The Chef And The Winemaker

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2022

first time dining at Chef Vola. 22 is incredible , a really powerful and complex food wine with a noticeably long finish. — 5 days ago

Bob, Jay and 7 others liked this

John Duval Wines

Entity Barossa Valley Shiraz 2017

A perfect balance between oak and fruit (blackberry) from this Barossa Shiraz. Great winemaking from John Duval who has quite the CV. John was Chief Winemaker at Penfolds from 1986 until 2002 being only the 3rd custodian of Penfolds Grange after Max Schubert (creator of Grange) and Don Ditter. In 2020 this wine received Shiraz of the Year and 99 points from the James Halliday Wine Companion. The product of old vines in the Barossa. Luscious but in balance and overall - delicious. — 9 months ago

Aravind, Shay and 19 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

John is a very nice guy and an excellent Winemaker. Tasted with him at Taste of Barossa in 2018.

Long Shadows Vintners

Pirouette Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2014

This is a delicious Bordeaux blend from Columbia Valley in Washington State.

Very dark in color, and looks very young.

Full-bodied, smooth and bold, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, raisins, dried figs, vanilla, cedar, licorice, cola, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices, earth and coffee.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This 8 year old is peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Smooth and elegant. Rich and extracted, with a great mouth feel.

Good by itself or with food. A great wine to sip on and talk about.

Robert Parker 94 points.

Needs 3 hours to open up properly, but good right out of the bottle as well.

I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

A blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Petit Verdot, 17% Merlot, 7% Cab Franc and a splash of Malbec. Winemaker is Philippe Melka.

15.4% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$65 (current vintage).
— 4 years ago

Joe, Ted and 20 others liked this

Arkenstone

Obsidian Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

Even though it says ‘Obsidian’ it is no longer called that. It is the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon...and it is enormously enjoyable, even though the 2016 can handle a lot more time in the bottle. Love what Susan and Ron Krausz have done up on Howell Mountain. Everything from this estate (and winemaker Sam Kaplan) have been memorable. So we opened a bottle to celebrate turning the never-used dining room into a tasting room with this memorable bottle from Arkenstone. — 6 years ago

Lauren ElizabethKatherine Bordelon
with Lauren and Katherine
Hugh, Shay and 13 others liked this
Hugh O'Riordan

Hugh O'Riordan

FYI , obsidian is a black glass found in Idaho.
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Nicely done with the room!

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2013

Inspire Napa...Best of Oakville wine tasting
Moderated by Antonio Galloni, founder Vinous

WINES
2023 Favia cabernet
2016 Dalla Valle Maya
2013 Opus One
2023 Gamble estates cab
2023 Vine Hill Ranch cab
2023 Keplinger cab franc Detert vineyard

PANEL
Tom Gamble...Gamble estates
Ray Isle...wine editor,  Food and Wine
Bruce Phillips...owner Vine Hill Ranch
Michael Silacca...winemaker, Opus One
Maya  Dalla Valle...winemaker Dalla Valle
— 3 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Brenda and 12 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Nice line up. Particularly fond of Helen‘s work. 
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

@Somm David T Agree, especially her GSM blends. This is her first vintage(not even released yet) working with the Detert vineyard
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

I tasted her 23 cabs with her husband DJ not long ago.

Dom Pérignon

Legacy Edition Chef de Cave Champagne Blend 2008

Really beginning to make a statement — 9 months ago

Jan, Billy and 2 others liked this

Vine Hill Ranch

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

PNP, 3 years later checking back in on Francoise Peschon-Winemaker 2016 VHR Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon. Bruce Phillips- Owner & good guy! The wine is Smokin’ great! In a great spot today! Enjoy if you got em’ Cheers 🍇🍷👍🏻👏🏻 — 3 years ago

Shay, Tom and 18 others liked this

Sequoia Grove

Winemaker Series Napa Valley Cabernet Franc 2019

K L
9.0

String and earthy with dark fruit. The tonella is better of course but this is still good. Drinking young. — 4 years ago

Matt Dill
with Matt

Drinkward Peschon

"Entre Deux Mères" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Magnum, Excellent QPR Co-Owner/Winemaker Francois Peschon rocked 2012 Vintage! I’m seeking out 2018’s based on this performance. Cheers 🍇🍷👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 — 5 years ago

Neil, Paul and 24 others liked this
David L

David L Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Hard to fine this Quality at these prices anymore. Nice pull. @Billy L.
Billy L.

