Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2008 vintage. Yeah, some wackoid(s) gave this 100 points. Whatevs. Arrived at 70-72 degrees. Zero chill. Immediately plunged into an ice bath. Used a Durand to open but the über-dry cork just laughed at it and decided to pixelate into small, broken safety glass-styled fragments. Not the sign I was looking for. Here comes the funnel + screen + decanter to save the day. That screen needs a raise come review time. Put the decanter atop the ice bath with a protective serviette between and gave it another 5-6 mins in the chill. Color not quite yellow Chartreuse but pretty close. Tasted at approx 58-59 degrees. Like a trip to the confectionery + bakery. Whoa! Medium/medium-heavy body and this was popping. Splashes and suggestions of fruits, bread products and baking spices without an overriding, final boss. Phenomenal. Can’t give it a Wilt but it did not suck and should drink as such for at least another half-decade. Have had plenty of Marcassin whites and reds and this was the best of the lot. Transcendent. For all that…? 9.6. Soviet…er…Russian judge mode deployed. 3.6.25. — 4 months ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.4

Great value at $50.00 from K&L
Web notes,

The owner of this Chateau, Calon Segur takes some of it name Calon from the word 'calones' which were small transport skiffs that used to haul goods up and down the Gironde river. Back then boats were the best mode of conveyancing wine plus preferable to the reluctant donkey and other landlubbing transports. This fact is a big reason for this region's long successful trading history. Much to the dismay of more land locked wine making regions, Bordeaux enjoyed direct access to the water. Happily shipping great wines such as Chateau Capburn Gasqueton for centuries. As this red wine was transported away from the port, the owners would farewell it's strawberry and raspberry driven fruit flavours bound for distant thirsty lands. It's beautiful chalky tannins and fine oak would be missed as they were well on the way to our store's shelves, cellars and tummies. Hence raise a big cheers to the diminutive but very essential Calons! (And amazing value Bordeaux reds)
Chateau Capburn Gasqueton is situated in St Estephe, on the left bank of Bordeaux, France. Grapes have been grown on the property's grounds since the 12th century. However, the 18th century saw it's elevation into quality wine production when Nicolas-Alexandre, owner of Latour, Lafite and Mouton bought the Chateau along with Chateau Calon Segur. From 1894 to 2012 the Gasqueton family owned the Chateau - producing wines of great finesse and elegance. In 2013 the French insurance company Suravenir bought Chateau. Since then they have heavily invested in upgrading the estate whilst ensuring they preserve this historic and treasured wine producer. Its vineyard comprises of 62% Cabernet, 37% Merlot and a petite drop of 1% Petite Verdot! — 4 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.2

Medium gold in color... sporting its age. Beautiful depth of white fruit flavors—-apple, pear, ripe pineapple. Round, ripe, weighty. Long, smooth finish. I like Hirsch Pinots... I remain on their list for their Chardonnays. David, Jasmine...I raise my glass and salute you and your stewardship! — 6 years ago

Stephen Stone

9.0

Mmmm...leftover spiral ham, brie, and fig jam sandwiches!! Paired with a crisp, dry white from Austria to raise the bar just a bit!! Great wine Rachel and Peter!! Thank you!! Lots of minerality...hint of petrol...light citrus...some floral notes.
#foodandwine @skurnikwines — 8 years ago

with Janet

Andrei Shustov

9.3

Very well done WA cab. Bravo Tim!! That romance with Boushey family paid off!! — 8 years ago

Laura Purdy

9.0

Revisiting this easy VA red while watching the Capitals raise the Stanley Cup banner. — 8 years ago

James Forsyth

9.3

Cocktail hour at Christie's hosted by the Friends of Notre Dame in the effort to help raise money for the cathedral's restoration. The wines were artfully curated by @Noah May.
Second up was this delicious and supple white burgundy. Pears and apple blossom combine in this texturally elegant wine. The finish is adequate if a little stilted. It should be noted that when I had this wine with an elegantly crafted canapé, both exploded with taste. Next time it will be a whole bottle with a full meal! — 8 years ago

Mike R

9.5

Another owner and celebrating their Series A raise - 26 years old and world by her coattails - and the wine is delicious/ all smiles tonight — 8 years ago

Vanessa

9.6

Here we have the Corison 2012 Kronos Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s deep garnet & overflowing with characteristics such as ripe blackberry, plum, cassis, blueberry, mulberry, black cherry, fresh purple fig, violet, rose, roasted bell pepper, star anise, cedar, sandalwood, vanilla, nutmeg, clove, leather, tobacco, crushed stones, and graphite.

On the palate it’s dry, with refreshing acidity, a medium (+) body, reserved alcohol (13.7% ABV), fine tannins and a lingering finish. It’s outstanding – balanced, layered, elegant, & powerful.

