Ron R

9.3

If you’re looking for the James Bond effect without the financial nosebleed, this maybe for you… Beautiful visual salmon pink presentation in the glass. Wispy mouthfeel with a nice light structure. Moderate tannins and acidity make this “ladder up” rosé a summer special. However, locating rocking horse sh!t might be an easier proposition. — a year ago

with Anne-marie

Vanessa

9.0

Kitá, red blend, Santa Ynez Valley, CA, Vintage 2014, ABV 13.5%. The blend is comprised of 48% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Franc, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petit Verdot. @kitawines

👁 It had a beautiful purple hue and vibrant notes of black cherry, blackberry, black currant, plum, violets, cedar, nutmeg, vanilla, leather, and tobacco. 👃 👄

I loved learning about the background on this wine and winemaker Tara Gomez, who studied enology with financial help from her tribe, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. 💕 Tara has worked with iconic figures in the California wine world — such as Fess Parker and J. Lohr— and has traveled the world, honing her own unique style of winemaking that blends the best of old world and new world techniques. 👏👏👏 @tgomez805

This red blend is made of grapes grown on the Camp 4 Vineyard, purchased by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians in 2010, when Tara was hired as head winemaker. 🍇🍇 The land was previously cultivated by Fess Parker, who had an influence on Tara’s budding career while interning at Fess Parker Winery during her enology studies.

The word "Kitá" means "Our Valley Oak" in the Santa Ynez Chumash native language of Samala. The wine is speaks to “place” and respect for the land from which it is cultivated. 🌎 🌳 Yields and production are kept small to promote sustainable growing practices and the grapes are harvested by hand and vinified with minimal intervention. — 3 years ago

with Deked1

Ron R

9.1

This a very sold sparkler that comes in way below my financial pain-threshold. Birthday Boy @Shawn R had one going today. Kudos to you dad, husband 🎈
Back to the wine... crisp and energetic, with a limestone/chalky overtone. This oozes quality, and presents just like champagne. Why spend Whiskey Tango Foxtrot type loot when you get this at a fraction of the price of the real thang? — 4 years ago

with Anne-marie

David Shaw

9.1

My first wine I’ve ever tasted from Moldova. Jancis Robinson reviewed it in Financial Times January 27 2023. Tasting and decanting now… purple, very good clarity. Aromas of leather (wood) and strawberry, flavors of strawberry and cherry with wood, light to moderate seed and skin tannins on finish. Light bodied but solid tannin structure. Needs at least 60 minutes to decant. 24 hours later, tasting really well, some real character. A worthy red table wine — a year ago

Evelyn Frison

9.0

Extreme value.
BF that knows wine: There are wines that you’d only date and there are wines you’d want a relationship with and this is a relationship wine.
Not too fussy, very consistent, medium bodied but with some spice. Financial goals are aligned. Not a trophy wife wine - but someone you’d be proud to introduce to your friends .

Me: 👀 idk what that’s description is about bc I’m in this relationship and those characteristics don’t describe me. But my thoughts: I’d buy again and it pairs well with White Lotus. I’m going to bring it to my “2023 intention setting dinner” with a group of girlfriends. Will update if it pairs well with intentions. — a year ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Well...this was one hell of a week. There is only one way to wind it down. Reach for an excellent bottle of vintage Champagne.

My first thoughts are how delicate this is on the palate. Further, how unbelievable it will be with another 8-10 years in bottle.

The nose shows; slightly sour lemon, the good parts of lemon Pledge, lemon meringue, white stone fruits, pineapple fresh with lots of juice, grapefruit, lime pulp, honeysuckle, soft, haunting caramel, brioche, limestone & slightly, dirty, grey volcanics, saline, sea fossils, sea spray, bread dough, vanilla, white spices-light ginger with spring flowers, mixed floral greens & lilies.

