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!” — 6 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

Cassie Scalettar

10

Had with papa Budge at Fire Island — 8 years ago

Kai Wright

9.2

Fire Island Pines, 2018 kick off. Yes. Fresh, bright, confident, flirty, with a depth that catches you off guard. #FI2018 — 8 years ago

with Jedd

SheSwallowsDotWine

8.9

Tastes like sunset on a Caribbean island. Oh wait, I was on a Caribbean Island. So much crisp fresh acidity with a sweetness you don't expect, but quickly becomes welcome on the palate. A nice alternative to your common Sauv Blanc for a sundowner. Great with plantain chips and a strong man at your side! — 9 years ago

with Michael

Angelo

9.0

Light crisp and lovely. Perfect for a summer pool party?”! — a year 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

President Obama

8.9

Fire Island Pines — 7 years ago

dmoore61

9.0

Early blood moon translucent orange with a nod to recent astronomy events. With a good chill there is a pressing tangy presence on the pallet. Nose is enough to grab your interest and presents an unassuming bouquet. A nice refreshing drink at sunset. . — 8 years ago

Michael Piaker

9.2

16 June 2017. Sunset Beach, Shelter Island, NY. — 9 years ago

Jeff Shapiro

8.9

Goes perfectly with an afternoon of setting up the patio, planting and starting a fire. ☀️🍺🍋🔥 — 9 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

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.1

Oaky smokey nose with strawberries and cherries, charred marshmallow, with afternotes of forest leaves. I'd suddenly love to have cherried s'mores by the summer fire on cool misty fall eve! Incredible light and clarity. Palate in coordinance with bouquet. Earthed in a way unexpected for the region. Delicious and earthed to compete with Willamette, yet has the sun bakiness of Santa Barbara. The perfect more intense Burgundian marriage of these two regions. Long long finish with high acidity and striking abundance. Makes me want to dance in the rain. — 8 years ago

Sam Rosenstein

9.5

Deep dark cherry, fire in nose, slight licorice, medium purple in color, light body, high tannin, high spice, baking spice, slight white pepper slight acid — 9 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.0

Light straw color. Light in the glass. Sweet nose with notes of citrus, grapefruit, lemongrass and spice. Lots of material in the mouth. Nice quaff sitting on the terrace overlooking Queenstown at sunset. — 9 years ago