As we celebrate International Women's Day, let's raise a glass to Cathy Corison and all the trailblazing women who continue to shape our world!! — a year ago

with Deked1

Ian Hamel

9.1

2020/12/22 with pan-roasted venison loin and tenderloin with sauce poivrade (after Richard Olney). This is a tricky one. I love Clape, and this wine was quite nice, in a brambly blackberry and funk vein. It did not, however, have any of the notes you’d expect from a mature Clape. It certainly didn’t feel old or faded - quite the opposite, it was still fleshy and fresh, if not terribly deep. Sometimes this happens, but sometimes I feel it happens a bit frequently with wines from my cellar. Perhaps it’s just too cold - I have heard some views that in cool, stable “benchmark” cellar conditions, wine can age much more slowly than is generally expected. One thing I can say is that my 2004 Clape and Allemand, stored with no cooling with family in the Bay Area, has already started to shown those delicious, gamy aromas. Should I raise my cellar temp a few degrees? As is, who knows how much longer this one could or should have gone, but as it’s my last bottle I guess I’ll never know. — 6 years ago

Evan Bienstock

9.4

After a brutal week— trying to raise a glass and, for a few minutes, forget how troubled our country is. And how like a boat in a storm without a rudder. I hope we can find our way. — 6 years ago

Peter Sultan

8.9

My Xmas resolution: to single handedly raise its Delectable aggregate score- because it deserves it. Perfect pizza frizzante wine. I think not technically a Lambrusco. Dry, balanced, charcuterie here I come. C’mon! — 7 years ago

Diane Withrow

9.4

Ripe melon on the nose. Rich round complex tropical. Pineapple. Mango. River rock- a touch of astringency to balance the ripeness. Creamy without cloying. Oh so very lovely. It calls for soft shelled crab- any seafood really that’s very fresh and simply prepared. Music? Hmmmm. Jazz. Not studio. Live sets that have some ad lib in them. Nothing too controlled. Celebratory. Savor. Raise that- get it out for friends nice glass- to life!!!! — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

The nose reveals; dark currants, blackberries, heavy black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries and some blueberries. Black tea, expresso roast, anise, crushed dry rocks, big vanilla, clove, a little nutmeg, dry underbrush, sweet tarry notes, leather, woody notes with dark fresh & withering flower bouquet.

The body is big and lush. The tannins are big, meaty and tarry. Very dark currants. Blackberries, heavy black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries and some blueberries & strawberries as they open up. Black tea, expresso roast, steeped fruit tea, anise, crushed dry rocks, dry clay, big graphite, big vanilla, dark spice, clove, light dry herbs, a little nutmeg, dry underbrush, sweet tarry notes, leather, cedar with violets dark fresh & withering flower bouquet. The acidity is round, fresh and beautiful. The big, long, well balanced finish is excellent and look forward to having this in 15-20 years. This one will be a stunner!

Photos of, the barn where they make wine and hosts tastings, our private tasting area inside William’s old office. William desk and their outside terrace area.

Producer history & notes...Seavey Vineyard is located along Conn Valley Road in the eastern hills of Napa Valley, about 15 minutes from the valley floor.

This historical property was originally a cattle ranch. However, records indicate grapes were planted on some of the hillsides as early as the 1870’s. The stone dairy barn, still in existence, was built in 1881.

William & Mary Seavey purchased this property in 1979. The estate was originally founded by the Franco-Swiss Farming Company in 1881 which, closed down when Phylloxera destroyed their grape vines and the Volstead Act (Prohibition) went into effect. At the time of their purchase, they were a horse and cattle ranch. They quickly planted the slopes with grapes and initially sold their fruit to Raymond Vineyards. They have never purchased grapes, all their wine is made from estate grapes. Their vineyards are separated into 20 plus individual blocks.

Today, the property is about 200 total acres of which, 40 acres are planted to vine. Their hillside vineyards produce low yields of rich concentrated fruit. A small block of Chardonnay grows in a cooler lower part of their property. Besides grapes, they also raise cattle which are used to graze the hillsides. They feed the vineyard with the cattle cuttings. In 2003, they were one of the first Napa wineries to install solar.

Mary passed away in 2008 and William died in 2016. There daughter Dorie returned to the family business and now oversees the winery operations. Her brother Arthur also handles national and some small international sales, primarily to restaurants. However, most of their wine is sold direct to consumers.

Seavey’s first commercial vintage was released in 1990 a year after they renovated the stone dairy barn into a working winery. Today this stone building is the centerpiece of the property and is where tastings are hosted.

Since 2011, Jim Duane has been their day to day Winemaker. He’s worked at Robert Mondavi and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. It should also be noted that Philippe Melka Winemaker/Consultant has been with Seavey since 1995...one of Philippe’s two initial wine making jobs in the Napa Valley were with Seavey and Lail Vineyards.

Seavy makes about 3,200 cases annually depending on what mother nature brings. They make around two hundred cases of Chardonnay, slightly more Merlot and the rest is of the production is comprised of their Caravina and Estate Cabernets.
— 8 years ago

Vanessa

9.3

This is the 2018 Marc Hébrart Brut ‘Special Club’ – a beautiful bottle of vintage bubbles hailing from a collection of premier and grand cru sites in the Marne and Montagne de Reims regions of Champagne, France.