Billy L.

@David L -Yes, punches well above 💰 price point! Francois makes great wine 🍇🍷Cheers

Shafer Vineyards

Relentless Napa Valley Syrah Petite Sirah 2016

Wine honors long-time Shafer Winemaker Elias Fernandez & his relentless pursuit of quality. A blend of 90% Syrah & 10% Petite Sirah, a more bucolic grape than Syrah, providing for lush & rich wine. Aged for 30 months, 100% new French oak, deep Ruby with aromas of concentrated dark berry fruit & hint of smoky pepper spice. Layered meaty flavors of blackberry, cherry & blueberry explode on palate & subtle tannins relax to a nice long finish, great mouthfeel. One of the best Syrah’s I tasted. Aging well! — 6 years ago

Romain, Daniel P. and 7 others liked this

Sequoia Grove

Winemaker Series Napa Valley Merlot 2019

K L
9.0

Pleasantly surprised. Still dusty but good. A bit tanic. — 5 months ago

Matt Dill
with Matt

Forman

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Legendary winemaker, still crushing it after over 60 harvests! — 8 months ago

Hermes, Jean-Philip and 5 others liked this

Belle Glos

Las Alturas Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2021

‘Las Alturas' Spanish for 'the heights', a fitting name, this vineyard located on one of the highest grape-growing benches in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. 4th gen Winemaker Joseph J. Wagner from family with farming & winemaking roots in Napa since 1906. Met Joe several times. Deep Ruby (darkest Pinot I have come across). Nice berry and floral spice aromas. Rich cherry/plum flavors with oak, spice and vanilla. Long finish, bold ending with sweet oak notes. Very Nice! A Fav! — 3 years ago

Juan, Paul and 3 others liked this

Leviathan

California Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Ted
9.3

Really nice Bordeaux blend from Napa. Cool resume of the winemaker and his wife. — 3 years ago

Jeni
with Jeni
"Odedi", Jose and 9 others liked this

The Standish Wine Company

Single Vineyard Shiraz 2019

Decanted for 24 hours so that it could open up as it’s so young.
Incredible flavour, complex, red fruits but not too bold and some nuisance too.
Time will serve this well. A winemaker who dances to his own tune and making great music.
— 5 years ago

Ira liked this

Fletcher

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2012

No formal notes - dining with friends at a BYO Italian restaurant in Surfers Paradise. Interesting background story - this is made by Australian winemaker, Dave Fletcher, in the old Barbaresco train station. Dave is one of the chief winemakers at Ceretto. Ceretto allow him to make wine under his own label on the side. A well made correct medium bodied rendition showing red fruits and fine powdery tannins. A great match with Fettuccini Puttanesca. — 6 years ago

Severn, Aaron and 21 others liked this

Long Shadows Vintners

Sequel Columbia Valley Syrah 2016

Astonishing color and depth of concentration. Chewy, fat and full-on. Needs beaucoup years to settle down. Made by Penfold Grange’s winemaker. This guy does NOT f*ck around!! — 6 years ago

Eric, Tom and 21 others liked this

Belle Glos

Clark & Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016

Winemaker Joseph J. Wagner is a 4th generation winemaker from a family with farming and winemaking roots in the Napa Valley since 1906. Met Joe several times. Deep Ruby with red berry fruit aromas and sweet spice notes. On the palate flavors of raspberry and ripe blackberry with sweet oak, cacao and espresso notes. Soft fine tannins perfect acidity and balance long finish ending with mineral character. Nice! A Fav! — 6 years ago

Shay, Eric and 5 others liked this