Date night - Movie BYOB Margaux and Steak Dinner

Date night - Movie, BYOB Margaux and Steak Dinner 

Married fifty-three years, we still have an occasional “date night”, movie and dinner. 

After seeing “Drummer Boy”, the movie, (Drummer Boy Movie Trailer) at Destin Commons AMC Theatres, we dined across the street at The Wine Bar Restaurant, connected to and affiliated with Wine World. This arrangement allows purchasing wines in the retail outlet and consuming them next door at the restaurant - BYOB. Buy/Bring-Your-Own-Bottle. 

I selected a current release top rated Margaux from one of our favorite producers for a perfect accompaniment pairing with our Grilled Filet of Beef entrees with Potatoes Fondate and Asparagus. 

Prior to dinner we shared the beet salad. 

Château Giscours Grand Cru Classé Margaux 2023

Château Giscours is a Third Growth (Troisième Grand Cru Classé) from the official Bordeaux Classifications of 1855 from the Margaux appellation in Bordeaux, France.

The historic Château Giscours wine estate is located 2km off the main D2 Route that runs from the City of Bordeaux along the Gironde River up through the Medoc wine region, 5 km south of the Village of Margaux. We stayed in the village of Margaux at charming Chambres de Margaux during our Bordeaux Wine Experience back in 2019. 

The 250 acre Château Giscours, is one of the very few estates with vineyards planted in a single stretch, amidst 600 acres of meadows and forest, plus 600 acres of vineyards. 

Château Giscours is a destination of its own - aside the vineyards, hidden behind the Chateau is a vast park planted with rare species and scattered with water features  with an 800-metre walking path. The exceptional flora and fauna consists of more than twenty different varieties of trees from around the world: monkey puzzle trees, giant sequoias, sassafras, quercus nigras (‘black oaks’), Oregon pines, bald cypresses and more.

The park as also a living work of art and sculpture garden, designed in 1870 by renowned landscape architect Eugène Bühler, graduate of the Ecole Royale d’Horticulture in Versailles. Notable works of art include patinated bronze sculpture ‘Salto’ by Nic Jonk, ‘The Bather’ by Carla Rutgers-Hendriksen, and whimsical ‘Spectacles’ looking at the chateau,  a tribute to the estate’s owner Eric Albada Jelgersma, a visionary businessman and art collector.

The estate vineyards span over 600 acres of vines in production within the Margaux appellation, plus acreage in the neighboring Haut-Médoc. 

Château Giscours dates back to its founding by Pierre de Lhomme who from 1552 to 1571 began the planting the wild land with vines. From 1847 to 1875, proprietor Jean-Pierre Pescatore and his heirs improved the reputation of the estate by investing in the quality of its vines.

From 1875 to 1890, Edouard Cruse, a visionary winegrower modernized the entire estate and created the park around the chateau. 

Nicolas Tari and his heirs acquired Giscours after the Second World War and reorganized the estate from 1952 to 1995. 

Since 1995, Dutch businessman Eric Albada Jelgersma, wine lover and art collector,  restructured the vineyard and renovated the winery buildings. The Albada Jelgersma children Dennis, Derk and Valérie take over the estate following the death of their father Eric Albada Jelgersma in 2018. They run the estate today with the help of general manager Alexander van Beek.

The well-arranged three hundred acres of vineyards possess exceptional terroir with the legendary deep garonne gravel hilltops with influence of the oceanic climate, giving Giscours’ wines structure and elegance. 

The Château Giscours 2022 vintage received widespread critical acclaim when it was named Wine Spectator's #1 Wine of the Year for 2025.

