David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I know I’ve posted a number of Kerr’s lately as I tasted there two-weeks ago. They didn’t pour this 2019 regular Cabernet at my tasting. But as fate would have it, this was at my Costco the following week for $58 and the winery sells it at $80.

I believe this is a blend of sites. Fermented in 85% new French oak for 22 months.

This is 92 which is stretching to 93. I brought this and coravined the bottle last weekend to try with friends and am finishing it with a 16oz Allen Brothers Ribeye. Bought three more to cellar today.

Looking forward to trying in again in 6-8 years…thinking it squeezes out another 1-2 points then.

I’m glad I found this as I’m looking for a Napa Phelps replacement. Since LVMH bought Phelps, it is now a $100 from the winery and you don’t see it in Costco anymore where I last bought the 2019 for $59 or $65. That is what corporations do. Especially, LVMH. They buy wineries and squeeze everything they can after purchasing them. They renamed & relabeled the Phelps Pinots that sold for $65-$80 and now are $225. I am not aware of any fruit source change.

After decanting an hour and half, the nose comes alive. It is a bit funky and dull immediately after pouring out of bottle. The fruits grow darker, some tarriness builds. It’s round and lush; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, plum, dark cherries, hues of purple & blue fruits. Tar, anise, bramble, dark melted chocolate, faint caramel, black licorice, baking soda again, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, wood shavings, dry tobacco & leather, withering; dark, red flowers set in violets & lavender.

The palate loads, thick, lush & rich. Good viscosity. The tannins are, round, supple, soft but meaty. It has stuffing unlike their higher end wines which are more feminine. The fruits are perfectly ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, plum, dark cherries, purple & blue fruits. Tar, anise, bramble, dark melted chocolate, caramel notes, black licorice, baking soda, dark spice that lifts and then presses into the palate w/ a fair amount of heat, dry herbaceous notes-Sage/Thyme, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, wood shavings, dry tobacco & leather, crushed volcanic rock powder w/ dry top soil, withering; dark, red flowers set in violets & lavender. Excellent round acidity, well structured, tensioned, balanced with a long finish that lasts minutes falling onto soft earth & minerality, dark spice with heat.

Be interesting to compare this 19 with a 19 Napa Phelps in fifteen years. See how the evolution measures up.

Happy SuperBowl weekend. 🏈 GO NINERS! — 10 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

If I am having an Allen Brothers Ribcap, I am also opening a good bottle of Bordeaux.

The 08 Bordeaux vintage goes down in the record books as good not great. This is not nearly as good as the 2000 I had a few years back...one of the few 10’s I’ve scored since starting to write notes. However, it does drink better earlier than 2000.

Ten years in bottle was just the right amount of time to check in on this 08. It will continue to improve over the next 5-7 years and hold another 8-10 years with proper storage.

With the first sip, it was elegant, refined and showing it is Latour’s close relative. My next thought was how good it will be with the Ribcap. Good on its own but, even better with steak.

It shows classic Bordeaux style. Just ripe fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, hints of blue & purple fruit. The tannins nicely round and velvety. The structure, tension, length & balance are just starting to hit their groove. Black licorice, black tea, stones, dry loamy topsoil, dark rich earth, less pencil shaving, soft leather, understated baking spices with withering; dark, red and blue florals. The acidity was nicely executed. The finish is; stunning, elegant and very well balanced with excellent persistence.

Photos of; Chateau Latour, iconic building that since in the middle of their Estate vines, barrel room and wide shot of their estate.

Side note. Having visited Latour three times, it has always been the most clean & pristine winemaking facilities I’ve seen in my many world wine region travels. You could eat off the floor. For me, they are the “King of Kings” in Cabernet. — 4 years ago

Carlo Maria Rossotto

9.3

Lovely gin from Lebanon. Had it with Jerome and Marolla — 2 years ago

Raymond Pettola

10

Love this wine so smooth and you can also taste the bourbon. So good!! — 4 years ago

Alton Komori

9.4

2004 - Luscious, dark fruit, cassis bouquet; medium body with complex, medium long, white pepper finish; $170 retail, paid $130 in 2015
; excellent with rib eye; worth the wait. — 4 years ago

David Kline

9.4

Beer battered, breadcrumbed, roasted chestnuts in an adumbrated rhubarb grotto swollen with overripe tart fruit. Scents can be deceptive, however, as the palate is round, but the tartness well-integrated into the prettiest pin cushion of citrus flower; Orange, limes and pomelo, stuffed with infinite strands of Brett-specifics of ginger, nutmeg and tea leaves dusted with nano-funk. Such a sensational marriage of unexpected harmonies. I suspect the raspberries sew it all together seamlessly. — 5 years ago

Skip Smyser

9.2

Howell Mountain Zinfandel. Lovely winery In Sonoma making Napa Valley Wine. Interesting!!! — 4 years ago

Kristen Frascatore Pettola

10

Smooth, slightly sweet. Can taste the bourbon but not overpowering — 4 years ago

Marla Forgues-Kostis

9.3

I quite like this one — 4 years ago

S.S. Mandani

8.9

The three brothers — Shafeeq Chachu (RIP), Raju Chachu, and the eldest, my Dad — that made it possible for me to live a life of enough privilege to sit an enjoy a glass of wine. The immigrant story is the truest of American stories, embodying everything genuine and compassionate about our country. Anyone who doesn’t see that, unfortunately, by definition, historically, is chiefly Un-American.

Reminds me of mulling spices, cinnamon roiling in a boil of red wine and citrus, the fragrance of mulled wine combined with sweet leather and cloves.

Rich tannins, cherry, and sandalwood. Overall, hard to lockdown a linear taste profile — a woodsy quality. Medium to high acidity — a bit too much for this, IMO.
— 5 years ago