Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.9

A place Sofia and I visited in September 2015. Not prosecco, made in the traditional method.

#Rememberence
#Sofia
6/25/21 — 20 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

A property Sofia and I visited in 2017.

If Italy has a technical Champagne region, it would be Franciacorta near Lake Garda in Northern Italy. This producer one of the region’s very best!

Lemon, lime profile, Bosc pear, bruised red apple, some white spice, volcanics, light yeast, limestone, caramel, yellow flowers, nice acidity and a nicely balanced, elegant finish that lasts a minute.

@RisoranteSapori Interlaken — 9 months ago

Chris N

9.3

✅S&C - a lovely fresh Rosé. M&S. definitely buy again. — 3 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.0

Santa Croce franciacorta brut

Nose : closed

Palate: fruity. Good. Not super mineral. — 4 years ago

John Hagood

9.3

From DCanter 2019 on 7/31/2021. Clear light ruby. Cherry lollipop scent. Silky, pronounced tannin, long finish. Non-ripe Stone fruits esp red plum. Emily has s right: hibiscus, violet, cranberry, pomegranate. Some pepper on back end. Good balance as medium body. — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Brought this over to my parent’s place for dinner the other night; the first time since before the pandemic started reaching the middle of the US so, late February. My father spent his career as a Supply Officer in the United States Navy and we lived in Bahrain during the early 90’s, shortly after the Gulf War. My family would routinely host large gatherings at our house when the Italian merchants would visit my dad. They would bring all of the ingredients including, but not limited to, tomatoes, pasta, mozzarella di bufala, and wine from the family vineyards in Sicily. As kids, we would play fooseball with Mario and Mario (not making this up) while they waited for the sauce to be ready. Anyway, my dad says this wine reminds him exactly of what they used to bring. In an instant, my parents were transported back 30 years to some their fondest memories. Ahhhh...the power of food and wine. Okay, so what’s this taste like? Rustic. Dark cherry fruit with earth and a fairly pronounced barnyard funk. It’s not overrun with brett but it’s there. The tannin is assertive but fair and plenty of acid for non-fussy meals like pizza and pasta. An utterly charming wine that nods to everything you expect from the old world. — 6 years ago

Fredybeans

9.0

Robe noire
Nez goudron fruit noir fume olive noire légère animalité
Bouche ample en attaque belle équilibre en milieu de bouche puis charge tannique importante mûre donnant des notes de terre humide et séchant pas mal le vin
Si cette finale s affine le vin ira loin — 7 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.2

Decanted briefly, but could do even longer. Lovely deep black cherries, cassis, roses. Funk burns off quickly on nose. Very lithe & medium bodied. Enchanting. Still a steal at low 30$s. Flavor profile is my sweet spot. — 7 years ago

with Owen

Ray Vanderhoff

9.2

Medium ruby color with a slight orange rim. Aromas of sour red fruits, coffee beans and a hint of orange zest. Flavors of red cherries, wild strawberries, roasted vegetables, dark chocolate and black licorice. Touch of salinity on the long and earthy finish. Bristling acidity and firm but nicely polished tannins. Medium-plus body, well balanced and a slight bit of tension. Thanks for sharing, Keith S! — 8 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I bought this as Sofia & I visited the property in September of 2015 when this was being birthed. I meant to enjoy it on her birthday a while back but ended up in the ER from food poisoning I had at a restaurant. Ugly for a week.

Franciacorta is Italy’s sparkling region much like Champagne is to France. It is very near to the Italian summer hot spot, Lake Garda.

The body on this is beautiful, rich, almost fluffy with tiny beads. Starts with lemon chiffons, green apple, grapefruit, yellow melons, some lime notes, white cream, dry herbs, white spice, slightly moist, powdery to crushed chalkiness, saline, yellow & white flowers, perfect acidity and a well made, knitted, beautiful balanced & tensioned, elegant finished that lasts two-minute that falls on minerality.

Annamaria Clementi Reserve is tribute to the founder, Maurizio Zanella’s mother and made in only the very best of years.

It is a blend of; 82% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Nero & 3% Pinot Bianco. 6 months is small oak casks, 63 mg of sulfur dioxide per L. Zero dosage and 13% alcohol.

Happy belated birthday honey! — 2 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.3

700's signature is a distinct sweet core of baked apples, sweet prunes, and Ceylon cinnamon. The aromas don't give too much away - juicy dark blackberries, cocoa dusted raspberries, and cherry leather could go left to bright acid or right to dark concentrate. Right we go into a rich cauldron of sweet stewed fruits.

Open on a cold night with a breeze. This thing will fill your belly and keep you warm. — 4 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.1

Nose is wild and funky. Verset like immediately comes to mind. It’s wild and funky but also has class, deep Syrah character and refinement. Some VA, some funk, some elegance, leather, berry fruit, some brett, it is all there and coming out to play but somehow it works. Way better than the ghastly 12’s. Palate is juicy and rustic, with nice juiciness and purity. Definitely get a Sicilian vibe from this. Tinny but in a good way. Wild, rustic and pure. Juicy with good fruit and lovely tannins. Rustic, charming and juicy. Long. No finesse but it makes up for it in charm. Very good.

