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Wine Type Vintage Name Variety Locale Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More...
Red

2008 BOND St. Eden

 Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more
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3/15/2024 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 95 points

Delightful! Tannins present but resolved and kind- not the case five years ago when this was still too aggressive. Silky mouthfeel. Craisins on the attack with the right amount of sweet and acid notes to balance leading into the round-feeling mid palate notes of earthy clay, boysenberry which fade to drying dusty tannins and a final blackberry note (not as tangy as the mid-palate) and some oak tickling the sides of the tongue.

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Red

2017 PerUs Wine Co. Alessio

 Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more
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2/25/2024 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 92 points

Lots of blueberry pie filling on the nose. Feels more Cabernet heavy than merlot heavy. I prefer the 2016 by a good bit. This has nice tannic structure, but is not astringent or over-bearing as I feared after reading other reviews before opening. Plenty to clean the tongue with a rich cut of meat. Acidity is good. Flavor palate is decidedly Napa. Nothing extraordinary here but well executed. An enjoyable wine that is good but not exceptional.

This may improve in coming years but I don’t see this climbing much beyond current score.

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Red

2007 Pahlmeyer Cabernet Sauvignon Piece de Resistance

 Atlas Peak more
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1/14/2024 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 95 points

This is very good but not tip top level.

Pros- intriguing very light smoky + peppercorns note on the attack that goes very well with the plummy-blueberry-cranberry flavors. Tannins are elegant. Mouthfeel is silky. Better than I expected having had several 2007s form this label ( but never the P de R). This falls off a bit in the finish department, unfortunately.

The mouth watering from the still-present tannins is nice. Again, the mouthfeel and sensations on this wine are excellent. But the finish drops off quickly. Blueberry but brief. Not a lot going on after that. It’s a bit odd. I expected more depth. To me, this is lovely but falls short of truly exceptional. I’ve had this sensation before with blends with Cab Franc. I love can franc but sometimes in blends it raises the nose and attack but the follow through isn’t there. I am not sure of the cepage for this wine. Just guessing.

I bought this at auction a year or two after release and have had it in my cellar since. I have one more bottle. I don’t expect it to get better from here but should plateau for at least another 5 years.

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Red

2013 The Vineyardist Cabernet Sauvignon

 Diamond Mountain more
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1/6/2024 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 94 points

Rich and brawny with broad tannic shoulders. This is going to improve over the next decade but it very good now. Deep fruit, leaning toward blueberry and fig over currant on the palate, but currant and luxardo cherry on the nose. Tannins are both dusty/mature in the midpalate and still a little unresolved in the finish. Unusual. I think it needs more time. I like this a lot, but perhaps just a smidge over-extracted? Reserving judgement until 2026-7 when I’ll open the next one to check on progress.

2013 continues to be a year that I think the critics were overly enthusiastic about. Good? Certainly. Tippy-top? No. I much prefer the 2016s and 2018s from most estates so far, including this one.

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Red

2007 BOND Pluribus

 Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more
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9/9/2023 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 97 points

This is even better than I remembered. The attack has softened since 2020 - this wine is now a total, well-integrated beauty with silky mouthfeel, spicy but suave mid palate with glorious fruit and a lingering finish rife with boysenberry, blackberry, juicy jaboticaba, and pine and eastern cedar notes. This is a great bottle to savor or enjoy with food. The piney notes set this bottle apart. Seek it out!!

Cements pluribus as the best of the Bonds in my opinion- if you have the patience to cellar these for pten plus years, they reward you with awesome depth, complexity and flavor! This one has at least another decade of joy to give. Maybe twenty.

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Red

2016 The Vineyardist Cabernet Sauvignon

 Diamond Mountain more
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6/29/2023 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 95 points

This one is a real bunker buster up front followed by a surprisingly suave finish. Loads of fruit but not over extracted, flabby or overdone. Lovely backbone too. Still a bit early but I was excited to try it.

2.5 hour decant. Better a bit above cellar temp. Dark fruits, syrupy, yet somehow light. Reminded me of some Ch. Ausone vintages I’ve tried in that regard. Lots of fruit and heft front and mid palate but ethereal on the back end. Nice lingering flavors and sweet tannins but nothing jammy or overbearing. Finish drinks much lighter than the first 2/3rds.

I liked this a lot. Super interested to see what happens in a few years. A score of 97 would not shock me after a few more years.

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Red

2004 BOND Melbury

 Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more
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6/27/2023 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 95 points

What a difference a decade makes! Last tried in about 2013-14 and this showed way better now. This is now a silky, seamless terroir circus. The hard edges and astringent tannins have faded. This is now firmly in peak drinking range. Lots of currant, sweet red fruits and enough acidity to give some needed lift.

Coating mouthfeel.

Slightly over-extracted fruit flavors hold this back from greatness, but it is very very good.

