2/2/2021 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Served double blind this Rhône Ranger was a dead on Rhône Ringer...It SCREAMS Northern Rhône!!! First thought was 99 La Turque with how flashy and expressive this was. Smoke laced dark fruits, charcoal, roasted meats, licorice, exotic spice rub, mocha and bacon dominate the sensory profile with tremendous underlying notes of mineral rich earth and scorched underbrush. The combination of power and precision is off the charts and as Bob Parker would say, “It is a tour de force in winemaking!”

DO NOT let anyone tell you SQN cannot or will not age. This was one of the single best expressions of Syrah I’ve ever experienced, and I’m not just talking California. Just for the Love of It is a Rhône Revelation!

2/2/2021 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Closing in on 60, yet still fresh and very much alive. If the 66 is Mr. Hyde then 62 is Dr. Jekyll. Elegant with fine grained tannins and round, supple textures this is textbook Latour. Don’t be blinded by the 61 vintage as this is a much more practical, yet still delicious, alternative to its legendary predecessor. A brilliant mature Latour showcasing violets, graphite, cedar, tobacco, Asian spices, cassis + black currant. At peak now, but should hold there for another 10-15 years.

12/23/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Acquired by John O. Gantner in 1938 on Spring Mountain. The original plantings of Pinot Noir are the oldest in California, dating back to the 1880s. Gantner acquired the budwood (rumored to be from Romanee-Conti) from his good friend, John Daniel, the owner of Inglenook Estate. Made in a Burgundian, elegant style, this wine was created very traditionally with minimal intervention. Dried cherry and spice, earthy mushroom and silky texture are the hallmarks of this legendary Pinot. Strong for about 45 mins and then faded from there. Still charming nonetheless.

12/23/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

The wine was still singing and in beautiful shape at 68 years. There was bright fruit and tart acidity with no bricking. It held up for about an hour before the acidity jumped in the driver’s seat. Luckily we downed most of the bottle before then! Cabernet cuttings from Rixford’s La Questa Vineyard.

12/23/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

In the 1890s Emmett Rixford brought with him cuttings from Château Margaux. He planted his La Questa vineyard with the same proportion of varieties that were found at Margaux. Although Napa Valley has commanded California Cabernet’s attention, the original source can literally be traced back to its roots further South in the little township of Woodside.

From one of the great older California vintages, this ‘68 La Questa Cabernet must have been a large scale wine when it was young. The stuffing has most certainly allowed it to age gracefully and become a quite elegant wine, yet with a firm structure. The nose reveals typical tertiary notes of cedar, tobacco, forest, mint and dried fruits. The wine is very balanced, the texture was still very smooth and quite lush while the acidity kept it amazingly fresh for such an old wine.

12/23/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Ahhhhh...The Babymaker!!! Consistently one of my favorite 74s, this Petite Sirah from Ridge is massive. If ur looking for a thrill bottle, then find urself one of these testosterone injected juices and thank me later.

12/23/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

This bottle of ‘74 Conn Creek Cabernet was a one-off sourced entirely from the fruit of the famed Eisele Vineyard while Conn Creek waited for their replanted vines to produce. An American Classic, the wine is deeply layered and profoundly expressive with sweet cassis, chocolate, tobacco, violets and earthy soil tones. You also get a hit of that Classic Cali menthol and shaved coconut from the American Oak (almost reminded me of aged Grange). Oh so sexy and Rico Suave. Despite lofty expectations, this soared effortlessly. A great bottle of this is a defining wine experience.

12/23/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Served double blind I pegged this 71 or 75 LMHB, more brain muscle memory from having it not too long ago than skill. Rich, opulent fruit laced with that fire and grilled smoke, scorched earth signature. This bott had an elevated dimension of minerality I didn’t see in the last bottle, graphite and lava rocks. Hard to find a better wine if ur looking to celebrate this specific vintage (maybe Trot or Petrus at 5 - 10x the price).

12/23/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Crazy viscosity, wicked perfume and complex as fawk! Raisins, figs, brown sugar, autumnal spice, ginger creme brûlée, dried and candied orange peel. Insane levels of residual sugar with the perfect amount of acidity to cut the sweetness. You don’t need a lot, which is great because it lasts forever. Opened it up a couple months after being stored in the fridge and it was just as good. Like PX and TBA met in California and created a love child.

