Somm David T 
Saxum Vineyards
James Berry Vineyard White Blend 2018
This Saxum White Blend is unique & delicious. Cheers, Justin. 55% Grenache Blanc, 28% Roussanne & 5% Chenin Blanc.
The nose is a blood orange/tangerine that has orange at its center. White citrus’s-lemon-grapefruit, tropical melons, overripe yellow stone fruits. steeped sun tea, notes of marmalade fruit bits, brown sugar-molasses, caramel hues, some moist herbs, lite white spice, limestone, volcanic minerals, withering yellow lilies and carnations.
The palate is round, juicy and a bit viscous. Gentle oxie notes, Blood orange/tangerine that has orange at its center, white citrus’s-lemon-grapefruit-lime reduction, tropical melons, some pineapple, overripe yellow stone fruits. steeped sun tea, notes of marmalade fruit bits, brown sugar-molasses, caramel hues, some moist herbs, lite white spice w/ palate heat, saline, brioche, well toasted bread crust, frothy cream, white pepper hues, maple tree bark, limestone bits, volcanic minerals, withering yellow lilies and carnations, acidity is off the charts, rich, lush, well balanced, nicely toned structure with elegance for days and lasts minutes landing on darks sugars & spice.
What a beautiful wine experience. Loving it. This wine rips your mind apart. It is a heady wine. Drink now & for 5-7 yrs. — 13 days ago
Domaine Adrien Besson
Vaudésir Chablis Grand Cru Chardonnay 2022
Not the best Grand Cru Vaudesir I’ve had. It is a 2022, which makes it a bit more of a head scratcher. It is not bad, just not living up to the terroir and vintage. Expected a bit more.
The nose shows nice stone fruits, green & golden apple, lemon, lime with zest, slightly overripe pineapple, kiwi, saline, sea spray, whipped cream, slight notes of flint-gun metal, bread dough-pie crust, nice chalkiness, volcanics, limestone yellow lilies, spring flowers framed in greens.
The palate is ripe, juicy with hints of paraffin. Both stone fruits, green & golden apple, lemon, lime with zest, slightly overripe pineapple, kiwi, tropical melons, saline, sea spray, gentle white spice with some medium palate heat, whipped cream, slight notes of flint-gin metal, bread dough-pie crust, graham cracker’s, honey, marmalade, butterscotch candy, caramel, vanilla, grainy chalkiness, volcanics, limestone yellow lilies, spring flowers framed in greens, nice round, rainfall acidity with a well balanced, mid tension/structure, nice length and elegant, rich finish that lands in butterscotch, spice and minerals.
Best to let this one warm up. You’ll get more out of it. Drink over the next 5-8 yrs. — 20 days ago
Château de Candale
St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 2005
This has improved nicely since I last had it in 2020. Blossomed. 2005 such an amazing vintage. I understand why the Bordelaise said they underpriced the vintage. This was $25 or less on release.
The nose is; dark chocolate cake to pudding, black currants, blackberries, dark cherries to liqueur, both plums, black raspberries & strawberry edges, core of tarriness, herbaceous notes, lightly and beautifully layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, mocha powder, caramel, moist volcanic clays, steeped black fruit tea, charcoal, candied graphite, moist understated tobacco, dry top soil, dry river stone, candied to just withering; dark, red flowers with liquid violets.
The palate shows; well softened & rounded M-m+ tannins. It is thick, lush, plush heaven. black currants, blackberries, dark cherries to liqueur, both plums, black raspberries & strawberry edges, dark chocolate cake to pudding, a core of tarriness, herbaceous notes, lightly and beautifully layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, mocha powder, caramel, moist volcanic clays, steeped black fruit tea, charcoal, candied graphite, moist, understated tobacco, dry top soil, dry river stone, dark mid spice, candied, dark, red florals with brilliant liquid violets, excellent, rainfall acidity, balance and elegance for days with a long, lengthy finish that lasts minutes and lands on earth & spice.
