Somm David T 
Château de Candale
St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 2005
This has improved nicely since I last had it in 2020. Blossomed. 2005 such an amazing vintage. I understand why the Bordelaise said they underpriced the vintage. This was $25 or less on release.
The nose is; dark chocolate cake to pudding, black currants, blackberries, dark cherries to liqueur, both plums, black raspberries & strawberry edges, core of tarriness, herbaceous notes, lightly and beautifully layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, mocha powder, caramel, moist volcanic clays, steeped black fruit tea, charcoal, candied graphite, moist understated tobacco, dry top soil, dry river stone, candied to just withering; dark, red flowers with liquid violets.
The palate shows; well softened & rounded M-m+ tannins. It is thick, lush, plush heaven. black currants, blackberries, dark cherries to liqueur, both plums, black raspberries & strawberry edges, dark chocolate cake to pudding, a core of tarriness, herbaceous notes, lightly and beautifully layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, mocha powder, caramel, moist volcanic clays, steeped black fruit tea, charcoal, candied graphite, moist, understated tobacco, dry top soil, dry river stone, dark mid spice, candied, dark, red florals with brilliant liquid violets, excellent, rainfall acidity, balance and elegance for days with a long, lengthy finish that lasts minutes and lands on earth & spice.
93-94. Beautiful wine and extreme value.
Still has 7-10 yrs ahead w/ proper storage. Peaking. — 19 days ago
Spring Mountain Vineyard
Elivette Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2000
Haven’t had a 2000 Napa is some time. Many would say a disappointing vintage. They would be mostly correct. But here is one 24 yrs later in bottle that shined a bit.
It showed excellent integration and evolution. Holding up exceptionally well. Really enjoyed its smooth dark spice on its long finish.
I think $29 on one of the more recent Last Bottle Marathons. — 24 days ago
Domaine Charvin
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2010
This is an unusual CdP. In the sense that is is dark, thick and like chocolate for water.
My first of three bottles.
The nose shows a very light flaw, some soft VA, bandaid. The core is all dark currants, candied, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, both plums-heavier black, black raspberries, hints of raspberries & wafting strawberries. Chocolate cake w/ fudge frosting, incense, black pepper, black coffee, anise to black licorice, grilled meats, crushed rocks, lime-sandstone, dry herbs with floral candied dark, red flowers with liquid violets wrapped in lavender.
The palate reveals; dark currants, candied, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, both plums-heavier black, black raspberries, hints of raspberries, some pomegranate & wafting strawberries. Chocolate cake w/ fudge frosting, caramel, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, incense, Christmas cake, red & dark cola, olive tapenade, black pepper, black coffee, anise to black licorice, smoke, grilled meats, soy sauce, crushed rocks, lime-sandstone, moist clay, dry herbs with dark, gentle dark spices, red& dark flowers with candied liquid violets wrapped in the same candied lavender, grand, round, rainfall acidity w/ a rich, lush, well balanced, nicely toned/structured, elegant finish that shows length that lasts 90-120 seconds and falls on chocolate cake, clay & spice.
Untypical for a CdP to be so thick, round, rich and a bit of wine candy.
93-95 with the meal.
Drink over the next 7-10 yrs and perhaps a couple to three yrs +. Greatly depends on storage and how you like your wines in age. — 5 days ago
Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2006
I recently had a conversation with a few Joseph Phelps Ambassador’s at Pebble Beach Food & Wine in April. I said, I had every vintage of Insignia back to 2006 in storage. They said, “you should really drink up the 2006.” So, I coravined an 06 last weekend, a taste. I agreed then. But tonight not the case, it shows it still has a fair amount of life. Another 5-8 yrs and perhaps plus.
My Ribcap, a definition of Medium Rare Plus.
The nose reveals floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, softly layered baking spices, very underrated graphite, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola.
The palate shows well resolved, rounded, velvety M+ tannins. Nicely ripe fruits that are floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel river, softly layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanillin, warm caramel, dark Asian spices with palate burrowing heat, dry tobacco/ leather, cedar, grilled meats, very underrated graphite, sweet tarriness, black licorice, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola, candied to withering; dark, red, blue florals wrapped in liquid violets, epic rainfall acidity, well balanced-structured-toned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls on earth & heated spice.
95-96 peaking. — 19 days ago
Domaine Faiveley (Joseph Faiveley)
Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2020
While this showed nice dark mid berry fruits and very beautiful bright florals on the nose, it just didn’t check all the other boxes I want a red burgundy. Just an ok experience. — 24 days ago
Domaine Adrien Besson
Vaudésir Chablis Grand Cru Chardonnay 2022
Not the best Grand Cru Vaudesir I’ve had. It is a 2022, which makes it a bit more of a head scratcher. It is not bad, just not living up to the terroir and vintage. Expected a bit more.