2/2/2021 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Wow! This was fresh. Will Smith in Fresh Prince, fresh. Clean, young, tight and bright. Electrifying bubbles and acidity. Lemon zest and sea spray. Nowhere near as vinous as I would’ve expected this to be. No toast, no nuttiness or ripe yellow fruits. Minerals were calcareous - chalk, flint and limestone with oyster shell. Another stunning Champagne from the 1997 vintage. Obviously 🔝 tier, and possibly the Champagne of the Vintage.

12/23/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

I’ve read a lot of hit or miss notes on these from vintage to vintage, but I’m happy to report this bottle was very much alive with a great stream of bubbles and a salted, creamy mousse. It is a noble champagne that has matured gracefully, but still felt very energetic. There’s a refreshing hit of citrus zest and sea foam that balances beautifully with the properly aged notes of toast, almond nuttiness and ripe yellow fruits. A wonderfully gastronomic wine. Beautiful bottle, beautiful Champagne.

9/28/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Beast Mode! Inky dark blood in color. Massive and untamed, these Valentini’s are not for the timid. Showcasing a dark red and black fruit core with notes of roasted wild boar, olives, iron, beef blood, wet earth and smoke. At 6 hours open it was still insanely intense. I’d recommend an 8-12 hr / all day decant to experience everything this monster has to offer. Off the charts power and a wine that needs both bottle age and a day’s worth of air to truly enjoy all of its nuances. 95+

9/28/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Bow down to the Barolo! Robust structure with beautiful strawberry and cherry fruit and a touch of leather and Nebbiolo tar. Only gained weight and complexity with more time in the glass / decanter. Freshly cut roses, dark soil tones and a hint of balsamic. Tasted very Bordeaux-like upon opening, but built like a Barolo meant for the long haul...another ageless Italian wonder that tasted 15+ years younger!

9/28/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Still very young. Thrilling and exotic perfume of black cherries, underbrush and espresso. Strong backbone, but with velvety, sweet tannins and wonderful acidity. This tasted as if it were only 15 - 20 years young. Impeccable Sangiovese from Le Pergole Torte! Provenance, provenance, provenance!

9/28/2020 - La Flama Blanca wrote:

I’ve been lucky to have enjoyed a perfect bottle of this magical Margaux and another just sub-perfect. Well, two out of three ain’t bad. This was just over the hill with raisiny fruit. Not entirely undrinkable, and believe me...we tried everything to revive this legend, maybe even tried a little too much because we set the decanter in the freezer to shock it and forgot about it! Oh well, made for delicious 61 Palmer Popsicles.

9/28/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

WOTY candidate! A regal Bordeaux that exceeds even the highest of expectations. It’s like an amped up, riper version of the perfect ‘53. This LMHB is full-bodied, dense and powerful, but not without nuance and layers of complexity. Campfire smoke, scorched gravel, crushed violets and tobacco leaf with ripe and juicy dark fruits galore! A unicorn wine that deserves its own spot on top of the rating scale. 100+

9/28/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Still at about 90% of what the best bottles of 61 Ducru can show, but still damn tasty. Classic cedar, cigar box, leather and earth are accompanied by sweet, ripe dark red fruits and crushed rocks. After about 2 hrs the finish started to dry out a touch. It’s been a fun ride, but I have a feeling it’s time to start polishing these off in the near future.

9/28/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Dark caramel sunset in color with its orange hue, the 61 d’Yquem is a charming aged Sauternes on the back nine of its journey. The notes show more of the mature orange fruit, toffee and burnt sugar characteristics of an aging Sauternes fading into its twilight years. The finish is a bit clipped with orange zest bitterness, but nevertheless always a treat to indulge with a mature d’Yquem.

9/28/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Still sporting a beautiful dark garnet color, the 71 LMHB is rich and decadent with hedonistic sappy fruit and velvety textures. The bouquet is pure and deep with aromas of cigar wrapper, burnt embers, spiced meats and dark soil tones. An under the radar vintage of LMHB that checks all the feel good boxes, drinking in a great spot now and should for another 10+ years.

9/28/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Characteristic of the vintage, the 90 LB is full-bodied, rich and round with perfect levels of ripe fruit, glycerin and sweetness. I could bury my nose in the bosom of the glass all night due to its cedar, graphite, crushed flower and dark soil fragrance. Offering up a sexy mouthfeel with voluptuous textures and a long, dense finish I feel the need for a safe word to experience this hedonistic beast of a wine. Take a back seat Mr. Grey...Mr. Lynch-Bages will see you now!

