Tasting Notes
Pinot Noir With A Black Belt: Felton Road’s Block 5 2019 Doesn’t Ask Permission
Block 5 2019: velvet-fisted Central Otago Pinot that whispers, then conquers.
Latest
Wineries
Bryant Family Vineyard: The Cult on the Lake
Founded in 1986 on Pritchard Hill, Bryant Family Vineyard quickly rose to Napa cult status. From its rocky, lake-cooled slopes come powerful yet polished Cabernets that rival Bordeaux First Growths and embody Napa’s ambition and allure.
Wineries
Château Latour: The Fortress of Pauillac
Château Latour, a First Growth since 1855, is Bordeaux’s fortress. From its sacred Enclos vineyard in Pauillac, it produces Cabernet of unmatched power and longevity, releasing wines only when ready — a legacy of endurance and authority.
Tasting Notes
To Kalon Oracles And The Cabernet That Bites Back
Schrader RBS 2018: dense cassis, violet, graphite; fine-grained tannins, long cedar-cocoa finish. Decant 2–3 hours; cellar 12–20 years.
Wine & Food Pairings
Moonlight Over Limestone: Domaine Leroy Musigny 2012
Unique Domaine Leroy Musigny 2012 food pairing inspirations—pigeon, venison, lobster, truffle, Époisses—woven with myth and terroir.
Vinotourism
Gigondas: Stone‑Born Ambition in the Southern Rhône
Gigondas, sheltered by the jagged Dentelles, crafts Rhône reds that marry furnace heat with alpine lift. Explore its path from Roman outpost to cru, taste the imprint of limestone, meet bold growers, and see why these wines mellow like cooling stone.
Wineries
Ornellaia: The Symphony of Bolgheri
Founded in 1981 by Lodovico Antinori, Ornellaia turned Bolgheri’s coast into a stage for greatness. From its Bordeaux-inspired blend to the cult Merlot Masseto, Ornellaia is Tuscany’s symphony of power, elegance, and ambition.
Wine & Food Pairings
Amber Hymns of the Ciron: Château d’Yquem 2001
Unique Château d’Yquem 2001 food pairing journey—quail, eel, truffle, tagine, and saffron mille-feuille with this legendary Sauternes.
Tasting Notes
The Centenarian That Still Bites: Drinking D’Oliveira Malvasia 1900
Centuries in a glass: the 1900 D’Oliveira Malvasia Madeira, alive and unstoppable.
Investment Reports
Bacchus's Ambrosia: The Egon Müller Scharzhofberger TBA 2017
How a mythic conflict with the frost goddess forged a 99-point masterpiece and an investment fit for the gods. The Myth of the 2017 Vintage I remember the night Khione, the frost-goddess, swept into the Saar valley. She sought to freeze the precious Riesling berries of the Scharzhofberger vineyard, turning
Wineries
Realm Cellars: The Phoenix of Napa
Realm Cellars rose from near bankruptcy to cult status in Napa. With Scott Becker’s vision, Benoit Touquette’s winemaking, and iconic vineyards like To Kalon and Dr. Crane, Realm became a phoenix estate — bold blends, legendary Cabernets, and modern myth.
Tasting Notes
Why Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5° 2017 Will Steal Your Better Judgment
Ribera’s Valbuena 5° 2017: Tempranillo-led, 14.5% ABV, warm finish, five years ageing — dark-fruited, fine tannins, cellar-friendly.