The best kinds of cheap wines are the kinds that have a rich story behind them. Well, The Tillerman White wine brought to you by the Hook & Ladder Winery certainly fits the bill. At first glance this wine label made no sense to me… Hook & Ladder? The Tillerman? ...

90 points Parker: "The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits a dense ruby/purple color in addition to copious quantities of herbaceous-tinged cassis fruit, full body, ripe tannin, and a soft, plump personality. It will be accessible young, yet age for 10-15 years...

Steve, IMO, the wine was closed up. The only concern would be if you didn't have another '01 Montelena to open in about 10-15 years from now! The better, structured wines can enter the 'dumb phase' at varying times (even within a producer...

90-92 points Parker: "The 2003 Carruades de Lafite, an outstanding second wine, is one of the few 2003s in which I detected roasted characteristics in the bouquet. This fat, broad, fleshy, succulent effort should drink well for 10-15 years...

90-92 points Parker: "The 2003 Carruades de Lafite, an outstanding second wine, is one of the few 2003s in which I detected roasted characteristics in the bouquet. This fat, broad, fleshy, succulent effort should drink well for 10-15 years...

Microwaving for 10-15 sec won't result in any perceptible palate changes except for the temperature of the liquid (but don't use lead crystal). Freezing though could result in the irreversible precipitation of tartaric acid and alter the perceived acidity...

93-95 points Parker: "There are only 3,000 bottles of this 100% Merlot cuvee, making it a quintessential poster boy for garage wines. Deep purple-colored with terrific texture, opulence, and voluptuousness, it is an exotic, sexy St.-Emilion to consume during its first 10-15 years of life...

93-95 points Parker: "There are only 3,000 bottles of this 100% Merlot cuvee, making it a quintessential poster boy for garage wines. Deep purple-colored with terrific texture, opulence, and voluptuousness, it is an exotic, sexy St.-Emilion to consume during its first 10-15 years of life...

Posted by TomHill: Bob Finnegan used to write Walnuts&Wines, a wine & restayrant review out of SanFrancisco, in the '70's. Then he moved back to the EastCoast (CN??) and I haven't heard much of him since. Ran into him once at a SFW&CFiesta event 10-15 yrs ago. Anybody ha...

Posted by Marshall Manning: Allowed, but the cost is up to the restaurant. It runs anywhere from nothing (if you share a good wine with the chef) to $20-25 at a few really expensive places. Most places are $10-15...