9/28/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

This ÚNICOrn spent ten years aging in French barriques with an additional sixteen years in bottle before its eventual release in the late 1990s! Incredibly youthful and fresh showing a remarkable Bordeaux-like personality. Tasted double blind, the notes of crushed violets, cassis and mineral rich soil had me pegging this as 90 / 96 Margaux. Digging deeper, the Tempranillo blend reveals dried cherries, dark plums, savory herbs and sweet tobacco while displaying great focus and grip on the persistent finish. The total package, 1970 Único is sublime! 98+

9/28/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

The 90 HB is a super expressive and flamboyant wine with exploding aromatics of roasted herbs, hot coals, sweet tobacco and lava rocks. An opaque and impenetrable dark purple color in the glass confirms its concentrated and rich dark fruit core of sweet cassis and kirsch wrapped in a cloak of exotic spices and minerals. A sweeter, rounder style compared to the 89, but not far off in terms of its sheer complexity and ability to captivate. Tasted side-by-side with 90 LMHB. 98+

9/28/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

It’s been a couple years since I’ve tasted the 90 LMHB and my feeling is it’s actually gaining momentum in its majestic ascent. All the classic and mesmerizing aromatics of warm gravel, hot bricks, smoked bbq and camphor are on full display. On the palate the wine is velvety textured and opulent with great layers of complexity and brilliant balance of power and elegance. Tasted side-by-side with 90 HB.

9/28/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

This 75 Cuvaison Cab is an under the radar superstar from legendary winemaker Philip Togni. It was the last Cuvaison made by Togni, representing a special cuvée from grapes grown at the summit of Spring Mountain. Upon opening, the wine showed some considerable brett that thankfully blew off with time in the glass. Amazingly it grew stronger by the hour gaining depth, power and complexity. At 13.6% ABV the wine was considered extremely concentrated then and still is now. This ‘signature’ cuvée is unbelievably rich and dense with chewy tannins and offers up a deep bouquet of sweet cassis, violets and dark soil. The dark berry fruit is framed by killer notes of underbrush and minerality. Togni is responsible for producing perhaps the most iconic Napa Cab in history, the 69 Chappellet. While this doesn’t necessarily reach that height, it may just be the next best wine he ever made.

12/8/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

These rarely seen reserve bottlings were originally only made available to investors in the winery back in the early days. Tasted double blind, the Somms at the restaurant settled on Burgundy. I guessed early 2000s Littorai. The nose was very Burgundian showing earthy and spice driven aromatics. The palate was rich with lush and ripe dark red berry fruit. Another classic old Cali Chalone Pinot that tasted 20 years younger and boxes way above its weight. Fun to throw these in blind with Grand Cru Burg.

9/28/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Rich and polished with soft, sweet tannins. The wine is mature and confident showing beautiful layers of blue and dark red fruits, graphite, cedar and earth. Very charming aromas of vintage leather, menthol and mocha. Mostly classic Napa with some aged Bordeaux character. This finished just a touch dry, so may be time to start drinking up over the next few years. Comfort wine, a fabulous fireplace bottle to share over conversation with great company.

12/8/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

So what we have here is a rancio wine blended Solera style with older wines, some of which are over 100 years old. It is essentially a natural wine from Priorat made from Garnacha that is allowed to oxidize in barrel. The result is a mind boggling display of euphoria and sensory stimulation.

Possibly the most complex wine I’ve ever tasted, I swear it smells and tastes like literally everything! And yes, it works brilliantly. Mostly dry with a touch of residual sugar the palate is both sour and sweet with piercing acidity. The aftertaste is long and penetrating, finishing with the bitterness of a word class Amaro infused with salt and mineral crystals. There’s notes of tree bark, balsamic, toffee, medicinal herbs, black truffle, wild flowers, sweet tobacco and this list goes on and on. The nose is intense, like cask strength whisky. Aromatics of peat and smoke, aged leather and old wood give it that sexy and mysterious “old man” appeal. I’m talking old school Sam Elliott, Paul Newman or Jack Palance “macho musk.” Yup, that good kind of musk, like how I would imagine pure pheromones would smell. It is an imperfectly perfect wine that transports you back to the early 20th century in Priorat.

12/8/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

The quintessence of Barsac, Climens is known for its elegance, balance and freshness. This bottle of 47 Climens was all about richness, robustness and succulence. Developed flavors of confected fruit, sweet baking spices and a hint of hazelnut and almond nuttiness are perfectly mature. On the nose the noble grape still displayed surprisingly fresh citrus and white flower aromatics with beautifully aged botrytis. Still very rich, but never overly cloying with the impressive acidity keeping everything fresh and in balance.

