5/18/2024 - MagicInABottle wrote:

A celebratory evening with friends who brought along this bottle to share. Definitely more extracted than I usually prefer, but a crowd pleaser for the table. Very dark and brooding, the mid-palate is a bit one-dimensional, although the finish is quite smooth (more so after a 1-hour decant). I wasn't expecting a ton, so was pleasantly surprised with the drinkability of this glass from what is proving to be a stellar vintage across the board in Napa.

5/2/2024 - MagicInABottle Likes this wine:

Definitely improving, but as others have noted, this bottle needs a significant decant to mellow the astringency of the tannins/high acidity. On this evening we tasted at the 3, 4, and 5 hour mark, and the wine continued to evolve in the glass past that point. Really enjoy the layers here - dark fruit, allspice, cedar, cocoa and vanilla bean. The mid-palate has layers of cassis, licorice and dark chocolate. The only thing holding it back right now is time. As someone wiser than me once said, 'The power of patience is always rewarded.'

3/16/2024 - MagicInABottle Likes this wine:

Opaque purple with some dried herbs and dark berries on the nose. Concentrated black fruit led to a spicy, acidic finish. Wish we had decanted this one a bit more, as the fruit and tannins began to mellow after a couple of hours. Was pleasing to much of the crowd, but I was left expecting a little more from this, more bitter than I generally prefer. Eucalyptus, sandalwood, anise, licorice, red currants and green pepper on the palate. Would love to have a comparison tasting of a different vintage.

3/15/2024 - MagicInABottle Likes this wine:

Tagging along on a trip to Washington, D.C. for my girlfriend Katie's speech to the FDA, we happily stumbled upon this bottle at CUT by Wolfgang Puck. We were graciously given a taste of this vs. an entry-level Margaux (two noticeably different flavor profiles), and we both agreed this was the winner. The bottle had been slow ox'ed for 3+ hours according to our waitress and was settling in really nicely by the time we had our first glass. Rich, dark fruit and smooth tannins for such a young wine, the QPR is excellent. Far from one dimensional, this wine silences its doubters with hints of mahogany wood, dark chocolate and vanilla bean. An easy drink now compared to many of its pricier competitors, but kudos to the Pey Family on producing a memorable bottle. If this is any indication, the '21 vintage is gonna blow some socks off.

3/2/2024 - MagicInABottle Likes this wine:

Aged in French oak for 18 months, this wine is really approachable given its balanced acidity and layers of flavor. Enjoyed it on the beach and chilled to the perfect temperature, the notes were plentiful with this one - lemon zest, pear, apricot, pineapple, honey, lightly toasted oak and a pleasing minerality in the finish. More full-bodied than most Sav Blancs we've enjoyed, but wasn't overpowering. Another winner from Altamura, don't wait, drink now.

2/17/2024 - MagicInABottle Likes this wine:

Couldn't celebrate moving in with my girlfriend with just any bottle - enter Myriad Dr. Crane. Popped with some hesitancy due to the mixed reviews on this vintage, but Mike Smith personally assured us he would not have put his name or the Myriad label on the line if he wasn't sure of its quality. This was in fact the last '20 Dr. Crane in Mike's possession, which he graciously offered us during a visit we will not soon forget.

An explosion of dark, red fruits greeted us after a 3-hour double decant, with each subsequent hour revealing more: pencil shavings, anise, tobacco, gooseberries and wet earth. This full-bodied cab packs a punch with balanced acidity and chewy tannins giving way to a long, polished finish. They say the cream always rises to the top, and in a year best remembered for the uncertainty and challenges it presented winemakers, this bottle is certainly a cut above its contemporaries.

2/14/2024 - MagicInABottle Likes this wine:

Aged to perfection. This new world Sangiovese presented us with quite the Valentine's Day surprise as it was still graceful after 25+ years of cellaring. A one-hour decant at Capital Grille and she was dancing with loads of dark red fruit, nutmeg, molasses and boysenberry jam. The tannins have mellowed and the aftertaste is sublime. Like many wines of this age, it did not get much better after 2+ hours, getting sweeter still and resulting in an almost port-like flavor profile. Nonetheless, our undisputed champ for best domestic Sangiovese continues to reign supreme (and the Earth is still spinning post Y2K).