Our CellarTracker records indicate we hold nearly a dozen vintages of Giscours dating back to the 1998 vintage. http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2014/10/cabs-bistro-byob-wine-dine-experience.html

We’ve enjoyed meeting Laure Bastard, Sales Director, or other Château Giscours representatives as regular attendees at the annual UGC Bordeaux' (Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGCB)) producers' annual North American tour to showcase their most recent vintage release. The UGC is an association of 133 grands crus producers from heralded Gironde estates. The UGCB tasting is one of the premiere events and highlights of my annual wine events. I’ve featured it in numerous blogposts from earlier tour events and two example events here …  UGC Bordeaux 2013 Release Tour Chicago 2016, and UGC Bordeaux 2015 Release Tour unveils stellar vintage

Château Giscours Grand Cru Classé Margaux 2023

This is a traditional Left Bank Grape Blend of  71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc, It was aged in 50% new French oak.

The 2023 was another spectacular vintage where ‘all boats rise with the tide’. These top wines should have a drinking window from roughly 2028–2050 and while they needs a few years of cellaring or a long decant to integrate tannins, they are approachable now upon release and still young. It should benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and evolve gracefully over the following two decades. 

This highly acclaimed release was rated 97 points by James Suckling: 96–98 points by Vinous (Antonio Galloni / Neal Martin): 94-96 by Robert Parker (The Wine Advocate): 95–96 points by Jeb Dunnuck and 95 points by Decanter, 93-95 by The Wine Independent.

Antonio Galloni of Vinous wrote, “The 2023 Giscours is the very best wine I have ever tasted here. Giscours has been knocking on the door of Bordeaux's elite for a few years now. Two thousand twenty-three is the year in which Giscours joins the region's big boys and girls. A towering, majestic Margaux, the 2023 dazzles from start to finish.”

Wine Advocate wrote, “The 2023 Giscours is one of the real successes of the vintage,” 

Winemaker Notes “Château Giscours is a wine that reflects their teams’ expertise and in-depth knowledge of the terroir. It is a voluptuous, gourmet wine with the strong personality found in fine wines from the Margaux appellation. It is seductive on the palate thanks to its refined, silky tannins. It is a powerful, enchanting, hugely charming wine. It will age for years without gaining so much as a wrinkle.”

Blend: 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc. It was aged in 50% new oak. 70% grand vin production. 

Deep garnet purple colored, medium to full bodied, full, round, bright and vibrant, structured yet balanced and elegant, juicy blackberry and black currant with notes of red fruits, notes of cassis, herbs, hints of mocha chocolate, graphite and undergrowth, violets and licorice, with soft acidity and polished silky tannins.with a long, broad finish.

RM 95 points. 

https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/4694182

https://giscours.com/en/

https://www.thewinebarfl.com/the-wine-bar-destin

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/search?q=ChaMBRES

https://youtu.be/rXaR4nXRvOY?is=CDfjevut6KDsDKxe

Pazzo Italiano and BYOB Wines

Pazzo Italiano Destin (FL) and BYOB Wines

We dined with friends/neighbors Richard and Victoria at Pazzo Italiano Ristorante & Bar, a short distance from our vacation rental. 

Victoria and Linda at PJ’s,
Pompano Joes, local hangout, earlier this week 

Pazzo’s have become one of our go-to dinesites that we frequent when in town, as I wrote during two recent dinners there, as featured in these blogposts: 

Pazzo Italian dining in Destin

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2026/10/pazzo-italian-dining-in-destin.html

Tenuta Luce BYOB at Pazzo’s Destin

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2026/10/tenuta-luce-byob-at-pazzos-destin.html

For our dinner entrees I selected the Veal Saltimbocca, a dish I enjoyed on a previous visit. 

Linda had Daily Special Feature, Branzino. 

Victoria had a special request prepared Veal Milanese and Richard had the Veal Parmigiana. 

Richard and I both brought BYOB from our home cellars two vintage release labels, Richard a French St Julien, Bordeaux, from Château Branaire-Ducru, and me a limited production Napa Valley Cabernet by Marco Di Giulio.

Château Branaire-Ducru St Julien Bordeaux 2006

Linda and I visited and toured the historic Château Branaire-Ducru estate during our trip to the St Julien Appellation (AOC) in Bordeaux back in 2019, featured in this blogpost - excerpted below - A visit to Château Branaire-Ducru. 