12/8/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

An amped up version of the ‘99 ready to crack the stratosphere with its dark and intense structure. Excellent concentration with opulent and spicy dark fruits, electrifying acidity and a strong mineral grip on the long finish. This is gonna be the vintage to sit on and savor for the next 40-50 years. I wouldn’t be surprised if this proves to be the longest lived Rousseau CSJ given the reputation of the vintage and producer. It is a meteoric achievement! 98+

12/8/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Flat out sexy wine with sweet, ultra-fine tannins and velvety texture. This is drinking at peak form and should without a doubt stay there for another 2-3 decades. Showing supreme elegance and power without the weight. Easily bests most Grand Crus of Burgundy.

12/8/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Muscular, dense and virile Chambertin. A Burgundy of tension and bracing energy that is transcendental and deeply beautiful. It is fantastically complex and expressive in the glass showing sweet and richly textured fruits, scorched earth and exotic spice on the minéralité finish. An imposing Burgundy that captivates and penetrates the soul. WOTN!

12/8/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Stunning in appearance, with its deep red center, the wine was nothing short of profound. A powerful red Burgundy displaying intense red and black fruits and structured flavors of earth, raw meat, leather and Asian spices with powdery tannins. The nose is fantastically pure and seductive with hints of classic DRC spice box, hoisin, mint and a touch of licorice. For me La Tâche has always shown an enigmatic personality, a perplexity of power and elegance unlike any other wines on the planet. Always a privilege and emotional experience to behold. 97+

12/8/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Sneaky good. I mean like John Turturro as Emilio the Butler in Deeds “sneaky, sneaky” good. Subtle in its approach, but with deliberate and thoughtful contemplation this shows wonderfully mature and nuanced dried red fruits, damp earth and silky texture. A terrific glass of wine to help soothe the soul.

12/8/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Ohhhhhh daddy likey!!! Blockbuster Chambertin from Leroy. Last bottle from OWC purchase, this was firing on all cylinders. What stood out for me was the weight and density of the dark fruit profile. Throw in duck consommé, truffle and spice and you have one of the ultimate Leroy experiences.

12/8/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

There is absolutely nothing grandiose about this ‘85 Charmes; it is the antithesis of big and bold. Nonchalant and understated, this ancient vine CC is all about effortless class. It is elegant and delicate, yet deeply expressive showing pure and persistent fruit with minéralité on the illustrious bouquet.

Amazingly the palate was still pretty tight about two hours after having been opened. I took the bottle home at the end of the evening and enjoyed the last four ounces. I was shocked that it took about five hours to reveal the most intense and concentrated flavors of raspberry and crushed strawberry with a melange of truffle, earth, crushed granite, meat and spice on the silky, suave finish. A sublime experience testament to the provenance of a well stored original owner purchase. Nobody makes Charmes-Chambertin like Denis Bachelet.

6/21/2018 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

This two parts Syrah, one part Mataro wine cocktail comes entirely from Eric and Lisa Jensen’s heralded Booker Vineyard. The wine is intense and concentrated with loads of fruit and spice. On this evening, the Booker proved to be the most elegant blend with its silky, fine grained tannin and long floral finish. This was the group’s consensus wine of the flight.

6/21/2018 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Grenache has been the vivacious star of this red fruit driven blend ever since the coveted “Wine of the Year” 07 vintage of this cuvée. The 2013 embraces all of what James Berry Vineyard is all about with its concentration of flavors, lively acidity, incredible purity of fruit, perfect balance of power and elegance and a savory herbal element unfound in the other wines.

6/21/2018 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Charlie Sheen’s tiger blood meets Justin Smith’s pre-historic Megalodon DNA. From the Bone Rock block of the James Berry Vineyard, this blend tends to be the most dense and structured wine in the lineup. All I know is when there’s fossilized DNA of Whale Bone and Sharks Teeth in the soil, the result is badass juice! Smoke tinged black and blue fruit, bbq spice rub and a long mineral driven, crushed rock finish? Yes, please! It’s no wonder why the Bone Rock tends to be my personal favorite vintage after vintage.

12/8/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Knockout nose of the night! The bouquet on this wine is intoxicating with dried rose petals, Asian spices, black tea leaves, savory herbs and menthol. The perfume’s complexity intensified over 4+ hours in the glass. The palate indulges with tart cherry and strawberry, earth and mushroom. The vibrant acidity has held up impeccably, this wine was phenomenal with the short rib and mushroom agnolotti.

