David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

It is in the shut the door phase.

Just beautiful body & mousse. Crisp mico-oxygenation. Meyer lemon, Bartlett pear, green & golden apple, lime citrus blend w/ pith, just ripe pineapple, light tropical melons, both peaches, nougat, almond skin, caramel notes, light yeastiness, some bread dough, sea spray/fossils, mid white spice, crumbled chalkiness, alluvial limestone/volcanics, spring flowers w/ yellow lilies, crisp yet soft acidity, balanced for days, nicely knitted, softly tensioned and a smartly polished finish that lasts 90 seconds to two-minutes.

Purchased on the secondary market and quite as good as I stored upon release. — 2 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

This Israeli Grenache blend is delicious now.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Showing black fruits with light wood, spices, coffee, cola, licorice, light vanilla, black pepper and herbs.

Spicy finish with soft tannins.

I've had a few vintages of this wine and it always delivers.

Easy drinking and good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with a lamb dish.

A blend of Grenache, Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. Kosher.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$50. — 3 months ago

Christian Fischer

9.3

This is a very good wine. Not the 98/100 good and one can certainly question the $200 price tag, but a well made higher end wine for sure. Decanted for 2 hours (which was needed) and drank over 2 days; didn’t notice significant evolution on day 2. High alcohol content. Clear but clean and harmonious tannins. Nice fruit and mineral tartness. 93-94 for me. — 3 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured from magnum; enjoyed over the course of two days. Best on Day 2 as the wine came into better balance. The 2015 “Caravina” pours a deep ruby with a nearly opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. One the nose, the wine is developing with notes of black cherry, brambles, tobacco, violets, herbs, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine with dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the acid plays a significant role, giving some real lift to the lush fruit. And while we’re on the topic, I’ll just share an observation that the acid is a significant characteristic for Seavey. In their youth, they are somewhat tough to fully appreciate (Ridge also has this reputation). I’m not suggesting Seavey is an analogue to Monte Bello, rather just stating they seem to be playing the long game…and I’m here for that. That being said, these are good now but will be more pleasurable in another couple years (at least in this format) and should be lovely through 2035. — 6 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Second Sauternes pairing with my homemade Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Didn’t use the additional crushed pineapple this time. Both preparations are very good. I think I prefer it w/ less pineapple.

In 2014 I attended the Bordeaux En Premiere. One of the six days, we toured 8 Chateau’s tasting multiple vintages at each in Sauternes & Barsac. Then, went back to Chateau Guiraud for dinner. Before the dinner, Bill Blatch then arranged for a Sauternes tasting after tasting at 8 Chateau’s in Saternes & Barsac. We tasted 50 Sauternes in basically in 60 minutes. After that, my hand was like Winne the Poo in the honey jar from dumping. After, my wish wasn’t necessarily for the forthcoming dinner, but rather wished to go to a Dentist for a teeth cleaning I had so much RS in my mouth. None the less, dinner was fantastic and started with warm Foie Gras & gravy. Perfect as is w/ the Pineapple Upside Down Cake tonight.

This 05 is everything that you taste in the Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Perfect paring. Newly a quarter century and no fading in its evolution.

Dry; stone fruits, pineapple, orange citrus, pineapple. Marmalade, caramel, saline, limestone, honeycomb, beeswax, coconut, vanilla, saline, round acidity with yellow florals, toasted nuts with round acidity for days. Elegance, balance, structure and round, rich polish that goes in and on. Coravined from 375ml.

Bill Batch (who worked for Cristy’s & owned his own negotiate company) has somewhere around 5,000 bottles of Sauternes. He does a Sauternes & Sausage party bi-annually. Good luck getting a well sought after invitation. There are more people in Bordeaux who want to attend then there are available invitations. — 25 days ago

"Odedi"

9.4

This is a gorgeous 15 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Showing black fruits with cedar, vanilla, leather, spices, earth, chocolates, tobacco, coffee and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.

Showing great complexity on the nose and palate.

Peaking now and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Good right out of the bottle and good by itself. Will pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

13.9% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$200. — 3 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Full bodied, smooth and soft, with medium acidity.

Showing black fruits with cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, black pepper, dark chocolates and light herbs.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a really nice Cabernet Sauvignon from Atlas Peak in Napa Valley. Fruit forward and spicy. Rich and elegant.

Still very young, but already delicious. A good quality wine that will continue to improve in the next 10 years.

Tangy and entertaining with nice complexity. A good sipping wine.

Nicely balanced and good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with a nice piece of steak.

A blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. Aged in (40% new) American and French oak barrels for 15 months. Only 900 bottles made.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$80. — 4 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

HBTM! 🥳 🎉🎂 🎈

WOTN!

Still fresh & youthful. Perfect. Great fill. Still peaking.

Bramble, nicely, fresh fruits of; blackberries, creamy, black raspberries, black plum, plum, dark cherries, hints of blueberries, poached to dry strawberries. Lead pencil for days, dry tobacco, used leather, liquid herbaceous notes, volcanic & limestone marl & grey clay, eucalyptus/pine tar, black licorice, dark spice, touch of black pepper, mushroom, light baking spices, dry top soil, dry river stone, dry stem, well done toast, dry & withering; dark, red, some blue florals framed in lavender & violets, perfect acidity and extremely well; balanced, structured, tensioned, balanced, smarty polished finish that last several minutes finish.

Photos of; Latour and their vine close to the D2, entrance to Chatesu Latour and their barrel room. The cleanest cellar I’ve seen and I have seen most of the wine world.

It’s just the left side of the bell curve. Stored correctly it has another 10 plus years of good drinking.

Robert Parker launched his career calling this vintage correctly upon release when others were not. — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

This 5 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Mount Veeder is delicious right now, although still young.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Strong fruity nose of cedar, black fruits and chocolate notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and nice complexity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, oak, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, peppercorn and light cola.

Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

Tangy and rich, yet elegant. Needs a few hours to open up properly, so be patient.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years, and has good potential to become a 94+ point wine.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot. Aged in (50% new) French oak barrels for 30 months. Only 1,200 bottles produced.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$100. — 3 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Founded in 1970 and considered one of the "first growths" of Napa Valley; blend of 76% Sauvignon Blanc, 19% Sauvignon Musque (a clonal variant of Sauvignon Blanc), 4% Muscat Canelli, 1% Semillon. Pale lemon with green edges, aromas of citrus and earthy herbs. On the palate flavors of apricot, mango and grapefruit flavors with ginger and lemongrass tones, crisp and fresh. Good mouthfeel medium finish ending with lively acidity. Nice, consistent quality! Pair with some crab cakes, wow! — 3 months ago