Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Happy Birthday to me!

When I tasted the 2013 & 2014 vintages upon release, I said I wouldn’t open one for 10 years. True my word. Beautiful Napa Cabernet made by Thomas Rivers Brown. Just now starting its good drinking window with another 15 years ahead and perhaps some change years beyond. — 4 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Napa Pioneer Tasting! #respect
Happy Birthday to me.
All of these wines still improved with some air. — 4 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Napa Pioneer Tasting. #respect
Happy Birthday to me. — 4 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Ridge Zinfandel blends always age well. This was no different. Tasted this blind and no one called Zinfandel. That’s how different they become with this kind of age. That Zinfandel jamminess fades and complexity rises.

Recent pick up at K&L $46.

Happy Birthday to me! — 4 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Their 96 out of Magnum in 2015 at the property is still my favorite Chardonnay.

This is not as good yet, but delicious and a show stopper.

Happy Birthday to me! — 4 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Notes on a half-hour decant. $59.99 at Costco; which shows again there is a wine glut out there in the marketplace. All the Napa wineries have stepped up their frequency of emails, added texts and backed up w/ personal calls. They have all raised their pricing over the years and now an abundance of fruit being sold for less, but less buyers these days due to a troubled economy & new generation(s) not buying wine like previous ones. They might have to rely on very good AI to figure out those issues.

The nose is; dark, lush, ruby; dark currants, blackberries, elderberries, black plum, boysenberries, some blueberries, dark cherries, plum & raspberries. The core is black currants, sweet tarriness with anise that runs into black licorice. Dark chocolate, dark cocoa, soft baking spices; vanillin, cinnamon, nutmeg & clove, cedar with shaved oak, shaved coconut notes, fresh tobacco, new leather, dark, sweet, turned earth w/ dry leaves & twigs, under toned dark spices, dash of fresh & dry herbs, dry stone, crushed limestone, liquid, ruby, candied, dark fresh & withering flowers framed in lavender & violets.

The M+ tannins are big, bold, round & coated with dust. Bigger & bolder than most other 21’s I’ve had. It is still beastly and definitely needs another 5+ years in bottle before opening and will last two decades w/ change. The sense of the 14.9% palate ABV seems more 15.7 at this point, but believe it will tame with more bottle age. Lush, ruby, dark currants, blackberries, elderberries, black plum, boysenberries, some blueberries, dark cherries, plum, raspberries w/ strawberries notes. The core is also black currants, sweet, deep tarriness with anise that runs into black licorice. Dark chocolate, dark cocoa powder, a little more pronounced baking spices; vanillin, cinnamon, nutmeg & clove, big, dry cedar with shaved oak, shaved coconut notes, dry tobacco, new leather, dark, sweet, turned earth w/ dry leaves & twig, grey volcanic ash & clay, charcoal w/ ash, bolder, dark spices; which penetrate the tongue with heat, a dash of fresh & dry herbs, dry river stone, crushed limestone with volcanic rock, liquid, ruby, candied, dark fresh & withering flowers, red roses, framed in lavender & violets. Good, round acidity with a huge finish that shows big structure & tension, not quite in balance yet as it needs to resolve further, the promise of more elegance and a lasting long finish landing squarely on earth & spices.

This shows all the elements that promise another two, maybe three points with better aging.

86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot & 3% Malbec. Aged 20 months is 80% New French Oak Barrels.

Photos of; their estate vines, tasting room & patio, swing on the small lake that sits on/near the estate. . — 7 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Latour is definitely one of my top three Bordeaux’s.

Even their 3rd wine is special. First 2010 from the vintage I’ve opened. It didn’t disappoint. Just coming around to nice drinking and has another 10-15 years ahead. 3 hour decant.

Ribeye wine. Happy cow from Los Gatos Meats.

Happy Birthday to me! — 4 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

I didn’t decant this and the opening night glass still showed it had legs.

Birth year wine.

When we can back to it at the end of the night, it had added weight and complexity. Definitely a heady wine & a special experience.

Happy Birthday to me! — 4 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Napa Pioneer Tasting! #respect
Happy Birthday to me.
All of these wines still improved with some air. — 4 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

What were you doing in 1970? It’s what I always think of when I have a very elderly wine. It also is the question I ask friends I share older wine.

Some 1970 highlights. The number one song was Simon & Garfunkel’s, “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” The President of the United States was Richard M Nixon and one of the kindest friends I have known was born. Last but not least, the Napa Valley was just beginning to rise. Louis Martini was one of those pioneers!

This bottle has survived & flourished over those 55 years and is a fine piece of history.

Many would say this is past its prime and they wouldn’t necessarily be wrong. But I am one who appreciates wine on its still solid downslope. While on its decent, this bottling still shows nice fruit, complexity and elegance that just can’t be mistaken for good young wine w/ a long decant.

The nose shows a fig & date quality. Older, brambly; blackberries, black raspberry reduction, sweet & sour cherries, that slide into liquor, baked rhubarb, slightly overripe strawberries. Soft sandalwood w/ dry cedar tones, undertones of rusted metal, dry soil & crushed limestone, vanillin, very dry twig, old, slightly used tobacco, reminisce of dark spices, tomato leaf, sun tea, dry & withering dark & red flowers, understated violets w/ a sprinkle of potpourri.

The palate is still fresh & ripe; older, brambly, blackberries, black raspberry reduction, sweet & sour cherries that slide into liquor, baked rhubarb, slightly overripe strawberries, figs & dates. Soft sandalwood w/ dry cedar tones, undertones of rusted metal, dusty top soil & limestone gravel, dry river stone, crumbled, grey volcanics, cherry cola, vanillin, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, clove, very dry twig, old, slightly used tobacco, dark spices still w/ soft but impactful palate backbone, tomato leaf, sweetened sun tea w/ a spritz of lemon, dry & withering dark & red flowers, understated violets w/ a sprinkle of potpourri, excellent rainfall acidity with an elegant, round, balanced, well knitted, still tensioned, polished finish that falls on sandalwood, earth and spice that lasts 90 seconds.

12% ABV which I have said many times is my strong preference like w/ all amazing Clarets. I wish it had never changed. 92 on the wine, but a perfect 10 on the history scale. — 13 days ago