Château Branaire-Ducru was originally part of the greater estate that comprised Chateau Beychevelle and adjacent Ducru Beaucaillou. It became a separate vineyard from the Beychevelle estate after the death of Bernard de la Valette, Duke of Epernon, in the mid 17th century, when his assets were turned over to the French Crown to pay off his debts.

Historic Chateau Branaire Ducru

Branaire-Ducru orangerie

In 1680, Jean-Baptiste Braneyre bought the property. His descendant, Marie Braneyre married Pierre Du Luc, and the property becomes known as Branaire Duluc.

The first winery was established in a small house that Marie de Chillaud, granddaughter of Marie and Pierre Braneyre, bought in Bourdieu. The oldest parts of the building date back to 1730.

Marie de Chillaud’s children of the Duluc family had the current Château built around 1824. It consisted of a country manor house and an orangerie. The chateau was expanded further in 1836. The estate was eventually sold to a relative, Gustave Ducru.

In 1855 it was classified as a fourth growth under the name Branaire Duluc.  Ducru, a distant relative of the Duluc family, added his name to the brand and label, and it becomes Château Branaire-Ducru which has remained to this day.

In 1879, Gustave died and the estate was passed to his sister, the Countessa Duluc. In 1899, the château was bequeathed to three nephews, the Marquis de Carbonnier de Marzac, Comte Ravez and Comte du Perrier de Larsan. Their aunt, the Countessa, and the three nephews are represented today by the four crowns on the Branaire-Ducru logo and label.

In 1919, Branaire was taken over by Jean-Michel Tapie who held the property until the Tari-Tapie family sold out to Patrick Maroteaux in 1988.

Patrick Maroteaux bought Branaire Ducru in 1988 from the Tapie family who owned Chateau Branaire Ducru since 1919. Patrick Maroteaux served as the President of the UGCB, Union of Grand Crus Bordeaux, and as the President of the Saint Julien appellation.

Patrick’s son, François Xavier Maroteaux followed in his father’s footsteps and took over the full-time responsibilities of managing the property after his passing in 2017. We’ve met François Maroteaux (shown above from the 2017 tour) several times over the years at the annual UGCB Annual Release Tour Tastings in Chicago.

Branaire-Ducru has nearly 150 acres of vineyards planted with the St Julien appellation sanctioned varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (22%), Cabernet Franc (5%), Petit Verdot (3%).

The vineyards of Branaire Ducru are composed of the legendary gravelly soil of the St Julien appellation.  Although the estate is located on the southern border of the appellation, across from Château Beychevelle, several of the the vineyards are spread across the Saint-Julien appellation.

Branaire Ducru vineyards gravelly soil - 
St Julien Beychevelle village in distance 

The wines are matured in oak barriques (65% new). The proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend can be higher than that in the vineyards - 80-85% in some years, which is one of the highest in the Médoc. 

The average age of the vineyard is 35 years and they are harvested by hand.

The grand vin Château Branaire Ducru averages about 15,000 cases per year. The estate also produces about 7,000 cases of its second wine, Duluc de Branaire-Ducru. 

 

The French family group lead by chairman Patrick Maroteaux has invested heavily in upgrading and renovating the estate. They have planted new vineyards, built a new cuvier and ultra-modern chai and upgraded the technical operations.  

Branaire-Ducru and Duluc de Branaire-Ducru wines are characteristically complex and have long ageing potential. They are best consumed five to eight years after release but can often age for several decades depending on the vintage. Every effort is made to bring out the purity of the fruit and reflect the terrior of the vineyards.

Branaire-Ducru typifies classic St Julien terroir characteristics - nicely structured, elegantly balanced - bright vibrant fruits accented by notes of cassis, mocha, minerals and floral with approachable tannins on a lingering finish.

