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!” — 5 months ago

President Obama

9.2

So. Much. Rose. In. Fire. Island. — 5 years ago

Jim Nelson

9.2

The Fire Island wine store delivers. Some very fine Gamay stuff from the Brouilly department. — 6 years ago

with Camille

Angelo

9.0

Light crisp and lovely. Perfect for a summer pool party?”! — 10 months ago

Ted

8.9

Another day another NZ SB. Just got done shoveling again. Sitting by the fire watching golf in chilly Florida. — 4 years ago

with Jeni

Tree Kilpatrick

8.9

Cute and classy label. Darker color than a lotta pinot noir out there. Aroma is nice. Ripe berries from cool places (say coastlines and mountain tops). That classic cherry cola of Pinot. Flavors are nice and bright. Tincture of medicinal plants (echinacea and\or elderberry), iron in red meat served rare, pie cherry, or even choke cherry. Nice long finish with some of that woods after a forest fire or peat bogs in the sun. It’s a very nice, dry and balanced Pinot with elegance. — 6 years ago

Tom Garland

9.4

Mayacamas Winemaker Dinner: at the vineyard on the top of Mt. Veeder

WINES:
2020 merlot
2021 chardonnay
2022 Grenache Rose
2001 Chardonnay
2009 pinot (last estate pinot in 2013).
2018 sunset cabernet
1998 cabernet
1992 cabernet

GREETINGS AROUND THE FIRE:
Soft cheese on smoldering cedar
chicken and leek yakitori
Venison tartar

DINNER:
Grilled summer squash
Smoked sunfed ranch beef
Stone fruits a la plancha — 3 years ago

with Brenda

Daniel Dver

9.8

Straight fire. J harte sessions. — 5 years ago

Kelly Piper

9.7

Enjoying this very much. Perfect for the sunset transition from a warm day to a cool night by the fire. Juicy berries with a faint floral finish. — 6 years ago

Angela

9.3

Bought at wine store on fire island 2020 — 6 years ago