Reviews

Domaine Tortochot Chambertin

Red cherry water, cinnamon stick, strawberry, rose petal, and whispers of tobacco circling the flavor wagon, the 2012 Tortochot Chambertin is a lighter-entry wine holding its substance on an even…

Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Santo Stefano di Nieve

So, I don't know how some of you big ballers roll and from what la-di-da silk-stocking side of easy street from which you necessarily hail, but for an average schmo like me to have an opportunity to…

Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard

Man I tell ya, I last had this nearly five years ago and my note then is just as applicable as it is now. Solid stuff here that is absolutely able to (and perhaps should) age for longer. This…

Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras

Over four years since my last sampling this, the '16 FM LPV has gone from a high-rider taut teaser to a lush, plush, and gurgling gush of muddled blackberries and choc-o-late silkiness. If you know…

Christopher Tynan Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines Meleagris Gallopavo

This started out in a zone that seemed to be on track for greatness, but it shut down hard in under an hour. Like Aqua Net at a Stevie Nicks concert, it was initially swarming with wonderful acid and…

Bevan Cellars Syrah Moaveni Vineyard

I haven't had this wine in over four years, but this really held its own throughout the evening. Still a powerful and strong showing, but not overbearing or loud. When I kept revisiting it, the…

Saxum Booker Vineyard

Well, hot dang! What's up blackberry bombshell?! Huck a slab of tar in your face and top with some chocolate, gingerbread, and ...pine needles? ..and you got yerself a Booker that, once the booze…

Marcassin Pinot Noir Marcassin Vineyard

As a standalone, this wine was initially a tad confusing to me. likely more due to my general stupidity (as usual) than the wine being some sort of enigma. Here's why - The texture was exceptionally…

Domaine Taupenot-Merme Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru La Riotte

Long story short, leave these alone for another 5+ years (probably more like 10+). Sealed with DIAM 30, so you have time. Even after a double decant for a few hours and a full decant for a few hours…

Faethm / Fingers Crossed Syrah

Me: I think I'll open you tonight. I've been patient enough, right?

Château Smith Haut Lafitte

I still believe this wine is an over-performer, especially when compared to some other peers twice the price. This is coming into the beginning of a nice drinking window that doesn't require too much…

Fontodi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo

Second bottle (first one was flawed). This bottle was dry, dry, dry, dry... Ya, I know... Italy and all. But the dusty cedar-driven frame really made for an imposing barrier for the fruit to make any…

Fontodi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo

Just enough sherry and funk notes to bury any chance of fruit expression. Calling it flawed.

Arrow & Branch Right Bank Blend

I say with a little air, this is good to go. Drink with a couple hours in the decanter, or hold with confidence for 5++ years. Black fruited. Polished on the front end, with an…

Château Pavie Decesse

This is presenting as quite the agreeable unfolding of ripe black cherry, raspberry, and blackberry flavors. Ripe and round in the middle with a requisite grip that gently squeezes the sides of the…

Sine Qua Non Syrah B 20

This could certainly go another 3-5 years with no problem. Showing a meaty but finessed profile, with a bit of flex for the initial pour. Three hours in the decanter made for marked improvement…

Domaine Michel Mallard & Fils Corton-Les Renardes

My notes from April 2020 still generally apply. Ripe black cherry, raspberry, spice, smoke, and forest floor notes make for a beautifully darker and deeper pitched profile. Exquisite balance. There…

Tusk Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

Opened at the end of the evening, which is almost always a mistake in terms of service, the Tusk wasn't the total blowout like the SQN mighty Z cocktail, but it was clearly in need of about 3-5++…

Château Montrose

This was one of those wines that seemed somewhat reluctant to express itself wholly and was perpetually stuck in the land of unreciprocating interest. No romanticism here..yet? I sensed dark fruit…

Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium

Bringing this to a BDX tasting is like having Marilyn Manson as an opening act at a Celine Dion concert. Heavy metal devil horns brings the ripe fruit, the heat, and. well, the ripe fruit. Yet, this…

Château Belair-Monange

This seemed to be in a less than affable mood for most of the evening. On one hand, I think there were not only other better showing wines, but also, simply better wines that the Belair-Monange just…

Château Léoville Poyferré

I just could not get a feel for this wine at all. I wouldn't even know how to score it. It really just offered next to nothing in the fruit department and was overly linear and strict. It wasn't…

Château Figeac

The 2015 Figeac was stuck in the "friend zone" during the entire tasting. Unripe blackberry, currant, and cedar notes delivered in a superficial and flat plane of flavor, without ever reaching much…

Château Angélus

Black fruit. Black rock. Black fruit. Black rock. and a bit of booze on the tail that didn't let up (ok, so a point or two off for that). But otherwise, this was totally in my wheelhouse. The profile…

Château Cos d'Estournel

Consistent. Consistent. Consistent. The slow build on this wine over time really spoke to me. I kept coming back to this bottle. It wasn't too flashy. It wasn't too classic. It was a beautiful hybrid…