Two By Sea

Sea Smoke

Ten Estate Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2023

Dark garnet color with a ruby core. Aromas of dark berry fruit, forest floor, lavender and smokey vanilla. Flavors of black cherry, blueberry and blackberry fruit with additional flavors of black licorice, baking spices, savory herbs and roasted nuts. That smokey/oaky vanilla flavor extends to the long and silky finish. More weight, heft, power and concentration than your typical Pinot Noir. The bright acidity balances this wine beautifully. Outstanding! Thanks to Kase and Petey for bringing this wine on our 2026 Cape May, NJ vacation. — 20 days ago

Bob, Joel and 4 others liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2021

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Delicious throughout. The 2021 pours a bright garnet color with transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of Morello cherry, raspberry, cranberry, red flowers, orange zest, some tar, talcum powder, dried herbs and dry, organic earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is about as sapid of a young Classico I’ve had from Produttori. It’s a bold wine right now but some time on its side will bring more into balance. Drink now with some patience through 2051. — 4 days ago

Zach, Sagee and 15 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Have six of these on hold for a bit longer.
Jay Kline

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@Somm David T you could easily enjoy one now because the fruit is so special. But years and years to go

Andrew Will

Two Blondes Vineyard Merlot Blend 2007

Presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and dried, mixed fruits: brambles, plum, blueberry, purple flowers, leather, earth and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and rich. Alcohol is medium+. Pretty tasty stuff.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Merlot (or blend thereof), Cabernet Franc (or blend), Cabernet Sauvignon (or blend), Shiraz (or blend) Tempranillo or Syrah from the United States, France, Australia or Spain. The fruit is the star here so I’m taking this to the “new world”. Plus, there is a generosity and elevated alcohol that gives me Aussie vibes (though I find the wine balanced). I also think this has 15-20 years of age. Final conclusion: this is a Shiraz blend from Australia, Barossa, 2005. Daaaaaang. Andrew Will! I don’t hate my call but I should have probably done better with this one since I’m very familiar with these wines. Still much to learn. Drink now through 2037.
— 4 months ago

Lyle, Zach and 8 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

I miss the days where I lived in a city where I had fellow wine geek friends and had blind-tasting gatherings like this!
Jay Kline

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@Tom Casagrande In eastern Nebraska, the Somm community hosts one every Monday afternoon. It’s super chill, organized by one of my wine mentors, an Advanced Somm. Everyone brings a bottle in a bag. The only criteria is that the bottle is testable at the Advanced level by the CMS. Everyone gets an opportunity to run through the grid and then we discuss. The participants range from the serious collector, to the aspiring wine professional, to the Sommelier trying to advance in their certification(s). It’s pro…but we have fun and learn a lot because there is a lot of functional knowledge in our group.

Two Hands

Gnarly Dudes Barossa Valley Shiraz 2021

Had the 2021 in February of 2026. Lots of blueberry and vanilla with some spice with this one. Enjoyed this one more with food rather than sipping alone. — 8 months ago

Alpha Omega

Two² Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2019

A Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend of all 5 Bordeaux varieties, aged for 10 months in 25% new French oak, deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruits, oak and cigar box spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, cherry and currants with cacao and herb spice. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, oak, spice and earthy mineral character. Nice! — 2 years ago

Tom, John and 2 others liked this

Cakebread Cellars

Two Creeks Vineyards Pinot Noir 2013

An evening of Cakebread Cellars. The Pinot and CabFranc were the shining stars. Earthy tones with a hint of cherry and back spice. — 20 days ago

Dave liked this

Sea Smoke

Southing Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023

delicious biodynamic Sta Rita pinot. tons of salinity and characteristic terroir. — a month ago

Two Hands

Ares Barossa Valley Shiraz

Fresh as a daisy. Powerful. Umami, soy, prunes. — 2 months ago

Sea Smoke

Botella Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir 2024

Same wine of very high quality! — 3 months ago

Neil, Jose and 8 others liked this

Fort Ross

Sea Slopes Fort Ross Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017

Paul J
9.3

Only had a few sips. I’m not a big Pinot guy but this was solid. — 5 months ago

Brooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Brooke
Tom, Tom and 1 other liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Tasted blind. Medium deep garnet ruby and medium garnet ruby rim . Quite cool and restrained , again lots of grafite and mineral , dark fruits . This is quite deep and dark spicy cassis , blackberry and sea spray , saline . Quite dense and robust on the palate again , lots of fine but ripe tannins. Very long , dense , cassis , cedar grafite saline finish . This is a complete and great example of 2005 , great balance and enormous length , the longest of all on show here. Drinkable now , but surely it’s best days are in the future , wait another 5 -10 years , will last well a further 20 - 25 if not more . The apex of 2005 ? For me this had to be the Latour , and an archetypal example of Latour no less . 1st place and the gold medal . — 5 months ago

Tom, Tom and 9 others liked this

Sea Smoke

Sea Spray Blanc de Noirs Sta. Rita Hills Sparkling Pinot Noir 2016

Sour cherries, bright strawberries, and ginger. Long lasting, mouth-watering finish. — 9 months ago

Sea Smoke

Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2020

Super crisp layers of green apple and citrus and some hints of surrounding some fig and tropical fruits. Very long finish and super well integrated oak. — 3 years ago

Scott@Mister and Shay liked this

Sea Smoke

Ten California Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2019

Very smooth. Not as big of a Pinot as I would have thought. — a month ago

Scott@Mister and Shay liked this

Sea-Sun Vineyard

Sea Sun California Pinot Noir 2023

Great siping through an authentic Italian meal — a month ago

Sea Smoke

Ten Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir

KA
9.3

Brentwood LA — 2 months ago

Rick and Billy liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1999

1999 vintage. Nice fill. Used a Durand. Solid cork with approx 50% saturation. Decanted and tasted after two hours. That decided Lynch-Bages medium heavy bod. Has dropped some, not all, of the overt primary fruit load. Pleasant spices and feminine characteristics easily noted and cataloged. Pretty harmonious now tho with a little chunkiness/tannic blessing as more of a fleeting kiss vs a big hug. Could easily go another decade in this ensemble. 6.14.26. — 4 months ago

Daniel, Jeroen and 9 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Tasted blind . Slightly more mature colour than 1 . Ruby with some garnet and a more garnet tinged rim . Cooler more mineral on the nose , touches of grafite and wet rocks , sea spray , with some dark spicy cassis . On the palate this is more dark cassis , spicy grafite , cedar , touch of iron filings . Good roundness on the palate , with dusty tannins and balanced acidity, intense and saline . Long cedar tinged grafite length . Quite intense and stlight sterner overall , a little more aloof , more Cabernet , darker in style. Better in 5-10 years and will last well a further 10-20. Had this as Margaux . My 5th placed wine . — 5 months ago

Tom, Somm and 8 others liked this

Two Hands

Angels' Share McLaren Vale Shiraz

Had the 2022 in February of 2026. Blackberry and dark cherry with a barrel forward character on the nose. Not super tannic- berry/cherry throughout. Short finish with hints of tannin on the end. — 8 months ago

Matthew HeyboerEthan HeyboerJody Wycech
with Matthew, Ethan and 2 others

Sea Smoke

Estate Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay

Medium gold color. Aromas of tasted coconut, apricot and lemon. Stone fruit on the palate, dried apricot, minimum butter on the finish.

🏅95 Points - Wine Enthusiast
— a year ago

Tom, Dave and 12 others liked this