Château Branaire Ducru 2006

This release was rated 92 points and *Editors' Choice* by Wine Enthusiast, 91 points by Vinous, and 90 points by Wine Spectator and Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.

Winemaker Notes - “Very rich bouquet that still remains quite closed - ripe, but fresh fruit, mineral hints, notes of cedar and subtle spice. Attractive structure on the palate that is powerful and elegant at the same time, and perfectly classical. This wine has a long future before it. Wait another 4 to 5 years before opening. “

This wine begged for pairing with food and was a nice complement to the zesty red and brown sauces with the pastas. 

Dark ruby/purple color, medium to full-bodied, complex ripe blackberry, black currant and black plum fruits with notes of licorice, creosote, leather, dark chocolate, graphite and hints of menthol and cedar with gripping moderate tannins on the long finish. 

RM 90 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?1496913

We then opened this Napa Cabernet.

Marco di Giulio Napa Valley Progeny Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

Having fun with and paying homage to Richard’s Italian heritage, I brought this Italian descendant producer/winemaker label. This is the first from a limited release series of Napa Valley mountain Cabernets from Marco DiGiulio who was/is a consulting winemaker to many leading producers and growers around Napa Valley.

Marco DiGiulio’s family immigrated from the Tuscany region of Italy to the Italian community of North Beach in San Francisco where his parents establish a restaurant. Growing up immersed in good food and wine, Marco earned his degree in Fermentation Science from UC Davis.

After graduation he worked with numerous Napa and Sonoma wineries including Buena Vista, Pine Ridge, Atlas Peak and Pepi Winery. He became winemaker at esteemed Lokoya producing, high end Cabernet Sauvignon. Building a reputation for making world class Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, he worked as consulting winemaker for a number of high end boutique producers in the Napa area.

In 1995 Marco DiGiulio was the first winemaker at ultra-premium Lokoya, a Jess Jackson winery in Napa Valley. In 1999 Marco left to set up his winery, a custom crush winery south of Napa where numerous small boutique labels were produced. He served as consulting winemaker for several leading labels and started producing his own wine in 2001, often with grapes sourced from select clients’ vineyards from which he produces his own private label wines. After more than 25 Napa Valley harvests, his wines were produced in very small quantities of 200 to 300 cases. 

 

He started his own label in 2001 sourcing premium fruit from vineyards on Mt. Veeder and Diamond Mountain producing single vineyard designated premium mountain grown Napa Cabernet Sauvignon.

One of those labels were from the Mt Veeder Pym-Rae vineyard, the same vineyard as the Robert Craig Mt Veeder label. The vineyard was long owned by Actor Commedian Robin Williams and was name for Robins two children. After Robin’s passing the estate was sold and is now owned by French wine producer Tesseron. 

We obtained a series of these extremely limited production wines at auction and still have a half dozen bottles of three different labels over several vintages. 

I featured Marco Digulio wines in more detail in earlier blogposts in these pages - https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2018/06/marco-di-guilio-pym-rae-vineyard-mt.html.

Here are some other blogposts of another Marco DiGuilio label release - https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2020/04/marco-diguilio-diamond-mtn-cabernet.html, 

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2020/12/close-out-2020-with-diamond-mtn.html.

We visited the Napa Valley Mt Veeder appellation and toured several estates and vineyards during our Mt Veeder Napa Valley Wine Experience back in 2011. It is the largest and most diverse of the seventeen appellations (AVA’s - American Viticulture Areas) that are situated in Napa Valley and Napa County.

Of the numerous Marco DiGuilio labels we hold, and have tasted, this is our first tasting of this particular vintage release of this specific label. We’ve tasted other vintage releases of this label - one of which is featured here - https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2017/11/duo-napa-cabs-del-dotto-diguilio.html.

This inaugural release label is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the high elevation dry farmed and low yielding Progeny Vineyard, belonging to Betty O’Shaughnessy, high up Mount Veeder, close to the Lokoya vineyards. 

