Salad Days

A. Rafanelli

Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Never disappoints. Paired with teriyaki steak, salad and baked potato. — 10 days ago

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2022

Somm David T
9.2

Been a bit since my last but still do not think much of the style of their Cabernet. Especially, given its price point.

2022 Napa Cabernet’s more than less boil down to when did you harvest, before or after the 10 days of intense heat during the harvest window.

2026 Taste of Oakvile
— 2 months ago

Paul, Peter and 13 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

@Jay Kline @Somm David T — Love reading the dialog!
Jay Kline

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Thanks @Tom Casagrande I love and appreciate my fellow Somm, @Somm David T ‘s perspective greatly so I too enjoyed the dialogue

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

1990 vintage. Last tasted 11.19.25 (9.6)…yes…two days ago! Someone’s gotta do the dirty work. Comparable experiences with the cork, fill and flavors from the 11.19.25 visit. Not decanted. Tasted one and two hours after opening. After one hour open (not decanted)...a 9.4. two hours...a 9.5. Perhaps decanted, surmise it could have touched 9.6 but we'll never know. This specimen slightly more advanced but still ridiculously phenomenal. 11.21.25. — 9 months ago

Tom, Somm and 15 others liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Somm David T
9.5

Nearly 20 years in bottle. It is still ascending will drink well for another 15 days plus years.

From a warm vintage. Beautiful, even toned fruits with elegant earth & amazing lead pencil bloom for days.

This is approaching its peak, another 5 years from its peak.

Well resolved wine-fruits. The fruits are juicy, blackberries, black raspberries, plum skin, dark cherries & slightly, poached strawberries with a highlight of pomegranate. Mocha, dark chocolate, black tea, sandalwood, sandstone, limestone, some mushroom notes, dark, rich turned earth w/ dry leaves, dry tobacco, dry leather, dry herbs, dry stone, caramel notes, dry, withering, dark, purple & red flowers with excellent acidity, balance, tension, structure and finish for days that lasts 90 seconds.
— 2 years ago

Vanessa, Daniel and 16 others liked this

Château Brane-Cantenac

Grand Cru Classé en 1855 Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Somm David T
9.6

Margaux and Rack of Lamb. I’m in. The 05 vintage…magic!

Lamb w/ just enough fat, spice meet perfect ripe, bright, floral fruits of; blackberries, black plum, dark cherries, strawberries, red & black licorice/cola, perfect mid spice, sweet, lead pencil shavings, charcoal, cedar, not old, not fresh, tobacco, touch of nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, pea gravel, dry twig, dry limestone powder, steeped tea, dark, rich soil with dry leaves, herbaceous notes-bay leaf, moist clay, an array of fresh, withering, floral bouquet, amazing, rainfall acidity, perfect, tension, balance, structure and polished finish for days. Absolutely stunning!
— 3 years ago

Shay, Daniel and 15 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Geyserville Sonoma County Zinfandel Blend 2015

Somm David T
9.2

Its been awhile since I’ve opened a Geyserville. This is the 2015 50th Anniversary. Young for me on this bottling. But, a decent first look. Still shows some astringency. This will age like a Cabernet if stored correctly. 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Syrah and 3% Alicante Bouschet. 14.5% ABV. Never opened a bad bottle of Ridge.

It is ready to drink but will improve over time. It will age 15 plus years stored correctly. Black raspberries, blackberries, plum, boysenberries, dark cherries, spice, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, clay, dark chocolate, forest floor with dry leaves, caramel, malt balls, dry twig, light, soft pepper, dark, mid & purple florals for days-violets, excellent acidity and a pleasant wire to wire finish.

Excellent gourmet burger wine.
— 3 years ago

Vin, Shay and 15 others liked this

Pine Ridge Vineyards

Clarksburg Chenin Blanc + Viognier Blend 2021

This is great! I love the sparkling wine like taste. Went down fast. Would def. Have again. Drank with tandoori chicken, 4 bean salad, and collard greens. — 4 years ago

Château Montrose

La Dame de Montrose Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Somm David T
9.1

This was a check-in to see how ready my 2000 Montrose’s are doing. A good check.

This is absolutely a close relative of the 2nd Growth Montrose. The thing that experience has taught me is, Montrose is a long in the tooth producer. As well, the 2000 Bordeaux vintage mimics that completely.

I would say the 2000 Montrose is finally ready with a longish decant.

This is completely classic Bordeaux and Saint-Estèphe.

The nose shows ripe, lush, nearly candied fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, back/stewed dark cherries, strawberries & raspberry hues. Both dark & milk chocolate to pudding, dry twig/soils, dark rich soils, dry river stone, dark & mid berry cola, anise to black licorice, softly layered baking spices, limestone/sandstone, black tea, used leather & tobacco, black olive tapenade, light cedar, semi-used charcoal, dark, red fresh & slightly withering flowers.

The palate shows nicely resolved M+ rounded, tarry tannins. It has freshness and bright fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, back/stewed dark cherries, strawberries & raspberry hues. Both dark & milk chocolate to pudding, dry twig/soils, dark rich soils, dry river stone, dark spice w/ palate heat, dark & mid berry cola, anise to black licorice, softly layered baking spices-nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & very light vanillin, limestone/sandstone, moist clay, crushed dry rocks, grey volcanics, black tea, used leather & tobacco, black olive tapenade, light cedar, dark, red fresh & slightly withering flowers, beautiful acidity, it is nicely toned, good structure/tension with a well balanced, elegant & polish finish for days that lasts two-minutes and lands on dry earth & spice.

91-92.

Still has 5-10 yr of life ahead depending on your storage.
— 17 days ago

Tom, Jay and 8 others liked this

Rene Rostaing

Ampodium Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2015

Somm David T
9.4

Happy New Year! 🍷

Perfect pairing w/ my Dutch oven braised short-ribs & horseradish mashed potatoes.

