Somm David T 
Giacomo Conterno
Vigna Arione Nebbiolo d'Alba 2022
While this is made in a more modern style this needs 7-10 to show its better self. Shows taunt fine grain, dry tannins. Dark tart cherries, juicy strawberries, touch of raspberries, plum, dry tobacco, soft new leather, dry herbs, dark spice, some white pepper, limestone, dry crushed rock powder w/ some grain, mid berry cola, tea, red/pink roses, nice acidity, well; knitted, balanced, structured, mid tone, good length and nicely polished finish that lasts 90 seconds and lands on dry earth & tobacco. 92-94. — 12 days ago
Ruinart
Dom Ruinart Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Happy 4th of July Weekend 250. 🧨 🎇 🇺🇸
Lemon met by equal intensity of green apple, lime w/ zest, pineapple fresh, some mango, tropical melons, white stone fruits, light caramel, lemon chiffon pie w/ graham cracker crust, whipped cream, dry chalk/limestone powder, volcanics, light white spice, sea spray to fossils, some yeasty bread dough, yellow lilies wrapped in white spring flowers, cool stream acidity, balanced, mid toned/structure with a nicely polished elegant finish that lasts just over a minute and long sets on sea bed and soft white spice.
91-92. — 6 days ago
Domaine de L'Arlot
Clos de l'Arlot Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2015
Starting to settle in nicely.
Nose shows beautiful; blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries & near candied plums. Tree bark/sap, steamed rhubarb, sun tea w/ fruit, dark rich earth w/ leaves, cinnamon, nutmeg & clove, vanillin, Provenance herbs, red roses/flowers, violets and just a whiff of lavender.
It glides over the palate. Ripe/rich; blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries & near candied plums. Tree bark/sap, steamed rhubarb, sun tea w/ fruit, dark rich earth w/ leaves, cinnamon, nutmeg & clove, vanillin, Provenance herbs, tobacco, grilled meats, dry oak barrel, dry top soil, limestone grain, red cola, touch of orange peel, red roses/flowers, violets and just a whiff of lavender, wonderful acidity, balance and elegant finish that lasts two-minutes and long sets on earth. — 12 days ago
Gaja
Costa Russi Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2021
This is not ready but showing well for only being open an hour and not decanted. It is a wine that really should not be opened until it has had 8-10 yrs plus in the cellar. Not as tight as I imagined but tight.
While it has firm, fine grain tannins. It also shows beautiful & elegance. This is aged in small barriques for 12 months and then another 12 months in large Slavonian casks.
Lightly tart & sour cherries, strawberries, plum, raspberries, dry cigar box, sun to fruit teas, soft old leather, limestone, dry crushed rocks, dry to moist herbs, some white & black pepper, grilled meats, barrel shavings, very light baking spices-clove, nutmeg, vanillin, beautiful Asian spices, some dark, dry soil, pink & red roses for days, beautiful acidity, excellent balance, mid structured-toned, great finesse, elegant finish that sneaks it way to a long even finish that sets on earth & barrel powder.
94-95. Really good but hard to justify at $750. — 12 days ago
Braida
Limonte Grignolino d'Asti 2023
Definitely a summer afternoon wine with a Margherita pizza. Light sour cherries, strawberries, some white pepper, fine grain tannin profile, saline, dry top soil, rose petals, big acidity and a pleasant finish but a bit uneventful. — 12 days ago
Freemark Abbey
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1994
Oh…the fruit is still solid with dry herbs. 94 a special Napa vintage. 13.4% ABV, miss it. This is when FA was still rocking it.
This gets better & better with each sip. The fruit still ripe, ruby and glorious. When Napa didn’t pick overly ripe fruit. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, purple fruit blend, dark cherries, strawberries, blueberries & raspberries. Sage, black earth, dry twig, red & dark berry cola, softly layered baking spices-clove, cinnamon & vanillin, caramel, mocha powder, chocolate pudding, anise to lighter tarriness, some graphite, soft charcoal, volcanic ash, understated; oak, leather, tobacco, fine grain still somewhat grippy tannins, touch olive tapenade, fresh florals that are; dark, red, blue with liquid violets, balance, length, mid structure & tension with polished elegance for days.
Recent retail purchase. Large library allocation they bought winery direct.
