David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

I forgot to shoot the Moonracer bottle and borrowed some of these images from their site.

This is one of my favorite wines from Realm. Very kind of Leslie to open for us. The 2021 was outstanding and have it at 97-98. Showed very well at well pop and pour.

The nose on the 2021 Moonracer was quite feminine which has great appeal to me. Dark perfume florals, ripe, lush currants but more cassis with beautiful, soft baking spices.

The palate was fresh and shows round, ruby, lush fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, dark cherries. It is feminine & elegant in its style. Powdered, limestone, rocks & sandstone, soft, dark spice with gentle heat as it sets, sweet forest floor, black licorice, mixed berry cola, some soft, fresh tobacco, expensive, plush leather, softly stated baking spices-nutmeg, clove cinnamon & vanillin, melted dark chocolate, a mix of fresh, red, blue florals framed in violets & some lavender, perfect acidity, elegant, round, extremely well balanced, layered, structured long finish that is two-minutes.

One thing of note, there will be no 2022 The Absurd. The Absurd fruit will go into The Bard and a couple of their others wines. Reason, the six days of brutal heat during the potential harvest window.

Stunning pano view of Pritchard Hill from their estate. If we had been there the day before, fog and clouds would have made this photo impossible. Brand plate on their stainless steel tanks, believe a shot of their Moonracer vineyard and sitting area in their tasting room. — 3 months ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.2

Hey, Delectable— this is the Visions 2018 North Coast Pinot, but the ID wasn’t available.

Unabashedly ripe and warm, but with a distinctive umami flavor (hoisin sauce?) that I’m really digging. Black cherry, black plum and even blue fruit on the nose and palette. Lovely satiny texture. Medium + finish.

Hedonistic in the way you’d expect from a winemaker mentored by the Wagners, but the suppleness and umami notes make this wine stand out in a sea of north coast Pinot Noir, and the absence of new oak lets the fruit do the taking. Perfect with chicken lettuce wraps and haricot verts smothered in Madeira mushroom cream sauce.

Owner/founder, Mac Macdonald, has been making his own California Pinot Noir for more than 25 vintages now and it shows. Side note: he’s also one of the better story tellers in the biz.

Initially sampled as part of a tasting with the #AAAV (Association of African American Vintners) and took the bottle home.
— 3 years ago

Larn

9.4

Absolutely delicious Anderson valley Pinot. — 4 years ago

Dawn E.

8.9

Clean and refreshing. Loads of red fruits. Raspberries, chocolate covered cherries, pomegranate, cranberries, and cinnamon. In grade school PE, we had to climb up a steel pole. I am picking up the essence of my hands, post descent. If anyone wishes to help me with a descriptor for that, you are welcome! Nice acidity! I would purchase again! — 10 months ago

Vanessa

9.2

This is a biodynamically-produced Cabernet Franc wine from Costa Toscana IGT, a coastal subregion within Toscana IGT, in Tuscany, Italy. 🇮🇹

Given their proximity to the coast of the Ligurian Sea, the vines likely experienced coastal influences, such as sea breezes and fog. 🌊

Although not native to Italy, Cabernet Franc thrives in this kind of environment with cooling factors and soil comprised of clay, schist, and limestone. 🍷 And while Cabernet Franc typically finds itself playing a supporting role (such as in a Bordeaux blend), with this wine, it’s captivating at center stage. 💫

To help promote the purity of fruit character, the winemaker used a percentage (15%) of whole cluster berries in the fermentation process and aged this wine 10 months in stainless steel, rather than oak. 👌👌👌👌

Ampeleia is the name of the producer, born out of a collaboration among friends Elisabetta Foradori, Giovanni Podini and Thomas Widmann. 💕💕

We’re loving this wine, which is bright, yet structured, featuring concentrated red fruit aromas and flavors, such as ripe cherry, strawberry, kirsch, plum, also bubblegum, violet, dried lavender, wet clay, wet earth, peat, tobacco, and vegetal notes.

Ampeleia, Cabernet Franc, Costa Toscana IGT, vintage 2018, ABV 12.5%.
@ampeleia — 3 years ago

with Deked1

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

Steve Rura

9.0

The 2022 white blend is Picpoul, Clairette, Orange Muscat, Marsanne, Rousanne and Chardonnay. More Muscat than the Pet Nat, and the orange peel and floral notes are great. A little nutty, dried apricot, pear, yuzu, sea salt. Medium acid. Very good versatile and Rhône-inspired white. — a year ago

Ming L

8.9

100% PN from North Coast for 21’. Raspberry, pink grapefruit, watermelon, hint of strawberry and sea breeze. Juicy and refreshing on the palate, with touch of chalky mineral. Crisp acidity with round edge.

— 2 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.2

pale translucent ruby, tawny rim; wild berries, plum, hibiscus, pine needles, hints of spice; tart red fruits, medium length; medium body, medium+ acidity, light dusty tannin, 13.3% ABV; sourced from a blend of sites in the North end of the Anderson Valley; very nice introduction to the range; $45 — 3 years ago

Sarah O'Kelley

9.2

Can’t stop won’t stop with broc! First time having this chenin and loved every step definitely a new world Chenin but in all the right ways - fleshy, layered, delish. Think lemon meringue pie with a garnish of sea salt 😋 excellent with pan roasted grouper and the six seasons kale salad which if u have never had that you must! — 3 years ago