8/28/2023 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Superb, mature BDX. Powerful ‘barnyard’ nose, meant in the most positive sense. Enjoyed at Nice Matin (always tempting just to order from their excellent list, but this was from our cellar) in NYC prior to Jackson Browne show at Beacon Theater. Fine night all around!,

2/21/2023 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Magnum enjoyed at Union Sq Cafe in NYC. Have been fearful for many years that this bottle would be a disappointment, though recent member ratings seem to have been wandering higher. The wine was in beautiful condition and was a joy to drink! No sign of browning, understated but lovely nose and no fading over the course of three hours of air exposure. A shoutout to Madame Borie, who we met at a wonderful Grand Puy Lacoste tasting recently, for inspiring us to try the wine!

10/21/2022 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Had the Block M 2014 and 2015 on consecutive nights. Yankees lost both nights, so no edge there.

But the ‘14 was the far better drink, bright and in a perfect state to enjoy. The younger wine was austere and lacking fruit.

Melville pinots always excellent value.

7/1/2022 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Surprisingly delicious! From art engraved and signed magnum. Ordinarily disappointed in age worthiness of old Napa cabs, but this Dunn was terrific. A modest stale sensation passed with an hour of air. Smooth, good color, mature cab flavors. Drink up unless you have larger formats.

8/13/2021 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Opened two bottles. First one shot-stewed and ‘off’. Second better, but fruit faded and still rather tannic. Perhaps will soften over the next few hours??

Much preferred the 2000.

6/12/2021 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Enjoyed w/dinner at Il Cantinori in NYC. Magnum. Prime time w/multi-hour decant.

7/4/2020 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Fountain of youth? Absolutely gorgeous. In better form than most recently consumed bottles, which were themselves excellent. Always viewed this vintage Caymus SS as among the top couple of California cabs I have had the pleasure of drinking over the last 30 years.

6/21/2020 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Vibrant! Low expectations, both because of the vintage and a number of disappointing early 90s cabs recently. No fading or watery appearance. Tastes and smells like a beautiful, mature bottle of Bordeaux. Enjoyable in every respect.

5/18/2020 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Much more enjoyable than the 2014 Melville Block M-0 Stems from a few night’s earlier. Among my favorite small production Melville pinots ever. Great fruit, can still improve.

5/17/2020 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Shot. Don’t know why I expected anything different-bottle from 3 year’s ago was gone, too. So disappointing.

5/15/2020 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Consumed over two evenings. I’m no winemaker but, judging by the description (0 stems), would have expected this wine to be smooth. Instead, it is rather gruffer, with a dry finish, than other Melville pinots. Still too early? Will save other bottle for after the vaccine....

5/12/2020 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Last bottle from case bought when released. In a good spot, but this is an uninspiring wine. Color fine. Modest nose. A bit of a vegetal taste, without robust fruit (which it never had). Still long numerous ‘95 Bordeaux. Still hoping for more....

4/18/2020 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Shot. Seriously. More brown than maroon. Sweet smell and taste. Watery. Please don't wait any longer.

4/10/2020 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Better than bottle from previous note. But not compelling or powerful. Not dense like Beaucastel at its best.

2/2/2020 - bobbubbabs wrote:

From magnum. Enjoyed for several hours watching Super Bowl. Tasted very tight and short on fruit immediately after opening, but benefited from 2+ hours decant, adding density and balance. No hurry to drink up (at least in this format) but do give it several hours to breathe before drinking.

1/22/2020 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Tasting dinner at Noreetuh in NYC. 6 reds, all from the 90s, any region. Lineup-‘94 Dalla Valle, ‘95 Ridge Monte Bello, ‘96 Dominus, ‘96 Jadot Volnay Clos de la Barre, ‘98 Beaucastel CDP and ‘99 Chapoutier La Sizeranne.

The Beaucastel was the least desirable wine of the night. Though the color was good, the wine has ‘turned’, with a somewhat port like taste and smell. Recently experienced bottle variation in the Beaucastel 1990 vintage. As still have a couple of ‘98s remaining, hope this bottle’s condition will prove to be the exception.

12/15/2019 - bobbubbabs wrote:

From magnum, purchased on release. Drank with appx 15 others after tasting numerous much younger Cali cabs, including several from Realm, a Keplinger and a Tor. The Insignia was dull, with faded fruit and tannins. Should have been consumed 5 years ago!

11/28/2019 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Enjoyed for Thanksgiving. Double magnum format. Wine in good form, but modest nose and fruit not as prevalent as 5 years ago. Smooth tannins. Overall a pleasant enough drink but not up to my expectations. My experience continues to be that Brunello is more enjoyable near age 10 than 20.

11/9/2019 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Enjoyed at Agern in GCT, NYC. Celebrating wife’s **th b-day! Nose a bit earthier than most SS we’ve tried. Color pure and mouthfeel somewhat denser than most SRH pinots. Have enjoyed both the Ten and Southing from this vintage, but this bottle was a step up. Have never been offered a bottle since....