After gently pressing in small stainless steel fermenters with a total maceration of about 30-35 days, the wine was transferred into brand new French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and maturation during 20-24 months. 

Winemaker's Notes: "This wine is all about power. From its inky deep purple color to its broad shouldered tannins, this is a big wine. On the nose, the first impression is one of blackberry and blueberry fruit with an underlying biscuity note from the oak. Think berry cobbler in a glass. On the palate, the wine is mouthfilling and explodes with fruit. The tannins, while quite evident, are well tamed and there's enough fruit richness to balance them out. The finish is long and complex, with more black fruit and spice. As for ultimate aging potential, with proper cellaring, I would guess 15 to 20 years wouldn't be too much of a stretch."

We last tasted this three years ago and tonight this showed better than that earlier bottle, perhaps due to bottle variation or storage.  At that time I wrote, Dark ruby/garnet colored, a very slight tinge of brownish rust hue is starting to appear on the rim, still within approachable drinking window, but undoubtably will continue to diminish further here forward so best to consume in the next year or so …. medium-full bodied, the complex full round brambly black berry fruits are accented by notes of earthy leather, cinnamon and herbal spices and tobacco box, perhaps akin to what the winemaker referred to as ‘biscuity notes’, with a lingering moderate tannin laced finish, 

Then I gave it RM 91 points.

Tonight, at twenty-five years, the fill level, label, foil and cork were in perfect pristine condition. 

This was an ideal pairing with the brown sauce of my veal and pasta. 

This wine deep, dark inky purple colored, full bodied with intense complex dense concentrated blackberry and black cherry fruits with bright vibrant notes of black olive tapenade, cassis, graphite pencil lead, fresh earth, leather, well-integrated spice and cedary oak with an expressive lively long finish.

RM 93 points. 

http://cellartracker.com/w?42933

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?228142

We then came back to our place for desserts and artisan cheeses with a French Sauterne dessert wine, left over from our Wine and Small Bites Destin neighborhood gathering. 

The Cheese flight … 

  

With the dessert course we also served chocolate tuxedo cake and a pumpkin spice cake. For pairing with the cakes we opened this classic Sauterne Bordeaux dessert wine. 

Château Misselle Sauterne 2022  

This is a classic Sauterne dessert wine with sweet thick unctuous apricot and peach fruits. It is not a bona-fide Ice Wine per se. This prompted a discussion about Dessert Wine vs Ice Wine and I talked about what I wrote about, Ice Wines, in a recent blogpost from our Pour Boys wine group dinner last week - Pour Boys Wine Dinner features magnificent wines. 

This is from the Sauterne appellation in the southern Bordeaux region, outside the town of Bordeaux. As is customary for Sauterne dessert wines, this is a blend of Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle grape varietals. 

This was golden-yellow colored, full bodied, thick unctuous sweet nectar of apricots and quinces with notes of honey, peach and hints of citrus and spice.

RM 91 points. 

It is suggested serving well-chilled after dinner on its own or paired with blue cheese, fruit tarts, or light pastries rather than a main meal, which is exactly how we enjoyed this wine.  

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?4790570

https://www.pazzodestin.com/

Wine and Small Bites Destin neighborhood gathering

Wine and Small Bites neighborhood gathering … 

Visiting our Destin vacation home, we welcomed new neighbors Dennis and Lisa and gathered to meet for a casual “Wine and small bites” gathering. 

We missed Fletcher, under the weather, and several other regulars who were traveling, but enjoyed a casual gathering none-the-less. 

We grilled BBQ ribs and flank steak served with Brussel sprouts. Accompaniments include five artisan cheeses and a medley of fresh fruits and vegetables. 

The cheese flight …. 

Beverages served were a selection of craft beers, alcoholic and alcohol free spritzers, sodas and juices. 

I opened two red and two white wines for sipping and pairing with the foods - two I brought from our home cellar whose time it was to drink, and two high QPR selections from the local fine wine retailer. 

