1989 Château Mouton Rothschild, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1989
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$550.00USD

What a treat to drink.  Ruby/brown in color, mostly opaque and bright.  This is apparently a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc.  Georg Baselitz is the artist who did the label.  Perfectly mature if even slightly past, this bottle was singing.  The nose has cassis, dried fruits, cigar box, dust and spice.  Full bodied.  Tannins pretty much resolved.  Good balance.  On the palate, there is cassis, coffee, spice and some cherries.  A bit of anise on the finish.  These probably should be consumed as they take the slow ride down.  Very nice on its own, but a bit of

1999 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1999
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Bought on release at the winery.  This bottle has held up quite well and while mature, did not seem like a 24 year old Oregon Pinot.  Ruby in color with no browning and a bit of purple-ish at the core.  The nose features cherries, sour cherries, some earthy funk and a bit of char.  Medium to full bodied.  Tannins are there but wispy.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  Cherries and some dried cherries with earthiness.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  Drinking well but still, I wouldn't sit on these for too much longer.  Good on its own but better with food.  This would be perfect with gril

1996 Jean Raphet Charmes-Chambertin, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1996
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$185.00USD

Ruby in color, some browning at the edges.  The nose has cherries, spice, dried flowers, and slight liqueur notes.  Medium bodied with a lovely, smooth texture.  On the palate, there is some fresh cherries but this is teetering at the edge.  Dried, macerated cherries with spice and a bit of earthy funk.  Slightly drying at the finish.  This is complex and contemplative but still would be better with food.  Maybe some crusty beread and Epoisses cheese?  Drink up.  

2020 Domaine Louis Michel Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$90.00USD

This is quite good if still young.  A more feminine side of Chablis.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has apples, slight anise and gun powder (reduction?).  Medium bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this drinks very smooth.  Lemon cream notes.  Quite refreshing.  Deep, it does open up in the glass but could really benefit from more cellar time.  Nice finish.  This drinks well on its own but with some oysters or other sea food, it would be even better.  Cellar for another few years and drink for ten to fifteen after that.  

2018 Saxum White James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$171.00USD

This is a blend of 66% Grenache Blanc, 28% Roussanne, and 6% Chenin Blanc.  Medium golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great.  explosive.  Apricot jam, slight gun powder, lemon, orange peel and almonds.  Full bodied.  Just enough acidity to be lively.  On the palate, this is delicious.  A big wine but enough going on that it is vibrant and not stodgy.  Flavors of lemon, slight orange and slighter apricots with underlying minerality.  Long finish.  Delicious.  Still young but open and drinking great.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  Lovely on its own, this will work well

2021 C.L. Butaud Desert Willow Mourvèdre

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$48.00USD

C.L. Butaud started making wine in 2014 in Texas and this is an exceptional Mourvèdre from a place where you don’t see exceptional Mourvèdre. Using native yeasts and partial whole cluster fermentation, they coax out pomegranate, Rainer cherry, a campfire smoke quality, light Asian pear and some plum, a whisper of tar and there is a quiet minerality throughout the wine. The acidity and tannins are in check and support the overall drinking experience.

Paraduxx 2019 Proprietary Red Wine

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$56.00USD

The Paraduxx portfolio has been solely focused on blended wines, something they do admirably. The 2019 is comprised mainly of Cabernet Sauvignon with lighter amounts of five other grape including Zinfandel and Petite Sirah. The medley offers dusty black, cherry, blueberry, blackberry, red raspberry light cedar, and sandalwood notes with a very light green tea element and vanilla. The tannins are fairly taught, even after four years, supporting the structure of the wine, and the acidity comes into play making this an ideal companion for food.

2014 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc, France, Northern Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$285.00USD

These wines can be hard to judge as to when they are open for business.  This bottle was drinking beautifully.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with peach, wax, buttered popcorn and lemon.  Also a nice touch of minerality.  Full bodied.  Oily texture.  Good balance.  On the palate, dried peach, apples with underlying minerals and slight char.  Long finish.  This is complex and deep.  Probably not at peak but showing a nice maturity.  Drink over the next twenty years.  This would work well with Veal Chops.  

2004 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Les Mesnil, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$1200.00USD

This is my favorite Champagne.  Sadly, it has gotten so expensive, I don't know how often, if at all, I will get to drink it.  One hundred percent Chardonnay.  Deeper gold in color with a great mousse of tiny bubbles.  The nose is slightly oxidized (a friend called it caramelized) with yeast, brioche, lemon/citrus, and green apple.  Full bodied.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is so smooth.  Good acidity but this vintage is more "blowsy".  Complex and deep.  Flavors of preserved lemons, slight chalk and minerality.  Long, long finish.  This is probably a bit past peak, but still fantas

2002 Dom Pérignon Champagne P2, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$500.00USD

Wowza.  What a great bottle.  Golden in color with lots of tiny bubbles.  Persistent.  The  nose is great with Meyer lemon, smoke, spice, slight dried peach and a bit of a floral quality.  Deep and complex.  Full bodied.  Great energy and balance.  On the palate, this is very structured but all the stuffing you could ask for.  A bit of lemon peel, toast, and spice.  Mature but years left.  This is great on its own but will work well with just about any food.  Delicious. Drink over the next ten to twenty years.  This would be great with Chinese food.

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