When you see “Special Club” on the label of a bottle with this distinctive shape, you’re dealing with essentially a prestige cuvée of a grower-producer who’s a member of the “Club Trésors.”

Marc Hébrart joined the Club Trésors in 1985, which is an association of quality-minded grower-producers. Grower-producers operate differently than the big champagne houses (e.g., Veuve-Clicquot) in that they are smaller-scale vignerons who own the entire production process from the vineyard to the winery and cellar.

They have helped raise awareness and appreciation of artisanal champagne wines that speak to a sense of place and personality, unobscured by extensive, widespread blending.

To achieve the status of “Special Club” a wine must undergo a rigorous application process and meet minimum quality metrics culminating with in two blind tasting panels – the first tasting evaluates the base wine after the first fermentation; the second and final tasting occurs after a minimum of three years aging sur lie.

From our studies we’ve learned the 2018 vintage bore above-average fruit; the warm and dry summer paved the way for a riper expression in an otherwise marginal climate. This wine is made with 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay.

The bouquet has a medium (+) intensity of yellow and green apple, lemon zest, white peach, gardenia, almond biscotti, nougat, pastry, biscuit, and toast notes. The palate is creamy with vibrant acidity, adding lift, a fine-beaded, persistent mousse and long, elegant finish.

— 2 years ago

with Deked1

Martijn

8.9

First day pnp. Nose stil bit closed. Tanins still very present. Solid wine. For now 89. Lets see tomorrow. Second day a bit smoother than day 1. Tannins not that dominant anymore. Good wine, point. No reason to raise the score. — 6 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.5

Full bodied, dark fruit, complex, well integrated tannins, penetrating. Celebrating Tammy’s stepping of her Wave of lifting Meridian to a world best place to life work and raise a family for 20 years and getting preparing for that next wave she will embrace ....Cheers a Tammy! Love you! — 7 years ago

with RoAnne, Janelle and 2 others

Fredrik Finn

9.4

Quality check on Le Raganie Brunello di Montalcino 2013 and what a showstopper, starting off a bit shy but evolves into a layered complexity with plenty of finesse, with four hours in the decanter its hard to raise your nose from the glass. Red, very vibrant fruit is backed up by dried spices and pronounced but balanced savoury complexity of forrest floor and crushed stones. A subtle volatile lift brings further complexity. Fresh palate with, fine grained tannins and a tactile sensation that brings the wine throughout its long finish. Not Brunello, its a trademark Ragnaie! — 7 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.4

Wow. Just a terric wine from the (late 😢) Patricia Green. Bought this at the winery upon release, this is a great example of what you can gain by letting these Oregon pinots develop for a few years. Great aromas of sour cherry, spice, and a hint of earthiness, the wine has a rich mouthfeel with terrific layers of fruit and enough acid to kerp it alive thtough a bslanced, lingering finish. One of the better Oregon pinots we’ve had in a while. Raise a glass to the late, great Patricia Green. 🍷 — 8 years ago

with Vanessa

Isaac Pirolo

9.4

I found a house in St Helena last week and will be moving there at the end of May. I thought I should get acquainted with the neighbors. What better way than a face off?
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Neyers Vineyards 2011 Neyers Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon vs Salvestrin Winery 2013 Salvestrin Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.
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Neyers Ranch is situated in the hills of Conn Valley just east of St Helena, with elevations ranging from 400’ to 1200’ on a south-facing, 50-acre parcel bisected by Conn Creek. Since 1998 Neyers has sustainably farmed this vineyard. Winemaker Tadeo Borchardt started in 2004 as assistant to then winemaker Ehren Jordan.
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This Neyers was highlighted as one of the best of Napa’s 2011s in Jon Bonné’s piece for the SF Chronicle “Lessons from Napa in the trickiest of years” saying it “finds that great Cabernet balance of sleekness and dense flavor” with “pitch-perfect expression” and an “oregano-like herbal side frames its meaty structure and subtle blackcurrant fruit.”
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Since 1932, three generations of Salvestrins have sustainable farmed their vineyard which was originally planted in 1860 by Dr. George Crane. It’s situated immediately south of St Helena High School and along Main St (Hwy 29), surrounding the family winery. Rich Salvestrin farms the vineyard and makes the wine, and his wife Shannon handles the sales and marketing, while they both raise the 4th generation on their farm.
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Robert Parker gushed over the 2013, as “lusty, savory, hedonistic, rich and mouth-filling, with a dense purple color and not a hard edge in sight.” His praise did not stop there, saying that this “blockbuster fruit bomb has complexity, richness and a savory intensity that has to be tasted to be believed.”
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The vintages were so different that it’s difficult to weigh them against each other. Bonné is definitely on point calling the Neyers one of the best examples of 2011 Napa Cabernet. Savory, with rich aromatics of Mexican cocoa powder and mole sauce, reminiscent of Corison’s 2011. To Parker’s credit, the Salvestrin is definitely a blockbuster and a hedonistic fruit bomb, but the savoriness, complexity, and length tone down its showiness, and add a level of decorum that sets it apart. — 8 years ago