Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I have never been disappointed by this producer, either in their proprietary Cabernet or their other wine this “The Sisters.” — 2 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This is classic JP Quarter Moon.

The 18 has nice evolution while holding its vineyard characters. It shows medium dark fruits; black cherries, blackberries, strawberries, nicely layered spice & baking spices, mid red flowers, excellent acidity and a finish that is elegant, well balanced-knitted and lasts 90 seconds.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! — 5 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I have posted on a number of occasions that Charles Hendricks is the most underrated Napa Winemaker. It happens in every world region. He made Regusci’s wines through 2013. The relationship ended midway through the 2014 vintage. Patriarch & Angelo’s are their best cuvées when he made them. 2013 an amazing vintage.

I scour the secondary markets for his James Cole and Regusci vintages. Recently, there were many and I bought them all. They are harder and harder to find. Becoming very rare.

This 2013 in fine shape. The cork perfect as is the state of the wine.

Charles’s magic is he makes wines that are elegant young and will age effortlessly & get better.

This 2013 is still in its ascending phrase and will drink well for another 5-10 yrs.

The entry is lush-juicy-ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum skin, plum, poached-baked strawberries w/ hues of raspberries-blueberries-pomegranate. Dark chocolate to cake, mocha powder, caramel, mid berry cola, softly layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg-cinnamon-vanillin, dark, mid tensioned spices, dry twig, limestone powder, dry stone, grilled meats, moist volcanic clays, mostly sandalwood to soft cedar notes, dry tobacco, old leather, hues of graphite, dark rich earth topped with dry earth & leaves, notes of mint-eucalyptus, dry to withering dark, red, blue flowers framed in fading red roses, excellent acidity with a finish that shows firmness, balance, beautiful structure-tension with elegance, lasts minutes and falls on spice & earthiness on the long set.

This will work its way towards 96-97 in the next few yrs. — 14 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Might be Bourgogne but it is from a very excellent vintage. That’s when you buy them.

The entry is a bit waxy, warm & inviting. Meyer lemons with a slight sour tone, tart green apples, lime with zest, soft, round, tropicals, dry, grainy limestone & chalk, white spice with some heat, hues of caramel, honeysuckle notes, mid saline, powered sea fossils, some wood here, yellow & spring flowers with greens, round, pleasant acidity, good balance-tension-structure and nicely polished & elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds & lands firmly on volcanics & spice. — 3 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Beautiful, round & waxy.

Somewhat sour Meyer lemons w/ a slightly syrupy quality, green apple, honeycomb, citrus blend framed in lime pulp & zest, slightly dry stone fruits w/ apricots in the lead, marmalade bits, tropical melons, pineapple lightly baked in brown sugar, caramel, white spice, notes of dry herbs, dry limestone powder w/ bits, mixed in volcanic minerals, saline, sea fossils, dry stone, hints of flint, yellow lilies & flowers, beautiful, round acidity, well crafted-balanced-tensioned, layered elegant finish that lasts minutes landing on spice w/ a little heat on its long set. — 7 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Gimonnet is one of the true quality producers in Champagne with good QPR. You could make a case for rounding up here to 92 but I don’t think it is quite there, yet.

100% Chardonnay. 100% Cuis 1er Cru in the Côte des Blancs. The vintage blending:

6 vintages.
70% 2021.
30% 2014-2020.
Disgorgement 1/25
Dosage 6g

The palate shows nice mousse. Red & golden apple, pear, white peach, lemon but more lime pulp w/ some zest, pineapple hues, bread dough, ginger-ale, gentle white spice, melted caramel, slivered almond, graham crackers, cream, vanillin notes, crumbled limestone bits, grey volcanic minerals, saline, oyster shells, white spring flowers set in greens, gentle but lively acidity, well crafted-balanced, nicely toned with an elegant, smartly polished finish that lasts nearly two-minutes and lands on somewhat punchy minerals.

