Falling Feather
Williams Selyem
Foss Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012
Coravined bottle from mid week.
The 2012 is still a little early for me but, drinking beautifully.
The nose reveals; ripe, slightly dried fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dried dark cherries & cranberries, both plums, poached strawberries with some raspberries & blackberries. Radiant, dark spices, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, dark colas, steeped tea, black & red licorice, moist & drier clay, rich, forest floor with dry leaves, some dry herb, soft, understated eucalyptus, lightly, grilled meats, dry tobacco, well, used leather with ruby, candied, fresh & withering floral that are; dark, red, blue & purple.
The body is medium full, round, lush with dusty, light tannin presence with excellent viscosity. ripe, slightly dried fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dried dark cherries & cranberries, both plums, poached strawberries with some raspberries & blackberries. Radiant, dark spices, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, dry stems, dark, berry colas, steeped tea, black & red licorice, moist & drier clay, dark, rich, forest floor with dry leaves, some dry herb, soft, understated eucalyptus, mint notes, lightly, dark, Asian & Indian spices with heat, grilled meats, dry, used, pipe tobacco, well, used leather with ruby, candied, fresh & withering floral that are; dark, red, blue & purple. The round, lush acidity is like a cool stream in Spring. The long, steady, rich, elegant, well knitted & balanced finish loads as ripe, juicy fruits falling onto to spice & earth persisting several minutes.
Shows all the beauty of the vintage & still has 8-12 years of good drinking ahead.
Cheeses; Jasper Hill Alpha Tolman & Willoughby, Mimolette. Dried Turkish Apricots, Cashews & Columbus Italian Dry Salami. Otherwise, tonight’s dinner.
1/8/21 — 11 days ago
Franck Bonville
Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay
Very serviceable Blanc Champange & in 375ml for $18.99.
The Franck Bonville Grand Cru Blanc De Blanc Brut is about 60% oxidative & 40% reductive.
Nose shows; lemon meringue with crust, white citrus blend, slightly bruised apple, Bosc pear, somewhat overripe pineapple, touch of honeycomb, white stone fruits, baguette crust, grey volcanics, saline, dry yeast, yellow lilies, spring & white florals.
The palate is even wire to wire. It’s ripe and a little rich. Lemon meringue with crust, white citrus blend, slightly bruised apple, Bosc pear, somewhat overripe pineapple, touch of honeycomb, white stone fruits, ginger ale, some butterscotch, vanillin, baguette crust, brioche, dry yeast, volcanics, white spice with heat, pleasant, grainy chalkiness, limestone dust, yellow lilies, spring & white florals. The acidity is crisp & lively. The finish is; well balanced & knitted, elegant and persists minutes and falling onto white spice & minerals.
12/26/20 Happy Boxing Day! 🎁 — 24 days ago
Ardèche
Gravettes Chardonnay 2019
Soft, delicate and accessible. This is Chardonnay with a feather light touch on the palette and it’s quite amazing. Clean & crisp on the nose, understated but oh so perfect on execution from the subtle perfection waiting for your mouth from start to finish. If someone told you they tried a chard and hated it - give them some of this and they’ll change their mind. You can taste the perfection on this one! — 15 days ago
Bodegas Roda
Cirsion Rioja Tempranillo 2016
Not great. Starting falling apart after 3 hours. Well overpriced. — a month ago
Heitz Cellar
Bella Oaks Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
One of our last Heitz Bella Oaks bottling’s.
Heitz no longer leases the vineyard. The fruit from the Bella Oaks Vineyard is now bottled by Quintessa at $200 a bottle when Heitz sold it at around $70 or less when they leased the terroir.
The better pair with the end cut of the Prime Rib with creamy, horse radish.
Floral, candied, spice driven fruit of; dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plums with tough skins, plums, dark cherries and deep, juicy strawberries. Dark tarriness, steeped black tea, incense, burnt amber, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, dark chocolate bar, mocha powder, moist clay, dry, crushed rocks, dry, twig, eucalyptus, sage, bay leaf, dry top soil, tobacco, leather, cedar, grainy limestone with dark, red, purple, candied withering florals that dark & candied. The acidity is perfect. The structure, tension, balance and length still need 6–10 years. The finish is; rich, beauty, elegant that starts, fresh, juicy falling on to earth & spice that persist until you have something bigger.
Plated with very cheesy Au Gratins & caramelized carrots.
Still an adolescent with 15-20 years of good sipping ahead of it.
The most flavorful piece of beef I’ve ever had. Had more tender Wagyu Ribcaps, just not this much flavor.
Happy New Year! 🥳🎉🍷🎊
12.31.2020 — 19 days ago
Marqués de Murrieta
Finca Ygay Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2010
The better steak wine over the 2009 Ormes de Pez but, not the more beautiful, elegant wine.
