Dan Aykroyd
Aubert
Lauren Vineyard Chardonnay 2014
A few fun bottles from last Friday.
I’ve had quite a few vintages of this wine and they all remain very consistent, so I won’t create a new tasting note aside from calling out the power and richness this highlighted next to a few other different Aubert’s on the table. Lauren is consistently my favorite offering from Aubert because of the profile it displays...so much concentrated fruit alongside honeyed sea salt, lemon cream and marzipan. This 2014 is still powering through and may even get better over the next couple years. Thanks @Dan Fitzgerald . — 6 years ago
Colgin Cellars
IX Estate Napa Valley Red Blend 2006
Today was an absolutely fantastic Friday hosting at the City Club by @Dan Fitzgerald. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert wine. Great job Dan!
The third of four Colgin’s served blind. This and the fourth were my favorites and both were different. This was much brighter and had a sweet core. Very perfumed...potpourri, violets, black cherry, cocoa dusted dates. Starts light at the entry and gains density as it hits the mid palate and finish. Retains fruit from start to finish but it’s not a show stealer, simply accompanies everything else. Total balance. My guess was between Napa Cabernet or Syrah. — 6 years ago
Kosta Browne
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2010
This 2010 is in tip-top form.
Beautiful, ripe fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, plum/black plum for days, cherries, strawberries, raspberries & some pomegranate highlights. Cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg & soft vanillin, black teas, mid berry cola, both licorices, fresh tobacco, used leather, steeped black tea, limestone minerals, some charcoal, pepper, grilled meats, dark spice w/ heat, sandalwood to cedar, dark, withering flowers with violets, grand acidity and a balanced, well tensioned/structured, elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls on spice.
Even adding the plum reduction sauce, the 2011 Burnello is still the better pairing.
Photos of; Kosta Browne winery, founders-Dan Kosta & Mike Browne and their barrel & tasting room. — 4 months ago
The Standish Wine Company
The Relic Shiraz Blend 2004
Happy Valentines Day!
If you have not looked for this wine on WineSearcher.com or other, you should. Dan Standish has no American Importer. However, you can mail order off his list. Good luck with the Australian/United States import costs. Very prohibited.
Most quality Barossa wines take 15 years in bottle to show their ultimate beauty. Dan’s wines are no different. His Estate vines are 100 years old and produce 500 pounds of fruit per acre...very concentrated. Contrast that to extremely expensive & high quality Napa fruit, those Napa producers are at 2,000-2,500 pounds per acre.
We visited Standish in April 2017. We found Dan to be extremely talented & definitely marches to his own drum. He is salt of the earth and has traveled & worked in many of the world wine regions honing his craft and landing as Torbreck’s Winemaker in Barossa before starting, “The Standish Wine Company.”
As good as the 04 is tonight, it has 15 years of good life ahead...properly stored of course.
The nose is very intoxicating. It is a nice blend of purple, black & blue fruits. Mulberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, black plums, plums, blackberries, dark cherries, deeply extracted raspberries, some baked strawberries, black licorice to anise, dark fruit cola, black olive skin, medium dark spice, black pepper, charcoal, graphite, dry tobacco & underbrush, some bay leaf, alluvial soils, grey volcanic minerals/limestone with fresh & only slightly withering, purple, dark, blue florals framed in violets & lavender.
The body is full, rich, ripe, lush and creamy on the palate after a two-hour plus decant. The structure, tension, length and balance are a little short of its peak and will hold there for 5-8 years. It’s a glorious glide on the palate. The fruits are ripe & lightly baked. Mulberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, black plums, plums, blackberries, dark cherries, deeply extracted raspberries, some baked strawberries, cherry kirsch, red & black licorice to anise, dark fruit cola, black olive skin, the dark spices are heavier on the palate & bring just the right amount of heat, sweet, dark tarriness, black pepper, used, dark expresso roast grounds, charcoal, graphite, dry tobacco & underbrush, some bay leaf, alluvial soils, grey volcanic minerals/limestone, moist clay, with fresh & only slightly withering, purple, dark, blue florals framed in violets & lavender. The acidity is round, flush & perfect. The long finish is a unique even balance of; lush fruits, spice, herbs and earth that persists on the palate for minutes.
Photo on the left of Sofia’s 2 dozen long stems. Love you so much!
@Oswald — 6 years ago
Silver Oak
Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Cleveland with Dan and Michael. Jan 2o24. — 2 years ago
Colgin Cellars
Cariad Napa Valley Red Blend 2007
Today was an absolutely fantastic Friday hosting at the City Club by @Dan Fitzgerald. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert wine. Great job Dan!
The first of four Colgin’s served blind. Youthful notes abound here. More herbal on the nose when compared to the more fruit driven palate. Mostly a mix of black cherries, pomegranate, rhubarb tart and black pepper spice at the finish. I went back and forth with my guesses from Grenache, to pinot, to Syrah and couldn’t land on one. Delicious right now. — 6 years ago
Freddy R. Troya
Massican – Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Napa Valley, California – USA 🇺🇸
Overview
Massican’s take on Sauvignon Blanc is never about following trends, but about pushing boundaries. This 2016 proves that Napa whites—when crafted thoughtfully—can age with grace and finesse. At 9 years old, it’s still alive, structured, and fascinating, a clear statement that Sauvignon Blanc deserves a serious seat at the Napa table.
Aromas & Flavors
Zesty lime peel, grapefruit, and passionfruit weave together with subtle elderflower and a mineral core. Secondary notes of dried herbs, beeswax, and a hint of lanolin show its age but also add depth and intrigue.
Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, bright, and polished, with a spine of acidity that still carries energy. The texture is sleek yet layered, leading to a clean, lingering finish with citrus oil and gentle salinity.
Winemaking Notes
Fermented and aged with minimal intervention, Dan Petroski focused on preserving varietal purity while allowing the wine to develop gracefully over time. No oak heaviness—just pure Sauvignon character with a refined edge.
Food Pairing
Perfect with goat cheese crostini, seared scallops, spring vegetables, or even sushi. Its brightness and structure make it versatile across fresh, savory dishes.
Verdict
A rare aged Napa Sauvignon Blanc that stuns with its precision and longevity. Proof that Napa whites can stand tall in the cellar and deliver beyond their expected drinking window.
Personal Highlight
One of the most fascinating Sauvignon Blancs I’ve enjoyed from Napa—still vibrant after nearly a decade, and a reminder that Massican is rewriting the book on California whites. Cheers!
— a month ago