These Bond wines can really be spectacular- if you have patience. My favorite is the pluribus vineyard…you need to be 15 years in to ride that ride. Mel bury and Vecina in particular seem to start singing a little sooner.

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Red

2014 Peju Province Winery Cabernet Franc Reserve

 Rutherford more
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3/3/2023 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 92 points

Excellent cab franc. None of the grilled bell pepper and green peppercorn notes common in pure cab francs from Napa. Fruit is elegant and taut and the finish lingers. It had enough energy to keep up with seared duck breast and fondant potatoes without overwhelming them. Delicious example of CF. Wish they were more common as they can be a super versatile medium weight red that shine with food.

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Red

2005 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Laurence

 Red Rhone Blend more
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3/3/2023 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 93 points

Excellent tonight, paired with a parsnip veloute with thyme oil and roasted duckling. This wine is probably at or near peak. Probably another 5 or so years of pleasure to give before it starts to decline.

Nose is lovely, typical of the Laurence wines, and very concentrated. Does not drink hot at all - I had that recollection from a bottle. Anyhow, consistent with past notes, this remains and excellent CdP. Layers and scents and flavors make this a very enjoyable pour.

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White - Sparkling

2008 Dom Pérignon Champagne

 Champagne Blend more
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1/20/2023 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 94 points

Excellent bottle with a pronounced orange blossom and honey note. Very concentrated. Bready and light briny notes were lovely too. Much more intense than the 2006. I think this is very close to the 2002 in terms of overall quality and enjoyment.

Paired with charcoal grilled whole snapper and squid with ginger rice and wilted spinach.

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Red

2015 Lazy Susan Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon

 Diamond Mountain more
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4/25/2022 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 92 points

Glossy and thicker mouthfeel on this than I remember. Some blueberry, blackberry and cranberry jam on this with nice acidity. Elegant. In the window and should have another eight years of pleasure to give.

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Red

2017 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

 Rutherford more
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4/22/2022 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 91 points

Intense blueberry pie filling flavor on this one. It really dominates. Not super complex or nuanced. Good showing for a 2017 but certainly not the same caliber as other vintages. Enjoyable, if a bit of a one note wine.

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Red

2007 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo Monprivato

 Nebbiolo more
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3/5/2022 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 93 points

Floral lift starting with the rose and cherry aromatics - hint of over-ripe strawberry too - and then following through with some horehound, earth, cherry and dusty tannins. Lovely bottle.

Paired well with Kangaroo loin!

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Red

2007 Castello dei Rampolla d'Alceo

 Toscana IGT Red Bordeaux Blend more
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1/7/2022 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 96 points

This is outstanding this evening. Tertiary notes in bloom, acidity still there and enough tannin to clear the palate. Everything in balance. Served blind and the consensus was a 1990s first growth BDX. Truly delish with excellent balance and interesting layers.

I got everything from balsamic to strawberries to cherries and leather and herbs from this.

Served at 55 with a slow braised bavette with red lentils and leeks.

This punches way above its price point!

I think this has at least another five years of joy to give. Shame I only have one more bottle after this.

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Red

2006 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque

 Syrah more
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12/31/2021 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 96 points

Complex and rich, this already has some tertiary notes showing up and a seductive silky mouthfeel. Leaves the mouth watering after a lingering finish. Boysenberry on the attack and the nose is fun to revisit. I get new nuances each whiff. It's very enjoyable and paired wonderfully with duck breast seared and glazed with mirin, yuzu and ginger.

The only thing holding this back from greatness was a mild vegetative note mid palate. Like cucumber skin. Not bad and I'm nitpicking. Not too distracting and doesn't change the great experience but cannot score it higher with this slight, slight discordant note. Would recommend this wine. Very, very good, as reflected in my score.

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Red

2005 Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée des Cadettes

 Red Rhone Blend more
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11/5/2021 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 94 points

Excellent bottle. Plenty of life left here. No need to rush to drink these.

Decanted for 95 minutes. Served at 60 farenheit.

Blackberry, grilled herbs, fatty salami. Dark and interesting. Superlative food wine. Would complement lamb, goat or game fabulously.

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White - Sparkling

2002 Dom Pérignon Champagne P2

 Champagne Blend more
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7/30/2021 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 97 points

This was outstanding. Wonderful balance and an intensely interesting mid palate are what sets this apart from many other champagnes.

I served this at 48 farenheit in zalto zero gravity champagne glasses.

Nose is bready and heady with a smidge of jasmine flower and restrained stone fruits.

Taste and mid palate in particular is where this sings. Notes of umami and Irish soda bread plus caja (Brazilian fruit) and more traditional champagne flavors. Really lovely.

Finish is 90+ seconds and keeps you coming back for more.

This was the best bottle of bubbles I've had in a long while.

Paired with local oysters as well as ossetra caviar with creme fraiche on water crackers. What a treat!

