David T 
Regusci
Estate Bottled Stags Leap District Merlot 2010
If you are going to drink Napa Valley 100% Merlot, you can’t go wrong drinking one crafted by Charles Hendricks.
The nose shines brightly of, dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, poached/baked - strawberries & cherries, hints of blueberries, dark chocolate, limestone/clay minerals, dry crushed rocks, steeped black tea, touch mint, mocha, soft; cinnamon, clove & vanilla, understated, sweet tarriness, dark spice, used expresso grounds, whiff of black pepper, rich, black earthiness, light alcohol vapors, malt in malt balls with ruby, to candied, dark, red, blue and dominate purple florals that are fresh to withering and slightly candied.
The wine is somewhere around its peak with another 5-8 years of solid drinking ahead. Palate is; ripe, juicy, lush and full bodied. Fruits are; dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, baked, juicy black plum w/ skin, strawberries & cherries, much more blueberry than the nose, hovering raspberries around the rest of the more dominant fruits, dark chocolate, limestone/clay minerals, dry crushed rocks, steeped black tea, touch mint, light sage, mocha powder, soft; cinnamon, clove & vanilla, understated, sweet tarriness, dark spice bring heat to the mid tongue, used expresso grounds, hint of black pepper, rich, black earthiness, malt in malt balls with ruby, to candied, dark, red, blue and dominate purple florals framed in violets & lavender that are fresh to withering and slightly candied. The acidity is bright & fresh and holds the slightly elevated alcohol level. The long finish is; ripe, juicy, elegant, good balance of fruit & earth that falls into heated dark spices that linger minutes.
Photos of, the Regusci winery & Estate vines,
Tasting bar, pay by honor fruit & vegetable cart just outside their Estate (they were farmers long before they made wine) and the view of the Napa Valley floor viewed from their tasting terrace. — 17 days ago
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
Fay Apologue Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
What a nose! From the straight pour into the decanter to later in the glass; ripe, slightly stewed/baked; mulberries, boysenberries, black plum, blackberries, blackberries raspberries, blueberries, dark cherries, incense, ambers, wood char, leather, saddle-wood, black turned earth, slightly, moist clay, dry top soil, beautiful, soft, smooth, dark spice, fresh tobacco with a little ash, dry stones, some licorice & dark berry cola, steeped fruit teas, a little Provence herbs, vanillin, understated; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg framed in fresh & withering; dark, blue, some red & purple flowers with interlaced violets.
The palate has excellent delineation. It’s seamless wire to wire. The body is rich, thick, lush & full. The tannins are round & nicely softened but, still have chewy, tarry, tannins. It’s a good look in on the 2009 but, will still ascend for another 7-8 years before peaking, hold a few years and start its slow decent over the next 8-10 years. Properly stored of course! The structure & tension still need to soften but, the length & balance have found their groove. Ripe, slightly stewed/baked, beautifully floral and a touch candied; mulberries, boysenberries, black plum, blackberries, blackberries raspberries, blueberries, dark cherries, haunting raspberries with strawberries pulling up the rear. Incense, ambers, wood char, dark expresso used grounds, sweet tarriness, leather, saddle-wood, black turned earth, slightly, moist clay, dry top soil, beautiful, soft, smooth, more pronounced dark spice than the nose with good, mid intensity palate heat, black pepper, shades of potpourri, fresh tobacco with a little ash, dry stones, some licorice & dark berry cola, steeped fruit teas, a little Provence herbs, mocha powder, vanillin, understated; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg framed in fresh & withering; dark, blue, some red & purple flowers with interlaced violets. The acidity is round & phat and holds the slightly elevated alcohol in check. The long finish is, rich, ripe, lush, smartly polished, well knitted balance of fruit & earth, sliding into dusty, yet velvety tannins with dark spice on the long set.
Photos of; Stag’s Leap Winery’s tasting room & Estate vines, Lake Fay and inside tasting bar/room. — 18 days ago
Bollinger
Special Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend
Something to pair with cupcakes from the Buttery Bakery...Carrot Cake, Rum Custard with Coconut, Red Velvet and Dark Chocolate.
Everything the Buttery makes is near perfect.
Excellent finish to a great evening! Thanks James & Christina for hosting.
Photos of; the House of Bollinger, caves with library bottles we’d all like to get our hands on, one of their barrel coppers and Grand Cru vineyard. — 11 days ago
Felton Road
Block 2 Central Otago Chardonnay 2015
Did the Creator touch this land and turn this bottling into wine?
Gods country & Jesus wine.
Perfect mouthfeel & purity, gorgeous, delicate, soft citrus, round, waxy, honeysuckle, amazing, perfect, beautiful chalkiness, elegant, grey minerality, some of the best acidity & incredible balance in a wine I’ve had. The finish is in the theatre of, “Forget About It.” WOTN.
Very Burgundian and better than many I’ve enjoyed for less💰.