2/11/2024 - MagicInABottle Likes this wine:

Paired perfectly with cavatelli and meat sauce. Still needs time to settle as tannins and acidity were high after a 2-hour decant. I see other posters saved some for the next day (wish my thirsty friends/family would allow me to do that!). Solid bones, just need a bit of patience with this one, but the structure for a superb vintage is here: medium body, bright red fruit, anise, cedar, chocolate and mint were among the notes. Will wait another 4-5 years before popping the next bottle, expect this to get really good.

12/7/2022 - MagicInABottle Likes this wine:

First night in Vegas celebrating Katie's birthday, we order Tignanello and it’s sadly sold out. However, it's half-price wine night...but surely there's a price limit, right? Wrong. Our somm, Bernard, offers up a 2018 Sassicaia instead and who am I to say no? This was a youthful super Tuscan and it came out HOT, literally. Alcohol and acidity were especially high at the onset, but softened a bit after a decant. Classic notes of red cherry, cassis, menthol, cedar and clove on the palate. Beautiful deep crimson in color. This wine is definitely still too young, but has the raw power to be a stunner in 5-10 years.

6/18/2023 - MagicInABottle Likes this wine:

Shared with dad on Father's Day. This was a standout during our truffle pairing at Palmaz earlier in the year. Needless to say, dad was a big fan of this cab and liked the fact that it is produced by a fellow Argentine. Drinking perfectly right now, a quick 1-hour decant was all this wine needed to come into its own with flavors of ripe red berry, nutmeg, wet earth, and tobacco. The nose is opulent, with floral notes and vanilla, and the finish is long (20-30 seconds), but firm, showing off that classic Napa bravado.
P.S. I snuck a quick sip before decanting, and the tannins definitely mellowed with some air, so just give it time, then enjoy with some grass-fed beef, chimichurri and a bit of music (preferably tango).

2/9/2024 - MagicInABottle wrote:

Historically an enjoyable second bottle from Opus, until the price went bonkers ($150+) as other posters have noted. For this reason, the QPR is low and the rating must take a hit. Deep burgundy in color, the palate is comprised of forest floor, baking spice, licorice and mellowed black fruit, ultimately finishing a bit short and lacking the nuance of other wines at this price point. With such a large departure from the flagship wine, it fits a different category, which should be reflected in the cost. Still a solid juice, but there are a plethora of other worthy options out there that punch well above their weight.

8/28/2022 - MagicInABottle Likes this wine:

Leading up to my brother's 35th birthday celebration he had but one request: 'Please bring Opus.' I told him all I had was Overture, so we started the proceedings with that, and he was overjoyed. An hour before dinner, with the help of my girlfriend Katie who distracted him with small talk, we surprised him on the back deck. A befuddled gaze and a sheepish "...but you already gave me my birthday gift" was all he could manage. When he laid his eyes on the '14, shock ensued, "No...you really didn't have to..." followed by an embrace as he unwrapped the Opus-labeled tissue paper.

We slow ox'ed the bottle for 1 hour and paired it with some USDA Prime filet mignon. This bottle was singing right off the bat, but it's a unique vintage, rather Burgundian in nature. Ruby in the glass with red fruits dominating: cherry, red currant, raspberry and strawberry jam combine with graphite, toasted oak and violet on the palate. The moderate acidity forms the backbone of a medium body wine with finessed tannins. The finish is long and velvety smooth. A pleasure to consume now, but will age gracefully through 2034.

(P.S. Safe to say, I secured brother of the year 😊)

2/18/2023 - MagicInABottle Likes this wine:

What's the best way to end a three-day jaunt around Napa? ...with a visit to Vice Versa, of course. Jeffrey surprised us with a healthy pour of the '19 MS and it was easily the wine of the week. The 3 sites that this blend is derived from are spectacular on their own, but Patrice has created something exceptional by getting the ratios just right. An audible gasp from me and a 'wow!' from my girlfriend were the initial impressions on this rollercoaster ride of flavors. Ruby red in the glass with notes of vanilla, cocoa, wild berries, allspice, licorice, earth, minerals and graphite, the palate is enveloped with a smoothness that can only be described as decadent. The 30-second finish keeps you coming back for more. This wine is undoubtedly worthy of its top spot on the pedestal of the VV lineup, and is inching closer to a perfect score in our minds. Do yourself a favor (and pinch some pennies) so you can try this work of art in liquid form.

