December 25, 2008 - Xmas Dinner at Madrona Manor (Madrona Manor, Healdsburg, California): Bricking medium red color with clear meniscus; tart red fruit, iron and shitake mushroom nose; delicate tart red fruit, dried cherry, rosehips and iron palate, with good acidity; medium finish 91+ pts.
May 19, 2006 - 1988 Nuits St.-Georges 1ers (Chicago, IL): Moderate nose of dark fruit with some pleasant fruit on the palate. Not much spice, way too much oak which doesn't combine perfectly with the inherent structure and tannins of 1988 NSGs. Short finish that doesn't showcase the terroir in any interesting way. Coates' 14/20 might be just a bit extreme.