Domaine Louis Latour Aloxe-Corton, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy Pinot Noir 2005 

CellarTracker records show I purchased this wine in 2010. At fifteen years, this is within but nearing the end of its optimal drinking window, hence I pulled it from the cellar for consumption. Tonight was a perfect occasion to taste and share this wine.  

This is from the centuries old Domaine Louis Latour one of Burgundy’s oldest negociant domaine producers of a large portfolio of wines ranging from $25 to $300. This label is 100% Pinot Noir from the Côte de Beaune region, village and appellation of  Aloxe-Corton.

The village of Aloxe-Corton is located in the north of Côte de Beaune on a stony hillside at the foot of the hill of Corton. It was in 1862 that the name of the climat Corton was added to the village name Aloxe. The vineyards of Domaine Louis Latour surround the famous village and yield a classic Aloxe-Corton.

Latour’s estate vines average 30 years, grown in limestone, alluvial sand, and gravel soils that produce structured age worthy wines.

 

The 2005 Louis Latour Aloxe-Corton hails from a legendary, classic Burgundy vintage and is now fully mature. The 2005 red Burgundy vintage is widely celebrated as an exceptional, structured and age-worthy classic "dream vintage" built for long-term aging. 

This release was aged for 10 to 12 months in French oak barrels with 15% new oak from the Louis Latour cooperage.

Winemakers notes - (Tasted January 2007)  “This wine will entice you with its vegetable notes and its subtle mint hints. The bouquet is completed with aromas reminiscent of black currant blossoms. Once on the palate the tannins are light and the flavors of jammed fruits, and even marmalade will ravish your palate. A harmonious wine which will taste wonderfully in two years.”

At fifteen, the label, foil and most importantly the fill level and cork were pristine. Dark ruby colored, medium bodied, concentrated, firmly structured yet nicely balanced, red currant, ripe red raspberry and plum with hints of cranberry fruits with notes of spice, hints of savory leather and tobacco, black pepper, and vanilla from oak aging, with a supple yet firm tannic structure on a long earthy mature finish. 

RM 89 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?369984

Beringer Private Reserve Napa Valley Chardonnay 2014

This is from Beringer, California's longest continuously operating winery, founded by Jacob and Frederick Beringer in 1876. Visitors to Napa Valley flock to the Beringer estate castle-like Chateau on Hwy 29, just as you leave the town of St Helena headed north towards Calistoga. 

This is the flagship Chardonnay from one of the most storied producers in Napa Valley. Beringer dates back 1868, when Jacob Beringer, emigrated from Germany, and settled in Napa Valley 1869 where the rocky hillside soil and fertile valley floor resembled that of vineyards back home in Germany. He became cellar foreman for Charles Krug, one of the first commercial winemakers in Napa Valley. In 1875, he and his brother Jacob purchased 215 acres adjacent to Charles Krug in St. Helena for $14,500. The Beringer Brothers' first harvest and crush followed in 1876 producing nearly 40,000 gallons of wine, or 18,000 cases, that first year. 

Beringer established many 'firsts' as leaders in the wine industry. They were one of the first gravity fed facilities and among the first to operate using hand dug caves and cellars. Beringer were the first to give public tours in 1934, starting a Napa Valley hospitality tradition. 

Beringer were the first and only winery to have both a red and a white wine named #1 Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator Magazine. The Beringer Cabernet was named #1 Wine of the Year for the 1986 Cabernet by Wine Spectator (1990 edition). Six years later, Wine Spectator named the 1994 Chardonnay #1 Wine of the Year (1996 edition) - this is special because not only is it the first time a white wine has ever garnered that top spot, but Beringer was the first and only winery to ever have both a red and a white wine in that top slot.

Former Chief Winemakers Myron Nightingale and Ed Sbragia created the Private Reserve program in 1977 as the flagship labels of the portfolio. The Private Reserve Chardonnay was introduced with the 1978 vintage, and together these wines have earned three decades of extraordinary accolades, including two "Wine of the Year" awards. The 2015 and 2016 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon vintages were awarded back to back 99-point scores.