The 2010 Rioja marries the Wagyu Ribcap while showing its Ranchero characteristics.
The palate shows tumble-weed, tannin fruits that are; brambly, ripe, slightly candied; blackberriesblack raspberries, dry, dark cherries with skin, ruby, black plums, very w/ ripe strawberries. Tumbleweed, straw, dark spice, tough leather, clove, sage, dry clay & top soil, crushed rocks, black pepper, dark, berry cola, mint, oak barrel powder, used charcoal with candied florals that are fresh & withering; dark, red, purple & blue. The acidity is top flight. The long finish is well balanced fruit & earth, persisting nicely falling onto earth & dark spices.
Photos of; Margues de Murrieta & vines, large oak vats and their wine shop.
1/15/21 — 4 days ago
Kalinda
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
This is K&L Wine Merchants private label wine. Named after family, Kay & Linda.
It is always a mystery who’s juice they bottled or who they bought fruit to and made the wine. Regardless, it always over delivers at $21.99.
Might have waited a couple years too long to get its best. Need to let it settle on palate before sharing more thoughts. Starting a little lean on the palate but, what a floral nose. We’ll see what a longer decant and palate coating brings.
As I mentioned, the nose is singing with ruby, candied florals that are; dark, red, purple & blue. The fruits are a little stewed; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, poached strawberries and blueberries that hover. Mid, soft, dark spice, light baking spices of; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, mid berry cola, black & red licorice, caramel, dark chocolate, mocha, steeped fruit tea, dark, rich, moist soil with dry leaves, older tobacco, soft leather, saddle-wood, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry, river stones, shades of dry herbs, ambers, touch of savory meats & black pepper, & tomatoes with leaf.
The nose is more captivating than the body. It’s complex but at the same time flatter. The palate shows; ripe, stewed & candied fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, poached strawberries, pomegranate and blueberries on the backend. Mid, soft, dark spice with just the right amount of heat, cherry kirsch, light baking spices of; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, mid berry cola, black & red licorice, caramel, dark chocolate, mocha, steeped fruit tea, dark, rich, moist soil with dry leaves, older tobacco, soft leather, saddle-wood, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry, river stones, moist to dry clay, shades of dry herbs, ambers, touch of savory meats & black pepper, & tomatoes with leaf. The acidity is a cool Colorado stream. The finish is; well knitted, balanced fruit & earth elegant, lush, despite its complexity, a little hallow yet persisting minutes, falling onto dry soils & spice.
As I stated, still enjoyable but, at its peak two years ago from my secondary storage. However, the longer I sip it, it pushes 9.0 on the long set. Time to start drinking a number of wines I’ve stepped over for bigger experiences & more notable producers.
Photos of, the K&L store in SF, tasting bar & two different photos of K&L Bordeaux Dinners we’ve attended with Owner Clyde Beffa Jr. — 2 days ago
Kosta Browne
Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir 2014
The nose shows a mix of ripe, dried, slightly candied & floral fruits that are; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, both plums, raspberries, slightly fermented strawberries & dry cranberries with haunting blueberries. Dark, pronounced spices, clove, vanilla, touch of cinnamon stick, dark, rich earth, steeped fruit tea, core and f anise leading to some black licorice, ambers, limestone, dry, crushed rock powder, mix of blue & purple cola, mint, tree sap with bark, slightly withering & candied florals that are; dark, red, purple & blue.
The body is medium full, rich, ripe with nice viscosity. She has a light tannin feeling. Mix of ripe, dried, slightly candied & floral fruits that are; blackberries, dry, dark cherries, black raspberries, both plums, raspberries, slightly fermented strawberries & dry cranberries with haunting blueberries. Dark, pronounced spices with mid to strong heat, clove, vanilla, touch of cinnamon stick, salted caramel, dark, rich earth, steeped fruit tea, core of anise leading to some black licorice, ambers, incense, dry tobacco, savory, grilled meats, used leather, dry & fresh herbs, mint, limestone, dry, crushed rock powder, mix of blue & purple cola, mint, tree sap with bark, slightly withering & candied florals that are; dark, red, purple & blue. The acidity is a cool mountain stream. The finish is; nicely knitted, well balanced fruit & earth, elegant, fruit juicy falling onto spice & earth persisting several minutes.
Good...still needs 3-5 years in prison before it gives more back.
12/26/20 Happy Boxing Day! 🎁 — 24 days ago
David Koenen
Slight perfume of petrol and wet rocks. Perfect balance, deep golden hue, peaches, cabbage, roasted and salted almonds, honeysuckle. Concentrated and powerful, yet light as a feather. — 3 days ago