The nose shows nice stone fruits, green & golden apple, lemon, lime with zest, slightly overripe pineapple, kiwi, saline, sea spray, whipped cream, slight notes of flint-gun metal, bread dough-pie crust, nice chalkiness, volcanics, limestone yellow lilies, spring flowers framed in greens.
The palate is ripe, juicy with hints of paraffin. Both stone fruits, green & golden apple, lemon, lime with zest, slightly overripe pineapple, kiwi, tropical melons, saline, sea spray, gentle white spice with some medium palate heat, whipped cream, slight notes of flint-gin metal, bread dough-pie crust, graham cracker’s, honey, marmalade, butterscotch candy, caramel, vanilla, grainy chalkiness, volcanics, limestone yellow lilies, spring flowers framed in greens, nice round, rainfall acidity with a well balanced, mid tension/structure, nice length and elegant, rich finish that lands in butterscotch, spice and minerals.
Best to let this one warm up. You’ll get more out of it. Drink over the next 5-8 yrs. — 5 days ago
Merus
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
This was still a bit of a baby. Much more life than expected based on a number of other 2012’s I’ve had.
The color is still very dark.
Showed nice evolution & integration. Nicely ripe, blackberries, black raspberries, both plums but more black, layered baking spices, moist tobacco, soft leather, elegantly soft earthiness, beautiful, round, dark spices, beautiful dark & red flowers with lavender and violets, excellent, round acidity, extremely well balanced, very elegant finish with great length.
Easily has another 10-15 yrs of good drinking left w/ proper storage. Think it will show another point in another 5yrs. — 16 days ago
Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey
Au Bout du Monde Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Chardonnay 2022
A few things first.
This Jasper Hill Farms Harbison is the creamiest, gooey delight out there, once you let it warm up. I take it out a 1/2 hour before serving. It is wrapped in spruce cambium, which is the inner bark layer of a spruce tree. Gives it a interesting characteristic. Always a great pair with WB and or Blanc de Blanc Champagne.
PYCM is simply one of the better & consistent white burgundy producers. They’re close to town and not far from Olivier Leflaive. Right around the corner basically.
2020-23 has been a good run in white burgundy. Maybe, 24 too. Not sure yet. I haven’t had a big enough sample size yet. The ones I have had, very good.
The nose reveals; Meyer lemon, green apple, lime zest, tropical melons, white stone fruits, honeycomb, frothy cream, light caramel, some herbaceous notes, paraffin, sea fossils, saline, grey volcanics, dry limestone, chalky powder, yellow & white lilies that remind me of funeral arrangements.
The palate is round to thick, vicious & waxy. The flavors mirror the nose. Meyer lemon, green apple, lime zest, tropical melons, white stone fruits, honeycomb, frothy cream, butterscotch, caramel, some herbaceous notes, white spice that palate burro’s w/ pleasant heat, paraffin, sea fossils, saline, grey volcanic fine bits, dry limestone, chalky powder, with tiny bits, yellow & white lilies that remind me of funeral arrangements, rainfall acidity with a round, lush, well balanced finish w/ good length/tension and lasts two-minutes long setting on earth-volcanics & spice. — 19 days ago
Yvon Métras
Fleurie Gamay 2022
Made for duck. Delicious.
Yvon Metras is a 5th honorary member of “The (original) Gang of Four.”
This has glorious fruit entry. Berries, berries, berries, followed by earth and a granitic finish. Well balanced & wisely polished. — 25 days ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
My first of nine bottles. Good first look. 13 such an excellent & big vintage. This is still midway to the top of the bell curve. 15-20 yrs plus depending on storage & taste.
The 2013 fruit clusters had small berries that were nicely ripened by the season, which meant more skins vs berry that gave it tannins, structure & depth.
Epic vintage.
The nose reveals; a lift of sage & rosemary. Black currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherry liqueur, anise core to black licorice, sage, soft rosemary, dark chocolate to pudding, mixed cola, steeped tea, some black pepper, limestone, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, dry twig, grey volcanics, withering to dry; dark, red, purple flowers.
The palate is round, lush & thick. M+ dry, velvety tannins that penetrate deeply w/ teeth. Black raspberries, black plum, dark cherry liqueur, anise core to black licorice, sage, soft rosemary, dark chocolate to black plum pudding, caramel, dark spices w/ heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon to stick, vanillin, mixed cola, steeped tea, some black pepper, limestone, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, dry twig, moist clay, grey volcanics, leather, graphite, moist tobacco, oak barrel shavings, withering to dry; dark, red, purple flowers, round, rainfall acidity with a rich/lush, nearly balanced, still strongly toned/structured, elegant finish with length & teeth that lasts minutes and lands on spice & earthiness.
It is still a baby. Plenty of life ahead. It has much more to offer. 15-20 yrs depending on storage and age taste. Add 1-2 points in 10 yrs. — 5 days ago