Photos of, the harvest time view of the valley floor from the property, open top fermenting Pinot Noir grapes, my property walk & talking w/owner Nigel Greening (amazing time with an amazing person/producer and outside concrete ranks...it’s an even warm to cool growing season that translates into a long fruit hang-time, amazing fruit & acidity.
@DawnE Perfect — 11 days ago
Baron-Fuenté
Grande Réserve Brut Champagne Blend
Pretty sure I haven’t had a better bottle of Champange at $24.99 and even some higher.
The nose reveals; bruised green apple & Bosc pear, lemon meringue, overripe & slightly sour pineapple, lime zest, nougat, vanillin, soft honeycomb, oysters, sea spray, baguette crust, grey volcanic, pleasant chalkiness, whiffs of herbaceousiness, spring flowers, mixed greens and yellow lilies.
The entry is clean, fresh, rich and lively. Bruised green apple & Bosc pear, lemon meringue, golden apple, overripe & slightly sour pineapple, lime zest, nougat, vanillin, caramel, soft honeycomb, sea fossils & spray, baguette crust, nice white spice with some palate heat, grey volcanic, pleasant chalkiness, whiffs of herbaceousiness, spring flowers, mixed greens and yellow lilies. Crisp lively acidity. The finish is refreshingly delicious, well balanced, good, seamless, delineation, nice polish and persists with spice for several minutes on the long set.
Photos of; The House of Baron Fuentes, grapes at harvest, Proprietor Eric De Brisis and one of their Grand Cru vineyards. — 17 days ago
Marqués de Murrieta
Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2005
Very similar to the La Rioja Alta but, more fruit forward.
Excellent follow up to the 04 with our Tri-tip.
Photos of; my visit, their tasting room & lounge, Bodega Marquises, De Murrieta and their view from the Bodega terrace. — 11 days ago
La Rioja Alta
Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 2004
Wow! Velvet, dark currants, mocha, caramel, dark chocolate, saddle-wood, underbrush, gravel, stones & elegance that only happens with this much time forward. Round acidity and beautiful balance and finish.
Stupidly good with our Tri-tip!!!
Photos of; my visits to Bodega La Rioja, their well backlit tasting bar, outside patio and large oak barrels that were assembled inside the Bodega more than 100 years ago...they’re that big and have required many repairs over the years. — 11 days ago
Heitz Cellar
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
When in doubt, a sure bet is a well aged, good vintage Heitz. @Eric Shanks
I intended to grab an 06 but, mistakenly grabbed an 07. I’ve not had one of my 06’s yet...next weekend.
The one thing I do every time I open one of my ten year or older Heitz Napa Cabernet’s is smile & think, this was sub $35 at Costco. It’s the wine feeling/definition of stealing candy from babies.
The nose is beautiful harmony of fruit, earth and florals. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, dark spices with violets palate heat, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay, understated herbs & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, some sage & bay leaf, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is splendid. The long, ripe, ruby, lush, elegant, well crafted balance of fruit & earth is delicious and persists endlessly with a dark spice on the long set.
The body is; delightful, ripe, rich, lush & full. The structure, tension, length and balance are woven in a perfect tapestry. This 07 has another 10-15 years easily. The tannins are rounded, smooth but, still have a dark, chewy, tarriness with baby teeth. The beauty of the vintage is on full display. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark & milk chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied ; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is perfect. The finish is; rich, ripe, ruby, candied, well balanced fruit & earth, elegant and long sets into velvety, round tannins and mid dark spices.
Photos of; the winery, tasting patio, old basket press and wide shot of the winery & Estate vines. — 17 days ago
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
Four day weekend. Gotta get it off to a good start. Been awhile since we had our 375ml of Ruinart.
The nose shows, ripe, slightly candied; black cherries, strawberries, kirsch cherries, rich, summertime watermelon, touch of orange citrus family blend, pomegranate juice, hints of fruit roll up & haunting apricots. Sea fossils & spray, a little bread dough, grey volcanics, chalky powder, orange, spring flowers with fresh & withering, red & pink rose pedals.
The palate is full & touch gummy/candied. Fruits are well extracted, deep, ruby; black cherries, blackberries, strawberries, kirsch cherries, rich, summertime watermelon, touch of orange citrus family blend, pomegranate juice, hints of fruit roll up & haunting apricots. Ghostly, not quite fruit brandy or fruit liqueur character, sea fossils & spray, a little bread dough, not quite medium, white spice with hints of palate heat, grainy, grey volcanics, chalky powder, orange, spring flowers with fresh & withering, red & pink rose pedals. The acidity lively and crisp. The round, well balanced & polish finish is always consistently satisfying and lingers for minutes.
Photos of; the House of Ruinart, Dom Thierry Ruinart, nicely light caves and rolling, hillside, Grand Cru Vineyard.
Not quite sure where “D” gets $83 when you can buy this all day at just under $65. — 5 days ago