BIG improvement on day 2. Gorgeous aroma. Meaty, floral and gamey. Palate is silky and sweet. 8.9 to 9.1. Juicy and terrific florals. Sappy. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Our marinaded tri-trip wine.

Good things happen when you take a good producer’s entry level wine and lay it down for 4-5 years. Then, pair with the right food.

Torbreck makes in descending quality order that I have had; The Laird ($400-$700), RunRig ($175-$200+), The Descendant & The Factor (around $90-$100 ish), their Struie (around $50) and the Woodcutter’s ($16-$24 depending on where you buy it).

The Woodcutter’s shows itself to be a close relative but, lacks some of the structure, depth and quality of fruit from its other siblings. However, the QPR is undeniable!

There are two things I am trying to convey. You don’t always need to spend $100 to $100’s for a really good quality wine. Second, even if you lay down a good entry level wine from a good producer in at least in a good vintage, very good things come through.

This shows, dark currants, ruby, candied; purple fruit mix, blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum & blue fruits. Sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, limestone, dry, crushed rocks, mixed berry cola, soft leather, wood shavings, dry herbaceous notes, dark spice, softly, layered baking spices; vanilla, clove, nutmeg, hints of cinnamon, understated mint/eucalyptus with dark, purple, blue flowers in a violet & lavender bouquet.

The body is; rich; ruby and full. The tannins are round, tarry, chewy and meaty. The structure, tension, length and balance are just a couple steps short of its peak. Dark currants, ruby, candied; purple fruit mix, blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum & blue fruits. Sweet tarriness, dark, used, expresso grounds, anise to black licorice, limestone, black pepper, dry, crushed rocks, mixed berry cola, soft leather, wood shavings, dry herbaceous notes, dark spice with palate heat, more pronounced & layered baking spices; vanilla, clove, nutmeg, hints of cinnamon stick, dark, rich turned earth, dark top soils, understated mint/eucalyptus with dark, purple, blue flowers in a violet & lavender bouquet. The acidity is round and nicely done. The long finish is, juicy to dry earthy, well balanced, elegant and persists without end.

The 2013 Woodcutter’s has another 10-15 years of good drinking ahead.

Photos of; their new tasting bar, Sofia during our private tasting with their International Brand Manager and that famous Barossa red clay soil structure with Estate vines. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

A visit to Villa Las Tronas in Alghero for a glass and snacks they served with the pour.

Bellavista is a good memory as Sofia & I visited their property in Francorta in the fall of 2015.

This is bright and lemony with lime zest, grapefruit, just barely ripe pineapple flesh, touch of kiwi, some red apple & Bosc pear, nut w/ a little skin, cream, light fresh herb, dash of caramel, ginger skin, volcanic minerals, sea spray, a touch of yeast, yellow & white spring flowers, lively acidity with a well balanced, nicely polished finish that lasts just over a minute landing minerality. — 9 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

10

We had this at our wedding reception in Cortona out of magnum. Ten in memory. 💒 🌹❤️🍷

The fruit/wine in 750ml is better tonight than the magnum we had in 2007. I love 80’s Bordeaux for the style of that decade and 12-13% ABV. Fruit is beyond still fresh & floral. 35 years later in bottle! For me, 86 was a seminal vintage. The wine is 94-95 on the palate. Storage on this secondary market purchase was perfect.

Ripe, floral and hints of pruny; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, raspberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, rhubarb notes & hovering blue fruits. Perfect, sweet lead pencils for days, sandy top soil, powdery limestone, dry river stone, perfectly, softened, dark spice box, cigar box, sandalwood, American, moist tobacco, used leather, dry dates & figs, sun tea, cherry cola/licorice, black rich earth with dry leaves, dry herbs-sage/bay leaves, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, dark, red, blue, purple bouquet, insane acidity, with stunning evolution/integration, excellent, balance, still intense structure with a polished finish for days…wire to wire beautiful with phenomenal length & polish that seems endless. This bottle would hold another 5 years.

Sofia, love you & miss you every second of every day. — 3 years ago

Rita Ernst

10

Terre s Di San Vito blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon — 3 years ago

Charles Duncan

9.0

Gift from Kayla S from her sustainable wine club. LJB like it a lot. — 5 years ago

Fredybeans

8.9

Rubis fonce
Nez thé épicé terre betterave
Bouche grenade frais aux tanins précis et au végétal noble
S améliore avec l’air et evolue tres bie depuis qq années
À attendre — 6 years ago

Kevin Brown

9.1

Delicious
— 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

It’s a little birthday pre-celebration for the birthday girl before we head north tomorrow for a big Bordeaux tasting and dinner to celebrate.

That’s her enjoying the afternoon sun in the D&S Lounge on her day off. Happy Birthday Sofia! Love you.

As for the Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, it never disappoints.

The palate shows beautiful mousse, green & golden apple, pineapple juice, some pear, a touch of cider, lemon & lime zest, kiwi, green melon, notes of caramel, baguette crust, mixed greens, saline, sea fossils & spray, grainy, grey volcanic minerals, low intensity white spice, thick, powdery chalkiness, spring flowers, jasmine, soft, crisp acidity and a well balanced & polished finish.

Photos of; the birthday queen on her throne, her birthday bouquet, long shot of our yard and a nice fall sunset with a glass of celebration nectar. 😜🎉🎊🎂🥂 — 7 years ago