6/23/2023 - MagicInABottle Likes this wine:

Hard to have an unbiased take on this bottle since it was my birthday and the vibes were immaculate. Even a less-than-ideal, 1-hour decant didn't deter us from enjoying it in Westchester County's largest private wine cellar. The well-documented Napa '16 vintage is already flexing its muscles and this one did not disappoint. While muted at first, it opened with a bouquet of berries and vanilla on the nose, then slowly evolved with hints of cherry, cassis, tobacco, white pepper and blackberry. This vintage has the structure to be stellar, but the peak of its cohesiveness is yet to come given the level of the tannins and acidity present an hour after popping. All in all, it was nice to switch things up and enjoy a more youthful expression of Opus. If you have some in your cellar, I would recommend holding or doing a 3+ hour decant to capture the essence of this blend.

12/8/2023 - MagicInABottle Likes this wine:

A special dinner in Newport for my girlfriend Katie's birthday. Homemade tagliatelle bolognese was the perfect complement to this Sangiovese. This wine would have benefitted from a (double) decant, but sadly we hadn't the time nor opportunity at the restaurant. Luckily, the medium/strong tannins mellowed an hour or so after pouring, allowing notes of cedar and spice to come through.

12/9/2023 - MagicInABottle Likes this wine:

This was a nice find. A one-off blend the Wagner family got right by combining some of our favorite grapes (Merlot, Petite Syrah, Syrah and Zinfandel). Big fruit and medium tannins on the palate from a Sonoma wine that our group feels was pretty harmonious 1-2 hours after opening. Drink now or hold.

11/26/2023 - MagicInABottle Likes this wine:

PnP at Ballo Restaurant after seeing Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The bright red fruit and balanced acidity in this blend paired well with an Italian dinner (red sauce, broccoli rabe/sausage and a balsamic reduction over skirt steak were among the dishes). Flavors continued improving 30-60 minutes after popping with hints of vanilla and clove. Enjoy now or hold.

12/4/2023 - MagicInABottle Likes this wine:

1-hour decant. May have needed a bit more time to open up. An interesting mix of pepper and allspice gives way to dark fruit and an earthy but still refined finish. It is distinct and unique, a flavor profile for which we were unable to find a comparable wine. Thank you to Brad and Paul for their birthday hospitality on this special evening.

2/16/2023 - MagicInABottle Likes this wine:

This is one of the best Sangiovese wines you can buy made right here in the U.S. Frank has outdone himself by blending the flavors of a traditional Sangiovese with the fruit and richness we've come to love with Napa grapes. Dark fruit collides with pepper on the palate and the finish is long and brooding, giving you a taste of Italy while reminding you where it comes from with the boldness of a Napa Cab. This vintage in particular is especially strong. We only wish we'd gotten more.

12/25/2023 - MagicInABottle Likes this wine:

We love this wine and it will only get better with time. Everything you want in a Cab, bright fruit, silky smooth tannins and a nice long finish make this a real delight in its early drinking window. Had the pleasure of tasting with Monica at the vineyard and will definitely be back for more.

12/25/2023 - MagicInABottle Likes this wine:

This wine is drinking very well already. After just a one-hour decant, it was vibrant and then continued evolving over the next two hours. Fruit combines with vanilla and graphite on the palate, culminating with a hint of pepper/berries on the long finish. Glad we got 6, will wait a year to open the next bottle.

12/23/2023 - MagicInABottle Likes this wine:

3-hour decant. This wine is reaching the end of its prime drinking window. It still possesses cohesive, rounded tannins, dark fruit, leather, tobacco and a long finish. Another very strong vintage of Insignia.