Mark brought this lovely champagne to kick off our palooza! My first time trying it and it was fantastic.
I differ from Mark in that I prefer my champagne not too cold so the earlier temp was better for me. But time and air brought out even more flavors and complexity. The mousse was a little disappointing but it just encouraged us to drink quickly before the bubbles disappeared!

Ever since the day these arrived I had been waiting for our get together so we could open one and compare to the Turtle Rock G2.
I am crazy about Saxum G2 even though it isn’t the same blend, I think G2 is my favorite USA vineyard.
The Andremily had an amazing nose from pnp which remained throughout the day of slow ox. This had lucious notes if blueberry, licorice, plums, baking spices and savory meats. Sleek tannins and plenty of acid on the long finish.
Drank the last few ounces (stored in glass botttle in fridge) on day 3 and it was all chocolate covered cherries and more decadent. Will get better but I probably won’t be able to hold on to these for too long!
Found it hard to have a preference over the turtle rock. They were very different. Andremily maybe a smidge better if I had to choose.

Just so complex and tasty. Balsamic vinegar and strawberries. Floral nose, cotton candy. So much going on. Slightly less heavy than the Andremily G2, hard to pick a preferred style but they were very different.
Day 3 smoother, less astringency from the tannins, slightly greener (in a good way)

This was a signed magnum brought by Mark and the empty now sitting proudly in my cellar.
This wine was unbelievable. Drinking so young you would never have guessed this was more than a decade old. Perfectly mature and integrated and a perfect match for our steak dinner.
Mark’s note is more comprehensive but this really was a treat and lots of life left.
I have 92, 97 and ‘99 entry level bottles from this producer and they have all been beyond expectations (except the corked one I guess..lol)

Opened this one for Carol since I know it is an easy drinking cab and we were drinking some older smelly stuff. But I am not even sure she got to this one with all the wine we had open

Same as previous. So delicious for what it is. Simple and full of dark fruit and flavor. I buy it for the name and the QPR. Preferred to the ‘16 AXR we also had open

Opened my last bottle in the hope that our guests could help me unravel the mystery of this wine. Some people (including my friend AGELVIS ) just love it. But I still don’t get it either as a QPR (prefer Silenceaux or Mason’s) or as an AXR (they have some great SVD bottlings)
Very decent and enjoyable and all agreed.
And now I’m out of bottles so I can stop worrying about it!

Brought by Mark and Carol who had opened it that morning because they needed a drink in a Dunkin’ Donuts parking lot. Who doesn’t need friends like that????
This ‘18 Silenceaux also drinking so well. Continues to be a favorite QPR. And a favorite even without the QPR. Even better on day 3!!

Brought to the table by Alex, a nice addition to the line up and drinking well. I don’t understand the notes saying this is past it’s prime. Must be bottle variation because this was drinking youthfully, classically Bordeaux and if anything we did not decant it long enough before drinking!

Pulled this out to show everyone my favorite TR cuvee, but it was so late in the evening that I can’t remember what they thought of it. But the bottle emptied quickly and it lived up to the expectations of my past note. Sad to get so few in this year’s allocation!!

This is not a producer I am familiar with but it lived up to the Diamond Mountain Pedigree! Really nice Napa cab that is not too modern in style but not completely old world either. Plenty of fruit but very very balanced. I am finding 2007 to be in a sweet spot right now.

Our first wine of day 2! I did not know what to expect with this wine, my birth year, but I always enjoy old wines even just for the experience. Luckily, this turned out to be decent to drink too.
Bought at auction. Cork fully intact but soaked to the top. Moldy under the capsule. Label was stained, fill was good.
Translucent garnet and brownish tinge in color with golden rim. Beautiful nose even at pnp.
On first sip there was a metallic off taste but this blew off after about 20 min. Still some fruit, somewhat stewed in nature, but overall very pleasant. But we soon moved on to dinner and younger wines.
Saved 8oz for day 3 and wow!!!! The fruit woke up and seemed younger, fresher, red berries, leather, tobacco. Would never have guessed the age. And would never have thought this would hold up and even improve. Old wines never cease to amaze.

What a treat to have this a second time within a month, this time a continent away. With Mark and Carol at St Cecelia in ATL. This was on the menu but out of stock. When I made another selection, that one was out of stock too, but they found one more of these!
2017 base and disgorged 2021 just like the previous bottle. So crisp and full of orchard fruit and went well with absolutely everything. Why does this have to be so expensive in real life??

Another generous Palooza contribution from Mark who knows that I live 2007 and that I have never had Cardinale. Drank some at dinner and some lter in the night. Loved it. Sweet fruit, smooth, so much depth, just soft and sweet and delicious.

What a beautiful wine! I am always a little nervous opening 2010 BDX, most aren’t ready but this one was in a great place. Drank over dinner at St Cecelia with a dish that was too spicy for the wine but it was still damn good. So many layers—plums, tobacco, balsamic. Soft, but with an edge that kept it interesting. Great now and no rush. Thank you Mark!!

How did we drink so many amazing bottles all on the same night? I think we continued with some of these on the next day but I really can’t keep all the details straight at this point!!
Blackberry, mixed berries, balanced, plenty of fruit, some grippiness on the finish, full fruity juicy, acid balanced but noticeable if that is possible. Drinking younger than 2002, obviously well stored.
Those were my ‘stream of consciousness’ notes on the night.

The most corked bottle ever. So sad.

This was a late night pnp, so ridiculously good from the first sip. My last note and also Mark’s captures it all. This is my soulmate wine.

The last of my 1994’s and drinking so nicely. Aged just right. Such a great balance between new and old world style. Ok, maybe leaning towards old. Still so much plummy fruit, earth, mushrooms and sweet pipe tobacco. So many great wines, I can’t remember if the others liked it as much as I did!!

Mark had introduced me to the NVD but had never tried the estate so he brought an amazing vintage for my first.
This lived up to all expectations even with all the competition. Open for 6 hours before we drank it. Violets, blueberries, raspberries, cassis, so smooth and balanced with a long finish. This will only get better and the score is for now with my burnt out palate!!!