Excellent finishing up the other 1/2 wheel of the Jasper Hills Limited Edition Champagne Washed Harbison creamy, white cheese. — 7 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The 2012 J. Lassalle Special Club is made from 60% Pinot Noir & 40% Chardonnay. The vines average 50 yrs old. Hails from Chigny-Les-Roses. Winemakers Chantal Decelle-Lassalle and Angéline Templier farm using the practice of Lutte Raisonnée, which means they fall just short of organic. Sustainable but use minimal chemicals. Rain during and at the end of the season when Mother Nature doesn’t dry the grape clusters, chemicals are often necessary to prevent mold. This isn’t Sauternes!

Texturally, it is quite nice. Beautiful fine mousse and micro oxygenation. Lively but not aggressive acidity.

Green & golden apples, pear, pineapple, lime/lemon with zest, orange citrus blend, green melon & kiwi. White spice, bread dough, nougat, limestone bits, thick chalky powder, graham cracker crust, melted caramel, vanillin, saline, sea fossils, understated herbaceous notes, fruit blossoms, spring flowers with an elegant, smartly polished, well balanced, nicely structured-crafted finish that lasts 90 seconds & lands on volcanics & spice on the long set.

You could make case for 94 here. Perhaps fully with a few more yrs of bottle age.

Pairs well with the Jasper Hill Farms Limited Edition of their Champagne washed Harbison soft white. — 14 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

This is the recent completion of the vertical, 13, 14 & 15. The 14 is my winner at this life stage.

Shows nice fruits , soft spice, very floral, well balanced and elegantly round with near perfect acidity. The 14 just offered more complexity & stuffing.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! — 5 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

There is an origins story for me w/ this producer. You can read about it by clicking my post from 55 weeks ago.

This bottle fazed between 92-94 while enjoying. I opened it and let it breathe in bottle for 45 minutes and then decanted it in stages…a 1/3, 1/3 & 1/3. I believe that was the right decision.

This 97 still has not ridden off into the sunset, it is just the other side of its peak. 28 yrs from creation & 26 yrs in bottle. I look at a Cabernet/reds from when it went into bottle vs its birth yr. All my opening decisions are made from that point. Humans don’t count their time in womb, I see wine similarly.

The fruits are still beautiful & its evolution is amazing. There is a core of dark currants surrounded by cassis. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with heavy skin, black cherries, secondary; raspberries, dark cherries & strawberries. Cherry cola/licorice. Dark spices w/ a touch of heat-hard to find better, moist clays, soft, layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, dark chocolate baking bar, mocha powder, caramel, anise to black licorice, dryish tobacco with ash, used leather, dry crushed rocks, limestone powder, volcanic ash, fire ambers, saline, some black pepper, tumbleweed, dry river stone, black tea, very lightly grilled pork, florals for days that are; dark, red, blue, lavender framed in violets, perfect acidity with a great balance, well structured/tensioned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls on dry earth & spice as it long sets. Wonderful style!

To quote Robert Lewis Stevenson, “Wine is Bottled Poetry!” — 7 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Something to help the transition from Champagne to Cabernet.

Cobb & Hirsh Pinot Noirs are quite similar to me. Both well made, are good but have never astounded.

This 2014 is near its precipice.

The body is round & inviting. I sense a touch of tannins. Black cherries, blackberries, poached strawberries, pomegranate, just a hint of rhubarb, hovering raspberries, plum, haunting blueberries and black raspberries. Tree sap, hints of eucalyptus, dry crushed rocks, dry twig, light clove, some nutmeg, cinnamon, and feathery vanillin, lightly grilled meats, mix of fresh and used tobacco with soft ash, old used leather, soft, black pepper, mid dark spice, sandalwood, sandstone, red, purple and dark flowers, nice acidity with a softly tensioned, nicely balanced, elegantly, soft finish that lasts 90 seconds and lands softly on mid toned spices on the long set. — 14 days ago