Domaine La Bastide Blanche Cuvée Fontaneou Bandol Rouge 2022, Provence, France

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Dark ruby/ purple in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruit nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing red cherries, currants, plums, chocolates, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, peppercorn and licorice.

Short finish with grippy tannins and tart cranberries.

This is a very young Single Vineyard Mourvedre from Bandol. Rich, complex and powerful.

In your face kind of wine, and not very approachable right now, but showing good potential.

Needs a long time to open up, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

Better with food at this point.

A blend of 92% Mourvedre and 8% Grenache. Aged in large French oak barrels.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$40.

Domaine Confuron Cotetidot Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru 2009, Burgundy, France

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Dark ruby in color with a wide brick rim.

Beautiful nose of black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, light wood, chocolates, sweet tobacco leaf, earth, mushrooms and and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, oak, chocolates, light licorice, barnyard, mushrooms, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, light forest floor, black tea and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a gorgeous Pinot Noir from Cote d’Or in Burgundy. Still rich, with plenty of fruits. Elegant and nicely balanced. Complex and interesting.

This 17 year old Pinot Noir is peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 30 minutes of airtime.

Delicious by itself as a sipping wine.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$450.

Fates’ Lieutenant Winery La Rinconada Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021, Santa Rita Hills, California

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Reddish in color with light intensity.

Fruity nose of red berries with light oak, spices and chocolate notes.

Light to medium in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with fresh cherries, raspberries, spices, light oak, tobacco leaf and herbs.

Nice finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 5-year-old Single Vineyard Pinot Noir from Santa Rita Hills is drinking very nicely now, and will continue to get better in the next 5 to 7 years. Spicy, fruit forward and elegant.

Wine Enthusiasts 90 points.

Showing nice complexity with a soft mouth feel. Nicely balanced and good right out of the bottle.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and paired nicely with my Charcuterie board.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$70.

Kukeri Wines Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, California

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Inky in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruity nose of black fruits with cedar, licorice, earth, vegetables, spices, tobacco leaf, herbs, peppercorn and eucalyptus.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, oak, licorice, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, light vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 5 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley feels more like a Left Bank Bordeaux. An interesting wine out of Stags Leap District.

Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Complex and engaging. Rich and fruit forward, elegant and tangy.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes of airtime. Really enjoyed the nose once it opened up. 

Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Delicious by itself as a sipping wine and with food.

A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. A small production of only 75 cases.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$85.

Elizabeth Rose Napa Valley Pinot Grigio 2024, California

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Pale lemon in color with a green hue.

Fruity nose of grapefruits, candied limes, earth, light sea salt and green apples.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with lemons, green apples, limes, light earth, grapefruits and light spices.

Tangy finish with limes and light almonds.

This is a very tasty and easy drinking Pinot Grigio from Napa Valley. Showing nice complexity, crisp and refreshing.

Good right out of the bottle, and good by itself or with food.

This Single Vineyard Pinot Grigio is tangy and spicy. Nicely balanced with a round mouthfeel.

A great sipping wine for the pool.

20% of the grapes were aged on the lees for 3 months in neutral French oak barrels. A tiny production of only 1,200 bottles.

13.2% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$25.

Chateau du Tailhas Pomerol 2008, Bordeaux, France

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It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let’s bring Merlot back!

Dark ruby/ purple in color with a wide reddish/ brick rim.

Pretty nose of red and black fruits with light wood, herbs, light chocolates, earth, coffee and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, light oak, tobacco leaf, herbs, peppercorn, earth, dark chocolates and black tea.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Merlot from Pomerol. Well balanced and complex. Tangy and tasty.

Rich and elegant, with enough fruits to compliment the earth notes. Spicy and entertaining.

This 18 year old is drinking at its peak now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

I’ve had a few vintages of this wine, and it is much better with age.

A good sipping wine that will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 12 months in (50% new) French oak barrels.

13% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$80.

Krug Grande Cuvée 171th Edition Brut Champagne, France

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Lemon in color with a golden hue.

Pretty nose with flowers, yeast, citrus, lemons, green apples, limes, spices, herbs and minerals.

Medium bodied with high acidity, and medium sized bubbles.

Dry on the palate with limes, grapefruits, citrus, green apples, light earth, minerals, herbs, sea salt and light spices.

Long finish with limes and light herbs.

This is a delicious Champagne, but feels extremely young. Elegant and nicely balanced. Complex and interesting. Rich and tangy. Soft and smooth.

Much better after 45 minutes of airtime, and better when not too cold.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years.

Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food.

A blend of 45% Pinot Noir, 37% Chardonnay and 18% Meunier.

12.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$250.

Chateau D’yquem Sauternes 2023, Bordeaux, France

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Drinking this pre-release bottle of this iconic wine from Bordeaux.

Light gold in color.

Strong nose and Full-bodied.

Sweet on the palate with high acidity to balance the sugars.

Showing melons, tropical fruits, apples, light earth, guava, herbs, spices, papaya and honey notes.

Long finish with herbs and tropical fruits.

This is a gorgeous sweet wine from Bordeaux. Sexy, seductive and fresh. Creamy and buttery. 

Showing great potential, but oh so young. Already delicious and complex. Round, opulent and powerful.

Loved the nose once it opened up (20 minutes in the glass).

Rich and extracted. Fruit forward and intense, yet elegant. Well balanced with a soft mouthfeel.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food. Drunk from a Magnum.

A blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc. Aged in all new French oak barrels for 24 months.
154 g/l sugar.

14% alcohol by volume.

96 points.

$500.

The Vice Wines Torie’s Vineyard Pinot Noir 2024, Los Carneros, California

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Purple/ reddish in color with medium plus intensity.

Fruity nose of black currants, plums, cherries, oak, sweet candy, light vanilla and lots of chocolate notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with plums, currants, oak, chocolates, black pepper, light herbs and spices.

Medium finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This young Pinot Noir from Napa Valley is already drinking nicely. Rich, juicy and fruit forward. Elegant and nicely balanced.

This Single Vineyard Pinot Noir is showing nice complexity with a soft mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle, and gets earthier as it opens up. It needs about an hour to open up properly, but we didn’t have that luxury as it finished way too quickly.

Would be nice to revisit it in a few years.

Easy drinking, and good by itself or with food. Paired very nicely with pizza.

100% Pinot Noir grapes were aged for 9 months in all new French Oak barrels. A small production of only 3,000 bottles. Unfiltered and unfined.

14.1% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$68.

Domaine Roc de Cambes Cotes de Bourg 2011, Bordeaux, France

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It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Beautiful nose of black fruits with wood, earth, herbs, chocolates and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, cedar, chocolates, licorice and dark coffee.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 15 year old Merlot from Cotes de Bourg is drinking beautifully now. Elegant and rich. Complex, powerful and interesting.

Balanced and complex with a soft mouthfeel. Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

I’ve had younger vintages and it is very consistent. Delicious by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of mostly Merlot with Cabernet Franc. Aged in French oak barrels.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$80.