Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The 2006 Bordeaux vintage. The vintage while wasn’t Bordeaux’s best, it certainly wasn’t one of its worst. It had the unenviable position of following a grand 2005 vintage. I think better than 2000, maybe 09 & 10? Jury is still out. The Bordelaise also got greedy and raised their prices from 05. That was a mistake when it came to selling the 2006 vintage and it laid another layer of bad taste in consumers minds.

I really enjoy Pichon Lalande’s style/craft. The 06 is good, not great. In fact, I enjoyed this better w/o the lamb.

The fruits are just ripe. Velvety, rounded M+ tannins. Brambly blackberries, dryish black plum, black cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, some raspberry hues, oak barrel shavings, graphite, dry soils, dry tobacco & leather, dry clay, soft but dark spice, some dry herbs, soft baking spices- clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, light milk chocolate, caramel hues, black tea, anise, some mid berry cola, dry & withering, dark & red flowers, violets, decent, round acidity, balanced, neatly structured/tensioned with an elegant finish that lasts just over 90 seconds and falls on dry earth and soft, dark spice.

Still acceding and has 15 plus yrs of good drinking ahead. Could make a case for rounding up to 93.

Paired w/ Grilled Rack of Lamb, Served with Rosemary Jus, Fondant Potatoes and Steamed Broccoli.

@EK148 — 10 days ago

Eric Halim

9.3

On nose its dominant blackberries,some red fruits, florals, spices like pepper, oak,

On palate, wine is still tannic at first taste, gave it breathe for 60-90 minutes, mouth coating acidity, its not too bold, but it offers good structure with medium intensity. Its drinkable now, cheers everyone! — 9 months ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Deep ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nose of red fruits with light earth notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black currants, black plums, cherries, spices, tobacco, earth, light wood, dark coffee and black pepper.

Smooth finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.

This 6 year old is a very easy drinking Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley in France.

Good right out of the bottle, and gets more complexity as it opens up. Tannins show up after 45 minutes of airtime.

I had it 4 years ago, and it is drinking pretty much the same, although it did gain more complexity. Will not get any better from this point, so drink up.

Good by itself as a sipping wine and good with food. I gave it a light chill and paired it with cheeses and crackers.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$40. — a year ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Inky in color with a short reddish rim.

Pretty nose with wild flowers, black fruits, light cedar, earth, Indian spices, dark coffee, tobacco leaf and herbs.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, cedar, cooked cherries, spices, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, herbs, peppercorn and earth.

Long finish with grippy tannins and tangy cherries.

This delicious Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Margaux is still so young, but drinking beautifully already. Rich and soft. Complex and interesting.

Showing good structure with a spicy nose. Needed a long time to open up properly.

This 2nd Growth Margaux is Complex and nicely balanced. Ripe and delicious now, but in your face kind of wine.

I had the 2018 not too long ago, and it was drinking better. Needs a few years to relax in the bottle. Would be nice to revisit it in 7 years, and will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years.

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

A blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and a touch of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Aged in (60% new) French Oak barrels for 18 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$90. — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

A very good left bank classed growth (5th growth) from a good vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon dominant aromatics (74%). Blackcurrant and cedar - a little tomato bush. A good wine but to state the obvious does not have the class and complexity of the higher classed growths. For example 3rd growth 2009 Chateau Palmer is a stunning wine - very rich, complex with a long life in front of it - very much superior to Chateau Batailley. — 6 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nice nose of cedar, licorice, cola, Indian spices, chocolates and tobacco.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, spices, light vanilla, tobacco, peppercorn, espresso, eucalyptus, light vegetables and herbs.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 4 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Yountville is already delicious. Fruit forward and elegant. Soft and smooth.

Showing nice complexity. Still young but already enjoyable even by itself.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour in the decanter. A good quality wine.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. This Single Vineyard has good potential to become a 94 +point wine.

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

A blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. Aged for 19 months in (55% new) French Oak barrels. Only 7,200 bottles made.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$90. — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

From 375ml.

A very good Rhone producer visited in 2015.

At pop & pour, the fruits almost had a mid berry bubble gum character. That toned down almost immediately. Fruits are ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, baked plums, raspberries, dark cherries, juicy strawberries, chocolate bar to fudge, grilled, smoked meats, black pepper, dark spice, nutmeg, clove, iron pan, black tea, a touch of rubber toy, slight tarriness, dry herbs, roasted chestnuts, tobacco leaf, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, hints of mint, dark, red flowers, violet’s, nice acidity with a well balanced-structured, stiffly tensioned with a lush finish that lasts 90 seconds and lands on earthiness & spice.

Plenty of life left in this 2012, even in 375ml. — 4 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Woodcutter is entry level for Torbreck. For just under $20, a very good Shiraz for the money.

This is young and full throttle. Alcohol seems hotter than 15%. But their reds need time.

Lots of ripe; mulberries, blackberries to pie, gooseberries, black raspberries & dark candied black cherries. Anise into black licorice, sweet tarriness, black ground pepper, fresh tobacco, leather, barrel shavings, dark spice, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, dry crushed rocks, red flowers, lavender, violets, full round acidity and nicely balanced, big tensioned, well structured, lush, elegant, well polished finish that lasts 90 seconds and falls on spice and pleasant earthiness.

It needs to shed its baby fat. Let rest another 3-5 years before opening. In Australian Shiraz hard to beat at this price point. — 5 months ago

"Odedi"

9.0

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Dark ruby in color, almost Inky, with a wide reddish/brick rim.

On the nose sweet cherries, raspberries, plums, black currants, tobacco leaf, light cedar, licorice, eucalyptus, black pepper, vegetables, black tea, herbs, Indian spices and lights acetone.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, light oak, tobacco leaf, herbs, light vegetables, earth, light forest floor, black tea and peppercorn.

Medium minus in length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 6 year old Merlot from Bordeaux is still drinking nicely, but will not get any better from this point on.

Showing nice complexity at this point. Elegant and good right out of the bottle. Feels fresh on the palate, but the nose shows more age.

I gave it an hour in the decanter to open up. Lots of herb notes show up as it opens up.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

A blend of 75% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$20. — 10 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Sitting for lunch in the heart of the city of Bolgheri, at a great restaurant, I had to try something I never had before. This entry level Bordeaux blend was a nice surprise.

Purple in color with a purplish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing blueberries, plums, black currants, cherries, light oak, spices, light earth, herbs, tobacco leaf, dark chocolates, licorice and a touch of vanilla.

Tangy finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This young Bordeaux blend from Tuscany is already drinking nicely, even right out of the bottle. Spicy and rich.

Opulent with lots of fruits, but also some earth notes to compliment the fruits.

Tannins show up after 30 minutes of airtime. A great nose shows itself after 90 minutes in the decanter. Much better once it opens up, so be patient.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food. Tangy, spicy and entertaining. I paired it with beef stew.

A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 15% Petit Verdot. Aged in oak barrels for 14 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$30. — a year ago