12/8/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

From an era when the legendary wines of Clos des Lambrays were en fuego! The 30s and 40s produced wines with tremendous body, richness and aging potential. The 45 Lambrays is one of those iconic achievements. The color is insanely dark for a 75 year old Pinot. Still full of life with sweet black fruits and cherry jam, roasted meats with coffee dry rub, dark spices and leather. I do not believe the bottle was fake, but this definitely isn’t 100% Pinot. I know back in the day some of these old Burgs were topped off with old vine Syrah and this definitely screams it with the flavor profile. Additionally there were prominent notes of kirsch liqueur. I’ve also read that it wasn’t uncommon for barrels to be capped off with some flavored brandy for preservation.

9/20/2018 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Essentially the best barrel of Syrah in the cellar, the 1/1 is exotically rich and voluptuous, yet elegant in style. In spite of its small dollop of Grenache this is the most Northern Rhône-like experience for me in the lineup with its smoke and spice laden dark fruit core, olive tapenade, wild game meatiness and intense mineral quality. Unique, bold and beautiful!

9/20/2018 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Succulent, racy and intense, the Bossman captures the essence of the Sanguis house style. These are rich and explosive wines with ample ripe fruit, graphite, autumn spices, savory herbs and smoked bacon. A spirited and flamboyant style that remains a staple in my central Cali collection vintage after vintage.

9/20/2018 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

A wine of transparent depth and gentle strength, balancing old world character with the sunny disposition typical of a Californian. Smooth, sweet and expansive, offering intense black and dark red berry fruits, Szechuan beef and wild flowers. I’m a big fan of these co-fermented Syrah/Viognier that provide an aromatic lift and weightless dimension to the wine.

6/21/2018 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

An expansive wine with captivating acid and structure. Intense citrus and green apple notes with fresh ginger and flinty mineral aromas. Unsurprisingly one of my yearly favorites in the lineup given the Lauren Chard is a hypothetical blend of Sonoma Coast with Corton-Charlemagne clones.

6/21/2018 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Supposedly a suitcase clone of Montrachet grown in one of the rockiest sites on the east side of the Russian River Valley. A telltale sense of place, it has an incredible sense of freshness and purity with its stone fruit palate and chalk stone minerality, finishing long with savory flavors.

6/21/2018 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

An opulent and dense Chardonnay that takes hold of your senses with beguiling aromas of white flowers, waxed lemons and crushed rocks. Perhaps the most viscous and creamy of the lineup, the CIX carries citrus and savory flavors with salty, seaside mineral undertones. It wouldn’t surprise me if this proves to be the longest lived Chard in the Aubert portfolio.

12/8/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

A touch more reductive compared to the ‘89 Les Clos. This showed a more honeyed fruit profile in the beginning that eventually morphed into a rich and ripe, full-bodied Chablis with flavors of citrus, yuzu and seashell accompanying the mineral finish. A creamier version of the ‘89 Les Clos served beside it. Amazingly this was showing its best about 5-6 hours after the first pour.

12/8/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Wow...insanely vibrant and fresh with racy acidity and lean texture with a flinty-ness that seems to crackle when it hits the palate. The bouquet shimmers with energy; displaying aromatic fragrances of white flowers, ripe pear, baked sourdough and smoked flint. An oyster shell briny-ness rounds out the mineral and saline focused finish. This blew doors off the cellar hinges...absolutely brilliant!

12/8/2020 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

Alright...’97 followed one of the greatest vintages for Champagne in at least the last 30, maybe 40 years. It’s always tough to live up to lofty expectations after such a monumental effort. I have to tell you, I was pleasantly surprised at how incredibly well the ‘97 Cristal performed.

Cristal at the core is consistently both powerful and delicate, combining subtlety and precision. The ‘97 was fresh and vibrant with refreshing acidity. It has a silky texture and fruity aromas, complemented by a powerful mineral quality with white fruit and citrus notes. At 23 years the aftertaste is extraordinary, though perhaps showing a touch less depth than the finest vintages of this cuvée.

6/21/2018 - La Flama Blanca Likes this wine:

A touch more fruit driven expression of Las Piedras with the minerality coming through on the finish. Layers and layers of sweet black, purple and dark red fruits with notes of sage and lavender. The sweetness of fruit allows for the LPV to drink extremely well young, yet the underlying structure will allow for long aging.