This well stored has another 4-7 yrs left.
What is a good 1994 memory? A question I ask friends when I enjoy an older wine with them. — 11 days ago
Château Cheval Blanc
St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2018
This is far too young but when I have a chance to look in on Cheval Blanc I do.
Nose shows; ripe blackberries, strawberries, dark cherries, plum, moist clays, coffee, moist herbs, roasted chestnuts, amazing florals that are red flowers, red roses, lilacs & violets.
The palate shows some nice evolution but still too young to drink. Ripe and slightly candied; blackberries, strawberries, dark cherries, raspberries & plum. Moist clays, coffee, moist herbs, roasted chestnuts, espresso, mid berry cola, caramel, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, crazy, round, bold spice, moist tobacco, used leather, graphite, dark, rich earth, dry stone, limestone, soft oak powder notes, amazing florals that are red flowers, red roses, lilacs & violets, round, rainfall acidity, balance, mid structure/tension, grand length and a two-minute long polished finish.
94-97 — 12 days ago
Gianfranco Bovio
Firagnetti Langhe Nebbiolo 2023
Pleasant drinker w/ some energy for under $30. Tart to slightly sour cherries, strawberries, plum, La Morra clay & limestone, red/pink roses, touch of dry herbs, fine grain tannins, more modern in style, chestnuts, dry twigs, rainfall acidity, nice wire to wire consistent experience. — 12 days ago
Plozza
Rosso di Valtellina Nebbiolo 2019
Another light red sipper. Tart cherries, strawberries, touch of raspberry, dry clay/soil, red/pink rose petals, fine grain, very dry tannins, big acidity and another ok finish that is not all that interesting. At least, to me. — 12 days ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
There are a number of things I can say about Leoville Barton. For me, it is a storied property and experience.
To this point, I have had quite a few 2000 Bordeaux’s, none of them ready as this one. Given what I know about Anthony & his legacy, most of his good vintages were made for your children. So, color me surprised.
While this 2000 is drinking well, it is far from its precipice. There is another 20 yrs plus of road here.
Sofia and I have had the pleasure of dining at the same table with Anthony Barton and his wife in the early teens of 2000. He was a salt of the earth gentleman. His wife, lovely. At dinner that night, he told us a story I will not forget. A story prompted by a question from my wife. He and his wife drove from France to Switzerland. They were stopped at the border and asked to get out of the car as they had a case of wine with them. At that time and maybe still now, you can’t take wine over the border into Switzerland. The border guard called the powers to be and recanted the story of them trying to bring wine into Switzerland. He told them their name. The person on the other end of the phone said, who? They said, Anthony Barton. The reply, was let him through. That’s respect!!!
His daughter Lilian has taken the helm. She is also salt of the earth and a great Bordeaux Ambassador. May Anthony RIP.
This 2000 is classic Bordeaux in every way.
The nose shows steeped & candied fruits that are; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, black cherries, purple & blue fruit hues (classic Barton). Graphite, dry tobacco, dry leather, dry limestone bits, dark Asian spices, dry herbs, dry river stone, dark, rich, forest floor, anise to black licorice, mid colas, fresh, candied to withering florals that are; dark, red, blue and violets.
The palate shows, M+ rounded, fine grain tannins. The nose mirrors the palate in many ways. Steeped, candied, ripe, juicy fruits that are; brambly blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, black cherries, raspberries, purple & blue fruit hues. Leoville Barton shows purple & blue fruits more than most other left bank producers. Graphite, dry tobacco, cedar, dry leather, dry limestone bits, dry top soils, saline, caramel, mocha powder, German chocolate cake, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, dark Asian spices w/ some heat, dry herbs, touch of black pepper, grilled meats, dry river stone, dark, rich, forest floor, anise to black licorice, black tarriness, mid colas, fresh, candied to withering florals that are; dark, red, blue and framed in liquid violets, acidity is grand, well balanced/structured, highly toned, elegant & smartly polished finish that lasts minutes and settles on earth & dark spice.
Decanted 90 minutes and enjoyed over nearly three hours.
Appreciated the 12.5% ABV. Many would say that is not possible in the modern wine era. Anthony says otherwise w/ his 2000.
95-96. — 5 days ago