3/29/2019 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Beautiful bouquet upon opening-knew the wine was in excellent form. Color mature but neither browning nor watery. Elegant, not powerful. A tremendous treat and very pleasant surprise on its condition. So different to New World syrah blends...

7/26/2018 - bobbubbabs wrote:

From magnum. Enjoyed at new Burke restaurant in Nomad. Aged beautifully. Tannins shed, but dense, chewy mouthfeel. Gamey and delicious. Love the way aging in mags gets extended!

3/23/2018 - bobbubbabs wrote:

First from OWC purchased on release from then in NYC Sokolin wine merchant. Cork barely stained on the bottom, yet faint smell of cork (taint?) in the wine from beginning to end. Open an hour before tasting, the wine was one dimensional to start, but became more robust over several hours in a decanter. Uninspiring, as our experience with the 1995 bordeaux vintage usually is.

12/23/2017 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Enjoyed at Keen’s Chophouse (or is it Steakhouse?). From magnum. In my cellar storage for 20 yrs. Quite Bordeaux like nose, very smooth and mature mouthfeel. Strongly question the recommended drinking window-best soon!

12/5/2017 - bobbubbabs wrote:

First bottle from previously unopened 6-pack. Also drank a 1990 Haut Brion. The Opus was, if anything, the more enjoyable tonight. Dead ringer for a bordeaux. Smooth, balanced and fragrant. Well stored bottles still have numerous years of pleasurable drinking ahead.

4/12/2017 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Just flat out shot. Over the hill. In contrast to the '92 Dominus (93 points), which was still in fine form, with years of good drinking still ahead. Disappointing to open bottles well stored for over 20 years and find them undrinkable.

3/11/2017 - bobbubbabs wrote:

From magnum. Purchased so many years ago at Wine Library, when Gary just a teenager. Thx Sasha. Enjoyed w/C Fitz. And rib roast. A bit reluctant at first, nose evolved nicely over several hours. Characteristic SO oakiness emerged in the mouth, too. Overall a very pleasant experience and in surpringly youthful form. Ah, early/mid '90s Silver Oak!

3/6/2017 - bobbubbabs wrote:

First bottle of case. Most teeth-staining red I've had in a long, long time. Huge fruit w/o typical Bordeaux barn yard smell (not a plus in my view). Still youthful. No hurry to consume. Likely to continue to improve. Less developed and more concentrated than the 2000, even adjusting for the 5 year difference.

2/6/2017 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Enjoyed w/strip steaks at RW's Hilton Head home. Tough cork, but wine was in fine form. Color still dark crimson w/no sign of browning. Traditional Insignia nose w/a hint of cloves. Smooth, lovely juice.

11/6/2016 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Third bottle 'consumed' (mostly poured down the sink!) over the last several months. Each smelled 'off', sweet and turned. Far beyond the flower petal nose that many fine brunellos offer. All came from same, now defunct retailer..poorly stored? Or typical of this producer, as experienced and described in a prior tasting note of the 2001? Very worried about the balance of 2006s in the cellar, as well as the 2007.

10/31/2015 - bobbubbabs wrote:

My favorite wine from a 20 vintage (1989-2008), two day vertical tasting of Chris Ringland's glorious Barossa shiraz. Despite its 17.5% alcohol level, the wine is a balanced powerhouse of fruit (but without the 'jammy' quality evident in so many young Aussie shirazes) and gripping (in the loveliest sense) tannins. Other favorites were: 1993, 2004, 1990, 2001, 1991, 1996 and 1998. Among the ones I found of less interest were: 1994, 2000, 2003 and 2006.

6/21/2015 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Enjoyed several 1995 vintage wines this weekend. In addition to the Caymus SS, also drank a Silver Oak Napa and Pichon Baron. The Caymus was fine, with dusty tannins evident shortly after opening softening over the course of dinner. Having never tried the '95, but with the '90 being among my favorite Cali cabs ever, hopes were high. The bottle didn't disappoint! The Silver Oak has aged well, too, and this vintage is arguably ageing more slowly than several of its immediate predecessors, particularly the '94s. It was also very encouraging to find the '95 Bordeaux tasting this good; is the time finally approaching when this vintage is going to shine?

5/1/2015 - bobbubbabs wrote:

enjoying w/chicken from Eataly pre Eric Clapton concert at the Garden. In an excellent spot right now! Classic Bordeaux nose of herbs. Smooth taste, but still robust. So looking forward to beginning to hit the '95s and '00s w/regularity.

2/15/2015 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Bummer-last bottle. Still a pleasure to drink. Lovely mature cab, holding well at age 24. I've always had a slight preference for her one year older sibling, but both are wonderful examples of terrific winemaking at Caymus during the late '80s and early '90s.