The fruit for this label is primarily sourced from their Gamble Ranch property in the Oakville AVAof Napa Valley. Only the finest lots were then selected for inclusion in this Private Reserve bottling. Each lot was kept separate from harvest all the way through the winemaking process. The wine was 100% barrel-fermented in French oak (80% new) with weekly lees stirring and 100% malolactic fermentation  to enrich the texture and profile, then aged for 9 months in predominately new French oak.

Upon release back in 2014, I picked up a few bottles, then picked up a few more. I should've grabbed more but I waited till I actually tried it to come to this conclusion, not based on the review.

This release was rated 95 points by James Suckling and Decanter, 92 points by Wine Spectator and 91 points by Vinous.

The Winemaker's tasting notes: "Aromas of grilled pineapple, ripe pear, lemon oil, hazelnut and toasted brioche. A bright fruit core is accentuated by a silky texture and flavors of yellow apple, Asian pear, meyer lemon and a lush, continuous finish.”  

We tasted and I wrote about this label back in 2019 in this blogpost - https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/07/beringer-private-reserve-napa.html.

Tonight’s tasting was largely consistent with that earlier review, however, at a dozen years, this wine was starting to show its age and it likely nearing the end of its optimal drinking window, so it should be consumed over the coming year or so. 

This was butter colored, medium full bodied, complex, rich, round, bright lively buttery creamy notes of crème brulée, notes of caramel and hazelnut with apple and citrus fruits accented by spice and toasty oak with hints of vanilla apple and peach on the long nicely balanced finish.

RM 92 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2256991

https://www.beringer.com/

I also opened another red and white, each with contrasting styles for comparing and sharing. Both of these labels were obtained at our local fine wine shop and proved to provide very nice QPR - Quality Price Ratios. Notes to follow. 

This winery direct purchase was recommended by Wade Stirewalt, Wine Director at The Wine Bar at Wine World, our local fine wine merchant. It is sourced directly from Navigator Wine Collection, an independent wine company based in Napa, California - a negociant producer/distributor. 

They offer more than 150 wines that recently earned 90-point scores or higher from the industry pundits  including Wine Enthusiast, Decanter, and James Suckling, 

Navigator Wine Collection is run by Taylor Case who began his wine career in 1995 at a restaurant with a 1,200-selection wine list, which sparked a lifelong passion for the industry. He’s worked in leadership at major distributorships Breakthru Beverage, Vineyard Brands, Wilson Daniels, and Folio. 

Taylor has supported the Destin Charity Wine Auction for more than 15 years, sponsors of the annual SoWal Wine Event featured in these pages Pour Boys gather for SoWal Wine Festival weekend in Destin, and SoWal Wine Festival Sandestin.

Performance Chardonnay, Carneros 2025

This 100% Chardonnay is sourced from leading vineyards in the Carneros Appellation down at the bottom of Napa Valley near San Pablo Bay where the cool fog and breezes waft in creating the perfect cooler climate for Chardonnay. 

This was barrel aged for 12 months in French oak.

This new release was rated 94 points by The Tasting Panel and 91 points by Wine Enthusiast. 

“A spectacular showing of ripe pear, MacIntosh apple tart, and tangerine cream. We give it a standing ovation for bright acidity and a gliding mouthfeel. Sandalwood and lemon meringue influence the sumptuous finish.” Meredith May at The Tasting Panel Magazine

It was crafted by winemaker Mike Rayner who grew up in a family with six generations in Sonoma County. After completing his studies at UC Davis, Mike began his winemaking career at Domaine Chandon, working on “méthode traditionnelle” sparkling wines. He also held key roles from Cellar Master to Winemaker at Carneros Creek Winery, Havens Wine Cellars, Newton Vineyard, Draxton Wines, and as Head Winemaker for Cameron Hughes Wine.

