Taplin Cellars

Terra 9 Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Neal Ferry

9.5

Fantastic in all senses — 6 months ago

Azur

California Sémillon Syrah Rosé 2017

Shay A

9.2

Julien Fayard, winemaker for Covert Estate, Azur, Taplin Cellars, Matthew Wallace and more, stopped by Fort Worth tonight to showcase a few different wines. A pleasure to meet and share wines with!

Without a doubt a nod to Julien’s upbringing. Very Provençal with little acid, salmon colored in the glass. Strawberry, peach and stone driven on the palate. — 6 years ago

with Weston and Benjamin

Severn, David and 21 others liked this

Taplin Cellars

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Carl Fischer

9.2

While I’ve greatly enjoyed their Terra 9 label, this is my first time trying their estate wine made by Julien Fayard. There are tons of red fruits on the entry, which are balanced by baking spice and a touch of minerality. Very smooth on the entry and finish. Moderate acidity. Very good now but will likely be better in 2-3 years. Decanted for 2 hours. — 7 years ago

Laura, Shay and 17 others liked this

Covert Estate

Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Shay A

9.4

Julien Fayard, winemaker for Covert Estate, Azur, Taplin Cellars, Matthew Wallace and more, stopped by Fort Worth tonight to showcase a few different wines. A pleasure to meet and share wines with!

This was fun to taste alongside the Matthew Wallace. Two very different AVAs (this being Coombsville, MW being Stag’s Leap). Both had similarities in dark fruit being the most dominant, but this had much more “cool” fruit notes as well as stone and graphite. This wine showed an immense amount of freshly squeezed blackberries on the mid-palate with cedar and mint. At 5-years old, it still shows as a baby with the tannic finish. Long decant necessary.

I was able to visit this property back in ‘16 and the caves and tasting room and drop dead gorgeous...some of the most beautiful I’ve come across. Entire line-up is very solid. — 6 years ago

with Benjamin and Weston

"Odedi", David and 30 others liked this

Shay A

@Eric Shanks : The Covert line-up is strong from top to bottom, especially if you enjoy Coombsville cabs (which I think you do), but they are also not cheap. This one is $150. Their Sage Hill (Pritchard Hill) Cab is insanely good, but I think it creeps around $200...ouch. If you enjoy Julien’s wines (he also makes Purlieu and Le Pich, but I’ve had neither), then you will really enjoy these.

Greg Ballington

He’s making Scalon Cellars nowadays too which is at $85 for their CS

Shay A

@Greg Ballington : I remember you posting about Scalon. Definitely a wine I’d like to try, including his Purlieu wines!

Matthew Wallace Wines

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Shay A

9.4

Julien Fayard, winemaker for Covert Estate, Azur, Taplin Cellars, Matthew Wallace and more, stopped by Fort Worth tonight to showcase a few different wines. A pleasure to meet and share wines with!

The nose on this alone had me sold. Quintessential Stag’s Leap with the deep espresso, dark chocolate, dusty aromas. Definitely some sweetness on the nose...graham cracker, smoked blueberries, and Mexican vanilla. The palate, from start to finish, is just a powerhouse of blue and black fruits mixed with baking spices, cocoa dusted dates and plum. I’d have no problem pop and pouring this. — 6 years ago

with Benjamin and Weston

"Odedi", David and 27 others liked this