the balance. It's incredibly layered and complex, with a beautiful creamy texture, yet it remains remarkably fresh and vibrant. There's plenty going on, but nothing feels heavy or overdone. The finish is long and keeps you coming back for another sip.

I love Champagnes that combine depth and complexity with freshness and elegance, and this one really ticks all those boxes.

95/100 – and I'm comfortable with that score after four bottles.

Curious if anyone else has tried the 2014. Am I overrating it, or is this one seriously underrated?

Edit: Price 85 CHF or about 100$

On the nose i’ve got honeysuckle, touch of orange, slight butter cream richness & a touch of oak. Clean apple & pear on the palate, touch of pomelo-like citrus, mild body with some buttery viscosity that meets some oak influence on the finish. Lately i’ve been enjoying french chardonnays quite a bit, but this will do just as well too.

This was unlike anything I’ve ever tried before.

Nose was initially off putting, with burnt rubber, gunpowder, and a smell reminiscent of movie theatre buttered popcorn. Never really blew off over the ~3 hours drinking it, though I would not necessarily describe it as unpleasant either, once you got used to it.

On the palate, it had a really unique texture to it, at once oily but also incredibly light at the same time. Almost ethereal in weight.

Pickled fruits and apple cider vinegar initially, though that gave way to more of a white tea profile on the mid palate, and a finish that coated the mouth, with a cherry cough syrup undertone.

Simultaneously sweet, moderately tannic, and highly acidic, yet resolving with an almost unbelievably clean minerality at the end.

Just so much going on, and it was hard to resist continuing to go back to it. I’m also not necessarily rushing to break open my second bottle any time soon though.

Tasting notes: not a lot of tannins, not overpowering fruit, a little peppery, lighter body…really really nice, from Calabria..and cheap!

Royal tokaij furmint 2019

Golden straw yellow in glass

Nose is unique and explosive with smokey, gun powder like, peach, honey, pear, one of the most unique noses i smelled

Palate, this my first time trying furmint or any Hungarian wine and wow its electric acidity like riesling to 11 imo great minerality and citrus im definitely a convert bring on tokaj aszu 13% abv 91 points

Today I joined a vineyard tour at Schloss Rametz near Merano, South Tyrol, where I learned about the past, present and future of winemaking in the region, with a particular focus on climate change.

Schloss Rametz has been run by the Schmid family since 1972. The family also owns Castel Monreal in Trentino, where they produce traditional-method sparkling wines made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

One thing I found particularly interesting was how deeply Vernatsch is rooted in South Tyrolean identity. It is a traditional local grape with a long history in the region, yet it is becoming increasingly difficult to sell, and the area planted with it continues to shrink. Vernatsch is often seen as too light and simple compared to fuller-bodied red wines like Lagrein. Its history as an inexpensive everyday wine has also affected its reputation, making it harder to market as a premium wine.

I also learned that the traditional pergola training system is not used exclusively for Vernatsch, but for other grape varieties as well.

We mainly tasted approachable, fruit-driven wines. Beyond the fruit, what stood out to me was their fresh acidity and mineral character. The pronounced acidity may partly be linked to the region’s significant day–night temperature differences.

I’m an absolute sucker for Loire Valley Chenin Blanc and I don’t care who knows it.

The nose is an intoxicating array of ripe orchard fruits, nuttiness, salt, bay leaves, and cheese rind.

The palate washes over and delightfully delivers this tapestry of “natty” excellence. The length is long, the salt and acid restrain the fruits as they pull on the reins of the wild ripe fruited horse. It has that marzipan-esque / curry leaf thing. It’s everything that keeps drawing me back to this region. It has a Burgundy accent, a little wild and funky, but so well put together and aged to complete balance. It feels alive in the glass.

It’s a sobering reminder that no matter how good the wine I drink elsewhere is, French wine just has that French stamp that lures me back, time and time again.

Writing

Not necessarily somewhere obscure - just a region you think deserves way more attention than it gets.. bonus points if you can recommend a producer or bottle that made you fall in love with it.

Got me thinking because I was enjoying a bottle from Stellenbosch the other night and it looks absolutely stunning and would love to visit someday.

Aldi's Specially selected vidal icewine reserve 2024 - pairs well with vanilla ice cream

Golden. Notes of green apple, honey, and caramel. Full bodied.

Sweetest wine I've ever had. I'm not a white wine person.

First time trying, impressed for the price point. I have been wanting to try a icewine for a few years now and never thought I would be able to (regarding price and region).

I am very interested in trying other brands when I can.

10.5% alc

$15

My partner is a level 2 somm and I’m learning the ropes. My untrained notes: I dropped the cork when my partner taught me how to use the Durand opener, and sediment kissed the ground where the cork met it. Tasting: first 30 seconds I smelled acetone. A few minutes later: a smell of finished wooden furniture at a warehouse. Becomes lighter and brighter at about 5 minutes: maybe raisins and darker berries with an almost toasted marshmallow aftertaste… 6-7 minutes I’m vibing on marshmallow (a personal favorite flavor and scent). I’m sure these aren’t the proper ways to assess wine, but I’m excited to discover wine in a way I’ve never known! Somm partner says: classic, domestic, middle-aged, high-quality Cabernet. Pencil shavings, cedar, cigar box, black currant, plum. Silky, velvety tannins were well integrated into a silky smooth, easy finish. Supple and agreeable.

How exciting!