On March 6, 2026 my father was laid to rest in Edina, MN. With family in town we celebrated his life with friends as well. Some really good wines in his honor.
CellarTracker! Celebration of Life for my Dad
Jenson’s Steakhouse with Family March 6
A really nice dinner at Jenson’s. Food is always good and service excellent. Reasonable corkage at $20.00.
- 2019 Abbott Claim Chardonnay Eola – Amity Hills – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola – Amity Hills (3/5/2026)
Day 1: Glasvin universal. Amazing wine. Matchstick, lemon, spice, white flowers, lime and wood. Medium plus finish. Top 3 Chardonnay producers in Oregon. 94 points
Day 2: Well one of the better producers of Chardonnay on the West Coast. Matchstick, lemon, spices, wood, white flowers, lime, dust and shells. This is an off the charts offering. 95 points
Recommendation: One of the better producers of Chardonnay in America. (95 pts.)
- 2016 Fisher Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Coach Insignia – USA, California, Napa Valley (3/5/2026)
Glasvin Universal Stem. Another stellar showing on this wine. Beautiful fruit with blueberries, cherry, and plum. Spices, floral, earth and wood. Balanced and wonderful wine in my collection. Still have 4 left. (94 pts.)
- 2009 Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve – USA, California, Napa Valley (3/5/2026)
Day 1: Glasvin Universal Stem. Pouring this at a dinner tonight so no day 2 available. The one thing about aged Conn Valley’s is they taste like a great Left Bank Bordeaux. Menthol, cigar, earth, blue currants, dried flowers, minerals and wood. Super complex offering and medium plus finish. Is there many better values in Napa? 94 points (94 pts.)
Blind Tasting at Tom & Bruna’s March 6
Well Achaval-Ferrer Quimera wins another blind tasting and this time against two more expensive offerings which were the Mark Ryan Dead Horse and 2020 Leoville Barton which I found really disappointing.
- 2020 Achával-Ferrer Quimera – Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo (3/5/2026)
Day 1: Glasvin Universal. Some user giving this 72 points. Is this a joke? Anyway this is one of the best wines under $30 and the reason I have bought 3 cases and will buy 3 more cases. Cherry, blueberries, coffee beans, dried flowers, minerals and spice. These always improve with some air. 93 points
Day 2: So served this blind tonight and beat out 2020 Leoville Barton and 2019 Mark Ryan Dead Horse. This is for sure one of the best wines under $30. 94 points
Recommendation: Great and buy! (94 pts.)
- 2019 Mark Ryan Cabernet Sauvignon Dead Horse – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain (3/4/2026)
Day 1: Glasvin Universal Stem. Durand opener. Great wine on the pop and pour. Balanced with cherry, plum, spices, coffee beans, wood, minerals, blueberries and menthol. Loving this wine. Serving it blind on day 3 against a few others. 94 points
Day 2: I find these way better than the overprice Quilceda Creek wines. Try one blind next time against Quilceda. Earth, coffee beans, wood, spices, blueberries, chocolate, smoke, leather and menthol. Super concentrated and long finish. Outstanding quality. 94.5 points
Day 3: This finished 2nd in a blind tasting vs. 2020 Chateau Leoville Barton and 2020 Achával-Ferrer Quimera. This is drinking really well with blueberries, cherry, smoke, leather, menthol and wood. As one taster said young and I agree and a little heat on day 3. 94 points
Recommendation: For sure Dead Horse is a really solid offering. (94 pts.)
- 2020 Château Léoville Barton – France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (3/4/2026)
Day 1: Glasvin Universal Stem. Natural cork. Well there is a lot going on and for sure will need the full 3 day treatment. Tight with wood, cherry, earth, cigar, mint, gravel and pencil lead. Medium plus finish. Rating withheld at the moment but around 90 points
Day 2: Still can’t really give this a score. I have tasted many vintages and really not digging this right now. How anyone can give this much more than 92 is beyond me. Don’t rate potential rate what it currently is. Cigar, earth, plastic taste, gravel, pencil lead and blue currants. This has not come together and maybe less enjoyable then day 1. I would return this at a restaurant. NR
Day 3: On day 3 served this blind and it finished last against 2020 Achával-Ferrer Quimera and 2019 Mark Ryan Cabernet Sauvignon Dead Horse. This is just not doing it for me and regret buying 2 more bottles. Boring wine with wood, cherry, earth, floral and spice. Lacks the character of other vintages of Leoville Barton.. 90 points
Recommendation: Pass on this vintage. The fact no improvement over 3 days is concerning and I have had a number of 2020s that are amazing as from that vintage they should be. (90 pts.)
Other wines at Tom and Bruna’s
Well Tom and Bruna are the most generous people I know. We were going to host at a local restaurant but they were super expensive on the food minimum. They live two blocks from the funeral home and offered to host. Everyone had a great time and these were the extra wines sampled.
- 2025 Morét-Brealynn Rosé of Pinot Noir – USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands (3/6/2026)
Glasvin Universal. Tasted at a celebration of life for my father hosted by my friends Tom and Bruna. This is one of the best Rose wines on the West Coast for the money. Under $30 and featuring dust, smoke, raspberries, strawberries, floral, minerals and spices. Medium finish and nice acidity. Going to be getting a six pack for summer. (93 pts.)
- 2004 Shirvington Shiraz – Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (3/6/2026)
Black pepper, sour cherry, blackberries, polished rocks, aged oak, dried flowers, wet moss and earth. Medium finish. Been digging these aged Aussie wines as they shed the over the top fruit and heat. Highly recommend. (94 pts.) - 2020 Vinicola Guaspari Vista da Mata – Brazil, São Paulo (3/6/2026)
Excellent and no one blind had any idea where it was from. Cherry, rose petals, blue currants, spices, wood and chocolate. Medium plus finish. (92 pts.) - 2021 Alfred Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese – Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (3/6/2026)
Universal Glasvin stem. Natural cork. Great wine with apricot, peaches, flowers, lime, stone and a touch of spice. Medium finish and very satisfying. (93 pts.)