Mike is assisted by Associate Winemaker Lorena Hernandez. Born and raised in Oregon, Lorena earned her bachelor’s degree in Enology from Fresno State and began her career with E. & J. Gallo, then at Oak Ridge Winery as an Assistant Winemaker. 

Winemaker Notes - “ This Napa Valley Chardonnay unfolds with inviting aromas of ripe pear, golden apple, and fresh peach, layered with subtle notes of vanilla and toasted almond. Hints of lemon curd and warm baking spice lend depth and complexity, while the palate reveals generous orchard fruit wrapped in a rich, creamy texture. Balanced acidity brings freshness and poise, leading to a long, polished finish with lingering notes of ripe fruit, vanilla, and delicate toast.”

Refined and expressive, this Carneros Chardonnay offers ripe pear, golden apple, and peach with hints of vanilla and toasted almond.  This was golden colored, medium bodied, crisp vibrant pear and apple fruits with nutty refreshing tangy acid on a pleasant balanced finish. 

RM 91 points. 

Turning Point Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

We discovered and acquired this wine this summer at Wine World and found it be a high QPR enjoyable casual sipping red which we’ve enjoyed with pizza, burgers as well as grilled beefsteaks.  

This is another negociant producer collaboration, wherein the producer does not own the vineyards, but sources fruit (grapes) from growers, or even purchases excess wine inventory, and markets the finished producer under a co-label or own label. This Turning Point label is a collaboration between winemaker Nick Goldschmidt and distributor Vineyard Brands who are actually based in Birmingham, AL. 

The TURNING POINT branding refers to “the pivotal moment when the grapes begin their transformation into wine. It is a reflection of the end of summer, the ripening of a harvest and the excitement of a new vintage.”

The 2021 Turning Point Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied red wine produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the Alexander Valley AVA of Sonoma County, California. It was aged in 15% French new oak.

It received Community average ratings average of 4.0/5 stars.

Producer Notes - “The 2021 vintage was one of the longest ripening seasons for the past two decades. Grape seasons are starting earlier due to lack of water in the soil and the early warm spring temperatures, but this evens out with the cooling trend that comes on in veraison on August. However, there was the head spike over Mother’s Day weekend which restricted the berry expansion. Yields were lighter, with small berries and small clusters.”

Producer/Winemaker Tasting Note: “This wine has a deep purple hue with a red middle and evidences aromas of dark cherry and blueberry. There is a concentration of blackberries, and bittersweet chocolate. It finishes both luxiouriously and velvety”.

Dark blackish garnet purple colored, medium full bodied, full round black berry and hints of blueberry fruits with notes of smoke, clove spice and bittersweet mocha chocolate with a pleasant mild polished finish. 

RM 90 points. 

Available locally in Destin, FL via Wine World - Destin, or online through vendors like BuyWinesOnline.com and Wine on Sale).

For the dessert course we served chocolate tuxedo cake and a pumpkin spice cake. For pairing with the cakes we opened this classic Sauterne Bordeaux dessert wine. 

Château Misselle Sauterne 2022  

This is a classic Sauterne dessert wine with sweet thick unctuous apricot and peach fruits. It is not a bona-fide Ice Wine per se. This prompted a discussion about Dessert Wine vs Ice Wine and I talked about what I wrote about, Ice Wines, in a recent blogpost from our Pour Boys wine group dinner last week - Pour Boys Wine Dinner features magnificent wines. 

This is from the Sauterne appellation in the southern Bordeaux region, outside the town of Bordeaux. As is customary for Sauterne dessert wines, this is a blend of Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle grape varietals. 

This was golden-yellow colored, full bodied, thick unctuous sweet nectar of apricots and quinces with notes of honey, peach and hints of citrus and spice.

RM 91 points. 

It is suggested serving well-chilled after dinner on its own or paired with blue cheese, fruit tarts, or light pastries rather than a main meal, which is exactly how we enjoyed this wine.  

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