Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Most of the wines I open tell me a story w/ each sip. Most tied to my late wife Sofia. My memories of this producer precedes her.

This is a producer that flashed early in my wine journey. Generally, one you have moved on from today. That’s until, their 2013 is offered at $39 recently. A grand vintage. For me, I wanted to see the wineries progression and experience earlier memories that flood back w/ each sip. It has done that.

I have a Napa history infatuation. This one is kinda of a pleasure-pain thing. While I enjoyed this producer many years ago, the 2020 Glass Fires destroyed 90% of their vineyards, almost all their structures & their 19 & 20 vintages. I can’t express enough what a gut punch that is for its owners & staff. It is an insurance nightmare and let’s not forget that after all the time it takes to re-plant vines, it takes at least 7 years before you get useable fruit to make wine. So…a ten yr plus setback w/ nearly no revenue stream.

The wine tonight w/o a ribeye, showed excellent fruits that the 13 growing season brought. But what followed was a lean mid plate and finish. With the steak, not so.

The palate shows M+ velvety, dry tannins. Ripe, rich, lush, ruby fruits of: blackberries, black plum, baked plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, raspberries, poached & fresh strawberries & an understated array of purple fruits. Moist, grey, volcanic clays, moist tobacco w/ ash, used leather, graphite, dry, crushed rocks/limestone-sandstone, dry brush, dark cola, black licorice to anise, dry herbs-bay leaf, sage, dark, mid spice with some palate heat, sweet tarriness, dark, fresh, candied & withering red roses, lavender & dry violets, excellent acidity with a well balanced-knitted, nicely structured & tensioned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and long sets on dry earth & spice.

This is nice on its own but so much better with a ribeye. 92 on its own with a hour decant. 92-93+ with an hour decant plus a juicy, well seasoned MR ribeye. — 2 months ago

Steve Reiss

9.3

A very nice red blend

Bought at TJs — 4 years ago

Edmond Bordelon

9.1

Few Americans understand the depth of Beaujolais due to the market flood by the big producers during the Beaujolais Nouveaux annual festival. The Gamay grape has so much more to offer and Master Sommelier, George Miliotis, shared this great example with me. Dark overripe strawberry and stone minerality. Charcuterie never tasted so good! — 6 years ago

with Katherine

Ming L

9.2

The winery was founded by Mark Tarlov, co-founder of Evening Land, and Louis‑Michel Liger‑Belair.

This is very good for an entry-level bottling. The fruits are remarkably fresh at 10 years. BlackBerry, raspberry, cranberry, strawberry along with steeped black tea and hint of cinnamon.
Salivating acidity with round edge. Great pairing for turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving! — 5 months ago

Christian Bidegain

9.1

Along a bustling path made of ancient cut cobblestone, shadows lengthen across the exterior walls. Taverns bursting at the seams with people searching for refuge and libations as the sun grows weary. At the edge of this narrow bustling thoroughfare, the cobblestone rises up and creates a barrier against the vast void of the Bay of Biscay. Laughter, playful arguments, and wanting whispers flood the air, adding to the oppressive heat the suns pushes towards me in its last ditch effort of discomfort for the day. I drink up every ray as my feet dangle towards the breaking waves. All is right. The sun rays slowly crossfade into the voices growing louder as the night begins.

Nose: light strawberry, cut grass, lemon thyme. All faintly so.

Palate: bell pepper, serrano pepper, thai basil, zippy, medium-high acid, light bodied, lower alcohol. — 10 months ago

Sarah MacDonnell

9.0

Had with Addie at bank street for the first time surprisingly really delicious despite kinda basic label — 4 years ago

Tom Elliot

Founder Northwest Wines

9.2

This RIESLING wine was in a case that experienced a cellar flood, so, a mystery vintage of Alpine Riesling from their estate vineyard in the mid-Willamette Valley, but I’m certain it’s between the late 1980s and very early 1990s due to when acquired. At this time, it has just a trace of the sweetness it must have started out with. Coconut, marzipan, and caramel, with a fine acid backbone and long complex finish. — 7 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.3

The 2020 Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru is clean and precise on the nose: an enticing mélange of red and black fruit, briar and a touch of aniseed. The palate is sapid on the entry, with wonderful vivacious red cherries and strawberry fruit laced with white pepper and allspice. Real depth and mineralité flood through on the (again) aniseed-tinged finish, completing an impressive wine. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, October 2024)
— a year ago

George Hesse

8.9

I actually liked this more than the critics. I would definitely try again. — 3 years ago

Cash Malcolm

9.1

The birch tree combined with the Egyptian cotton silk buttery undertones gave me volcanic wine orgasm. — 5 years ago