1/15/2015 - bobbubbabs wrote:

From magnum. Shared w/S&C S and DH and SR in NJ. Decanted 2 hours before dinner, and wine continued to improve over course of evening. Not as powerful a nose as many Rhones, a bit nearer some Aussie shirazes. Smooth and totally integrated, despite 16.7% alcohol level. I enjoyed this far better than the 2004 Bone Rock consumed Thanksgiving Day.

9/13/2014 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Thx to SES for this bottle as birthday gift. Drank w/wife to celebrate our anniversary (married in 1987) before attending Eagles concert at MSG. The vino is terrific! So rare to find a cab where the tannins are gone where the wine is still dense, fruit robust and nose alluring. A more than worthy substitute for our usual anniversary fare, '86 Haut Brion.

8/31/2014 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Tres ordinaire....'resting' at the moment?

8/5/2014 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Tried three tasty Tuscan treats ('99 Riservas all) in recent weeks. The Poggio di Sotto was by far the freshest and has the longest remaining useful life. Pertiimali next best, then Ciacci, which was approaching 'over-age'.

7/22/2014 - bobbubbabs wrote:

A wonderful surprise from a long forgotten bottle. Unctuous, with a bit of a mineral streak. Oak long gone. In contrast to what I imagine this was like when a youngster, this is now elegant, and burgundy like.

7/20/2014 - bobbubbabs wrote:

It would be, in my opinion, impossible to argue this wine was still improving. Or that it wasn't better 5 years ago. Not yet quite gone, but not going anywhere. My family members liked it better than I.

7/10/2014 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Flat out too old! Drinkable, but just. Disappointed-hardly drink chard, and thought this would be in a fine spot....

Was a gift, so not sure about storage.

6/22/2014 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Going strong! Evolved, but not faded. Both the '90 and '91 consistently provide a wonderful experience. Superior to the Dalla Valle of the same vintage tasted last night, which was many years past its best.

5/4/2014 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Disappointed! When young, one of the most interesting brunellos I had ever tasted. But tonight, two bottles both 'off', sweet smelling the major complaint. Will try them again tomorrow to confirm. Reaffirmation of view that BdM is best quaffed w/in 10 yrs of vintage.

5/3/2014 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Enjoyed at Red Cat in NYC w/T&L visiting from Melbourne. Also drank '91 Penfolds Grange. The latter was a bit less robust than previous experiences, and the Command the better of the two.

11/7/2013 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Better than either of my previous experiences. Dark crimson (no browning), smooth and surprisingly young. Very erratic drink?

10/21/2013 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Very tasty w/duck 2 ways at The Black Duck in NYC. Long, dry finish that exemplifies mature Barolo. In its prime....

7/17/2013 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Started out a bit slowly, with reluctant nose (most un-Grange like!) and fruit seeming a bit overwhelmed by nice, slightly dry tannins in the mouth. Fortunately, tasted more in balance after an hour or so. As always, drinking Grange is an honor.

The question is whether this was a bit more enjoyable a couple of years ago, and whether the same question will be answered in the affirmative a couple of years from now? I personally plan to wait and see....

7/17/2013 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Enjoyed at Gramercy Tavern in NYC with JS and his folks, and RS and MS. Also had a '90 Grange (92 points), 2007 Mollydooker Velvet Glove (93 points) and 2009 Glaetzer's Amon-Ra (90 points).

This evening, the '96 Grange was more enjoyable than the '90, though the latter closed the gap after breathing for several hours. The younger wine is in a very nice spot at the moment, displaying the classic Grange nose of jammy fruit and sweetness, with the tannins apparent but ever so friendly. For those fortunate enough to have a stash (sadly, mine is gone), the question to hold or drink is simply a matter of whether it is likely to improve further, because it is lovely now. My guess is that it will.....

There is a separate note on the '90 Grange.

The younger two were very enjoyable, but a severe contrast to the aged Penfolds', and surely will get better with a few more years of rest.

3/10/2013 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Bought 10 bottles at auction through K&L. Of the 8 consumed, 3 were clearly tired and well past their prime. The others were decent (no 'off' odors or browning like the 3 referred to earlier), but no real structure and I assume the fruit used to be much more vibrant. Very disappointing lot and a firm reminder of the risks of buying wine whose storage history is not really known.

9/5/2012 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Pre-dinner w/SES on Cape. Very good fill. Color good-no sign of browning at edges or 'wateriness'. Tannins shed but fruit still concentrated. A very nice surprise; expected to be well past prime

7/6/2012 - bobbubbabs wrote:

Floral nose....a bit reminiscent of the other St., Emilion. More lush mouthfeel than previous bottles. Slightly vegetal aftertaste. Fourth of six bottles originally purchased, and the best yet. Have found most '95s drunk the last several years to be disappointing; are they beginning to show more positively? Quality of this vintage still uncertain, and possibly overestimated, in my view....hope to be proven wrong.