Dark currants, brambly blackberries, dark cherries, brilliant cherries, strawberries, iron pan, dry shale, dry herbs-sage lead, dry crushed rocks, limestone, volcanics, roasted chestnuts (a signature of this producer), some black coffee, tarriness, dry top soil, dark spices, some red to mid berry cola, red, dark flowers, violets, excellent, round acidity, balance for days, nice structure/tension with elegance that lands squarely on dry earthiness.
— 7 months ago

Shay, Andrew and 13 others liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2012

I don‘t know. This has so much oak it overpowers everything. Might need another 10 years to be approachable. Cigar box, black berries. Deep, big and profound. I am not sure I would spend 70$ on this. It needs much much more time. Probably needs to be open for 2 days. Out of the machine at the Wine House in LA. — 10 months ago

Scott@Mister, Zach and 5 others liked this
Vin d’Ottawa

Vin d’Ottawa

We have a 2007 Magnum and plan on holding for a few more years. Well-aged Rioja is a treasure

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1981

Opened 24 hours prior and decanted for sediment before returning to the bottle; enjoyed over the course of two days. The 1981 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of tart brambles and plums, green bell pepper, tobacco, leather, all of the decomposing earth and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium, mostly integrated tannins with medium+ acid, borderline high. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Overall, a wine that is a reflection upon the vintage and at 43 years of age, that’s a big compliment. The 1981 is very much alive and will likely live for a very long time. However, it is backward, rustic, and somewhat tough to love unless you’re an old-school masochist. But I’m guilty and this wine is charming despite all of its green character. Drink now and over the next 30 years probably. — 2 years ago

Bob, Ira and 12 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Pontet Canet was underachieving big time in 81. The 82 was great (I bought futures!). And after that it was a gradual climb back to the high quality level that had been lacking in the 70s.
Jay Kline

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@Tom Casagrande ‘81 was tough but they are still alive to tell the story. Agree that they have been on the ascendency since then.

Clos De La Roilette

Clos de la Roilette Fleurie Gamay 2016

Celebrating 12 days of marriage! 🥳 — 4 years ago

Romain liked this

Johan Vineyard

Vin de Days Blanc White Blend 2021

Sunshine and tropical fruit just lovely — 4 years ago

Harlan Estate

Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend 2022

Somm David T
9.2

Two things were true tasting this 2022, it wasn’t their best bottling & it was no near ready to drink. Hard to tell which is more true. Maybe, it improves in time?

2022 Napa Cabernet’s more than less boil down to when did you harvest, before or after the 10 days of intense heat during the harvest window. #

2026 Taste of Oakville.
— 2 months ago

Tom, Scott@Mister and 8 others liked this

Union Sacré

l'Orangerie 40 Days on skin Gewürztraminer 2025

2025. The skin contact amplified some of the floral notes of base wine. — 2 months ago

Doug and Anthony liked this

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2020

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Both days outstanding but slightly different experiences. Day 1 was about power. Day 2 was about balance. The 2020 “Cuvée Réservée” pours a brilliant garnet with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with heady, slightly funky notes of ripe brambles, garrigue, red & purple flowers, bacon fat, licorice, and dry rocky earth. On Day 2, everything was more open nit and the fruit showed more bruised with a slightly stewed profile. Lavender was the predominate floral profile too. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is textbook Pégau and I love it. Drink now through 2045+ — 6 months ago

Joel, Tom and 5 others liked this

Krug

Grande Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend

Somm David T
9.4

They are the King’s of Champagne for a reason.

Beautiful mousse. Both yellow & white stone fruits, tropicals, lime & lemon zest/pulp, green & red apple, cream to whipped cream, ginger skin, grey volcanics-limestone minerals, white spice, taunt chalk, baguette crust, sea fossils/foam, white spring flowers, yellow lilies, excellent acidity, balance, structure, tension & elegance for days with a finish that ends balanced on fruit & minerality.

@Delmonico Steakhouse Las Vegas
— a year ago

Paul, Joe and 14 others liked this

Apothic

Inferno Red Blend 2020

Inspired by the “Apotheca”, a mysterious place where some of the earliest wine was blended and stored, Apothic wines offers a truly unique wine experience.

A red blend emerges from the flames, creating a most unexpected and masterful encounter.

Paying tribute to a time-honored craft, this wine has been aged for 60 days in whiskey barrels, creating bold notes of red and dark fruit with layers of maple and spice.
— 3 years ago

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1995

A lovely bottle of classic Lafite Rothschild. Ordered with old friends and new at Waldhaus Sils on the fourth anniversary of my father’s death. He was biased to Cabernet Sauvignon / Left Bank Blends, and appreciated his Lafite, even if he stopped buying them as prices got out of hand. 1995 was chosen in honor of the year that I met my friend Julian, with whom I have worked at two companies across 20+ years and now count as a dear friend and peer in our industry. The bottle was in great shape, likely bought en primeur and stored in the Alpine retreat’s cellars (tour tomorrow!). Oscar, the manager and sommelier has been at the Waldhaus for 32 years, so it was purchased in his early days. The tannins were very well integrated, with some dark fruits, delicious tobacco and cedar, and a long finish. — 3 years ago

Vino, Bob and 12 others liked this

Johan Vineyard

Vin de Days Pinot Noir 2019

Damn. I am all about this wine tonight. Cherry and raspberry notes on both the nose and palate. Beautiful pinot coloring in the glass and a glorious finish. I will definitely be seeking this one out again. Highly recommended! 75% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier, 5% Pinot Gris. 5/1/22. — 4 years ago

Ericsson liked this