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Red

2004 Blankiet Estate Merlot Paradise Hills Vineyard

 Napa Valley more
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7/13/2021 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 92 points

Sadly, this is my last bottle of this frabjous merlot.

Tertiary flavors are readily apparent, tannins resolved and the density and depths of flavor remain. I think this probably has another few years of joy to give, but I would drink up.

Tasting notes are consistent with past bottles.

So very enjoyable, especially for an "off" year.

Paired tonight with crispy onions and sweet peas from the garden and slow braised duroc pork with charred bell peppers and Vidalia onions. Not too shabby for a Tuesday.

Pulled from the cellar at 55 and decanted for almost 2 hours. I tried a swig pop and pour - definitely decant if you can.

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Red

2009 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Chaupin

 Grenache more
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7/12/2021 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 94 points

Significantly better showing from this bottle than past bottles. No longer a little hot or fume-y, the Chaupin has calmed down and displays richer fruit with silky layers of classic CdP flavors. Truly delicious now and clearly in the window.

Still have half the bottle left for tonight and will update the note if warranted.

Paired with sesame and garlic seared bavette steak.

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White

2006 Faiveley Meursault 1er Cru Charmes

 Chardonnay more
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5/4/2021 - Whisky&Wine wrote: flawed

Corked. Might make nice salad dressing. My last bottle. Sad.

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Red

2007 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red

 Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more
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4/17/2021 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 94 points

Tannins have been tamed and this is a silky, sleek glass of BDX blend. Clearly Napa in origin but has some classic BDX minerality and layers.

Mouthfeel is where this wine really shines. Silky and suave. No rough edges. Rich blackberry flavors and nice lift.

I think this will be open for business for another seven or eight years.

Reminded me of the 1996 Pahlmeyer, which I really liked.

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Red

2008 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino

 Mendoza more
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3/28/2021 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 93 points

This wine is so inconsistent. This is my third time having this wine in the last few years and each bottle is different.

One was super drying and heavy cranberry. I used it to make pasta sauce later in the week after disliking the first glass. (80)

One was rather unremarkable and came across as a reasonably good cab franc or malbec blend. Not bad but not remarkable. (88)

This bottle was great. Silky, powerful, rich and very engaging. Clearly a malbec and a rather voluptuous one at that. Light finish after a fruit forward attack and mid palate, with secondary flavors announcing themselves as the fruit faded away. Nuanced and interesting. It invited more tastes. I opened it because I wasn't feeling inspired and decided to head to the South American section of the cellar. A nice surprise.

I have a good friend who is very into Argentinian wine. He has visited the vineyards and knows some of the makers. When I texted him last night, just a pic and saying wow this really exceeded my expectations, he wrote back "yeah nice stuff but really inconsistent." So I guess it isn't just me.

I bought these on release from Zachy's and they've been perfectly cellared since. So I'm not sure why there would be such variation among my six bottles unless there are some quality control issues. Those should not exist in their flagship / at this price point.


One hour decant and serve at cellar temp.

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Red

2010 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape

 Red Rhone Blend more
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3/18/2021 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 92 points

Dark cherry, cough syrup and wet new pavement aromas leap from the glass. The flavors are cherry liqueur, horehound candy and grilled thyme and peppercorn. The finish is a bit odd, which detracts slightly from the experience. Not bad just a little unusual. It is drying, but on the roof of the mouth vs the tongue.

Overall, very enjoyable and just entering the peak enjoyment window. You have another decade or so to enjoy this wine.

Served at cellar temp after a 35 min decant.

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Red

2003 Château Léoville Poyferré

 St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend more
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3/13/2021 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 93 points

Wonderful, rich nose with fruit, earth and some sweet perfume notes. While the wine itself was excellent, the nose really was the most memorable aspect of this bottle.

Taste is deep and brambly with dark fruits, slightly drying tannins and some intriguing earthy notes. Lots of layers and lots to like. Plenty of complexity and pleasure here. Long finish.

At a lower price point, it is drinking better and offering much more than many of the top dollar names from 2003.

This wine has at least another twelve years of life ahead.

Decanted for four hours before dinner, at cellar temp. Served at cellar temp.

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White

2010 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc Le Méal

 Hermitage Marsanne more
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3/13/2021 - Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 96 points

This was stellar. Beautiful wine with richness, bright and lively fruit flavors and a killer nose. We enjoyed this immensely with some Moroccan Thai fusion shrimp with coconut rice.

The midpalate was just outstanding. I kept wanting to take tiny sips to make it last longer and let it coat my tongue. Just an exceptionally nice marsanne.

This wine has many years ahead but is solidly in the drinking window now.

I decanted it in the cellar for 3 hours before the meal. Served at 58 farenheit. I liked it best as it warmed a bit after about 30 mins on the table.

I served this in burgundy glasses and I think it was the right call. Felt like I got more of everything from this bottle in this glass vs the zalto universal last time.

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  • Tasting notes: 91 notes on 77 wines

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