The body is light on its feet and dances on the palate. Delicacy abounds. Its soft, gorgeous mousse right there with the best money can buy. Slightly sour lemon, lemon meringue, green & with more bruised golden apple, white stone fruits, pineapple fresh with lots of juice, grapefruit, lime pulp, touch of apple cider, honeysuckle, soft, haunting caramel, ginger ale into cream soda, brioche, nougat, toffee notes, lighter nuts without skin, limestone & slightly, dirty, grey volcanics, saline, sea fossils, sea spray, bread dough, vanillin, marzipan, white spices-light ginger with spring flowers, mixed floral greens & lilies. The acidity is mellow yet lively, gorgeous and as good as it gets. The finish is all luxury. So well knitted & balanced, elegant, rich but not overpowering and gently persisting several minutes.

Photos of; The House of Taittinger, their caves so chalky white and built on the famous Crayères Cellars of Reims: 2.5 miles of tunnels (they own 1/4 to 1/3 of it) cut out of chalk by the Romans, the portrait of Thibaud IV who was a king, lord, manager, singer, conqueror, explorer & 11th century Crusader all rolled into one from which, this Cuvée was the catalyst creation and part of the 600 plus hectares they own in Champange.

Some producer notes; Taittinger's history can be traced back to 1734, when it was originally known as Forest-Fourneaux, founded by Jacques Fourneaux who worked closely with local Benedictine monks to learn how to produce wine. They were just the 3rd Champange house.

The estate was bought by the Taittingers – a family of wine merchants – in 1932, and thanks to the great depression and subsequent low land prices, the family also picked up huge swathes of vineyard. From 1945-1960, Francois Taittinger established the cellars in the Abbey of Saint-Nicaise, and after his death in 1960 his brother Claude took over, pushing the estate into a Champagne house of world renown. Such was the status of the label that the Taittinger family soon expanded its business into other luxury goods. However, this eventually led to financial difficulties, and in 2005 the Taittinger brand – including the Champagne house – was sold to the American owned Starwood Hotel Group. The sale was badly received by the Champagne industry, with many fearing the new owners – unfamiliar with the culture of Champagne – would put profit ahead of quality.

Just one year later, Claude’s nephew, Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, who had always been opposed to the sale, negotiated a €660m deal with the Starwood Group, and the Taittinger family resumed ownership of the company.

In 2017, Taittinger planted its first vines in England, near a village in Kent, for its venture into English sparkling wine. The first bottle will be ready in 2023.

1/8/21 — 3 years ago

Tom Garland

9.3

1.5 hour decant(little fine/cloudy sediment). A majestic deep ruby red color. On the nose: perfumed nose of plum, smoked meat, old leather, eucalyptus, burnt cedar, green veggie. Taste: smooth, slightly creamy, elegant, structured wine with black plum, currants, herbaceous, nutty chocolate, leather, graphite and a long peppery savory dry finish. YUM!

The financial crisis and excess wine to sell had the 08 1st growths all priced less than $200 a bottle so I bought a bunch.  At 15 years,  it's finally time to check em all out. This Mouton is a nice start. — a year ago

with Brenda

Eric Urbani

9.0

Bryan was kind enough to share one of his original Pinots from 2006. Sadly the Vineyard was later sold to a financial buyer as so he had to move on. — 3 years ago

S.S. Mandani

9.4

Rich perfume of spices and pomegranate. Specifically pomegranate. Beautiful bee pollen and mulling spices. No harshness. The fragrance of a rich and blossoming garden of roses.

Woah. Zippity zip. We got acidity, and it’s medium to high but with the natural carbonation and juice juice juice, it just works man.

It’s got sour framboise beer qualities, but of course the tannins and the cola like quality just sings.

Patting myself on the back for popping into Simply Wine in Financial District before a rooftop dinner party with some old friends. — 4 years ago

Averil Svahn

10

Purchased at BRIX financial District; Dec 2019 BRIX Six — 4 years ago