Franc Tireur

Clos Rougeard

Les Poyeux Saumur Champigny Cabernet Franc 2007

Black & red fruit, earth, savory spices with leather & tobacco — 5 days ago

Jean-Philip, Ira and 9 others liked this

Cain Vineyard & Winery

Cain Five Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2013

Somm David T
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.
— 6 days ago

Shay, Scott@Mister and 7 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

Excellent notes. Pouring the 2006 Cain Five btg via Coravin currently and it is drinking beautifully.
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

@Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Thank you. 06 should be lovely.

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2021

What a find at this restaurant. My first sassicaia. Rich and almost thick, but not overly fruity and in balance. Clearly a special wine. — 19 days ago

Mike MillerAnne MillerChris MacLean
with Mike, Anne and 1 other
Mike, "Odedi" and 7 others liked this

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia

Le Volte Toscana Sangiovese Blend 2021

Wine was delicious. Not harsh and no after taste or heartburn. Sweet but not too sweet. — 5 days ago

Dominus Estate

Napanook Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2021

Pure pleasure. So red fruited (mostly cherry) & velvety I could’ve sworn this was a fantastic Merlot blend from Napa, but of course there isn’t a drop of Merlot (92% cabernet sauvignon, 6% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot) as Christian has declared Napa unsuitable for the variety these days. With filet au poivre. — 19 days ago

Scott@Mister, "Odedi" and 7 others liked this

Continuum

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

red leather, dates, overripe blackberry, deep spice. hugely recommend — 12 days ago

Château Clinet

Pomerol Merlot Cabernet Franc 2009

Youthful that needs some air. This was rich, full bodied with notes of dark cherry, berry fruit, sweet savory spices, menthol, violet & tobacco — 19 days ago

Andrew, Ira and 18 others liked this

Colgin Cellars

IX Estate Napa Valley Red Blend 2023

Colgin wine tasting at the winery.
2023 Colgin estate cab
2014 Colgin estate cab
2023 Colgin Tychson cab
2023 Colgin Cairad (last vintage)
2023 Colgin estate syrah
— 3 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Brenda and 12 others liked this

Spring Mountain Vineyard

Elivette Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

Delicious blend Super treat for a glass with friends Red berries, smooth tannins — 2 days ago

Harlan Estate

The Maiden Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend 2007

Opened just prior to dinner. The 2007 pours a dark ruby/garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining and loads of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of BBQ Lay’s potato chips (fight me), prunes, dried brambles, leather, organic earth and mixed spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. It doesn’t taste like BBQ Lay’s but the fruit is definitely more of the dried/desiccated side. The finish is medium. Drink now. — a month ago

Douglas, Tom and 4 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Certainly provenance can play apart or it could be overblown for some palates. It is normally a big wine but 07 was a grand Napa vintage and should show some nice evolution by now. It is an RP 💯. So, somewhat surprising. The tasting I am doing in April all the vintages except the 94 are 💯.pointers. The 1994 recieved a 98. We’ll see.🤞
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

I should say the 07 Estate received a 💯, not The Maiden.
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Somm David T I’ve had my fair share of big Cabernets but this just didn’t impress me. It was good, just not great. I didn’t expect more, I just wasn’t that taken by it. Again, might have been related to provenance but without an obvious flaw and considering the style of the wine, it might also just be how the wine is showing these days.