93-94. Beautiful wine and extreme value.
Still has 7-10 yrs ahead w/ proper storage. Peaking. — a month ago
Clos Mogador
Clos Nelin Priorat White Blend 2017
This is a white blend of: Garnacha Blanca (White Grenache), Macabeo, along with small percentages of, Cartoixà, Picapoll, and Escanyavella from Clos Mogador is quite unique. All the more so roughly ten yrs in bottle.
My wife and I visited the property in 2105. René Barbier, drove us all over their hillside vineyards in his Jeep. Quite the rugged ride. We tasted back at their bodega with both René and his father René Barbier III.
As soon as you step on the property, the scent of fennel fills your senses. It grows all-over the property. One can get more of it in their red, but there’re lesser hints here.
The nose is quite amazing. The fruits are golden like its color. Honey Crisp caramel apple, honeysuckle, some of the most amazing white spice I’ve experienced, paraffin, slightly candied yellow stone fruits, hints of marmalade fruit bits, blood orange, hints of white citrus-lime zest, moist herbs, sun tea w/ lemon, volcanics, limestone marl, dry earth times with orange lilies, jasmine & a field of spring flowers.
The palate is sensational. It is rich, lush, juicy, viscous and slightly waxy. Honey Crisp caramel apple, honeysuckle, amazing white spice w/ just a touch of white spice w/ soft heat that expands & circles in the mouth, paraffin, slightly candied yellow stone fruits, marmalade fruit bits, bold, blood orange, hints of white citrus-lime zest, tropical melons, vanillin, nutmeg a small lick of cinnamon stick, moist herbs, fennel notes, sun tea w/ lemon, volcanics, limestone marl, dry earth times with orange lilies, jasmine & a field of spring flowers, rainfall acidity with an elegant, extremely well balanced, mid toned structure with length for days that lands on spice and soft tones of minerals.
Delicious!!! Cannot say I’ve had anything similar.
— 6 days ago
Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
My first of nine bottles. Good first look. 13 such an excellent & big vintage. This is still midway to the top of the bell curve. 15-20 yrs plus depending on storage & taste.
The 2013 fruit clusters had small berries that were nicely ripened by the season, which meant more skins vs berry that gave it tannins, structure & depth.
Epic vintage.
The nose reveals; a lift of sage & rosemary. Black currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherry liqueur, anise core to black licorice, sage, soft rosemary, dark chocolate to pudding, mixed cola, steeped tea, some black pepper, limestone, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, dry twig, grey volcanics, withering to dry; dark, red, purple flowers.
The palate is round, lush & thick. M+ dry, velvety tannins that penetrate deeply w/ teeth. Black raspberries, black plum, dark cherry liqueur, anise core to black licorice, sage, soft rosemary, dark chocolate to black plum pudding, caramel, dark spices w/ heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon to stick, vanillin, mixed cola, steeped tea, some black pepper, limestone, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, dry twig, moist clay, grey volcanics, leather, graphite, moist tobacco, oak barrel shavings, withering to dry; dark, red, purple flowers, round, rainfall acidity with a rich/lush, nearly balanced, still strongly toned/structured, elegant finish with length & teeth that lasts minutes and lands on spice & earthiness.
It is still a baby. Plenty of life ahead. It has much more to offer. 15-20 yrs depending on storage and age taste. Add 1-2 points in 10 yrs. — 20 days ago
Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2006
I recently had a conversation with a few Joseph Phelps Ambassador’s at Pebble Beach Food & Wine in April. I said, I had every vintage of Insignia back to 2006 in storage. They said, “you should really drink up the 2006.” So, I coravined an 06 last weekend, a taste. I agreed then. But tonight not the case, it shows it still has a fair amount of life. Another 5-8 yrs and perhaps plus.
My Ribcap, a definition of Medium Rare Plus.
The nose reveals floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, softly layered baking spices, very underrated graphite, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola.
The palate shows well resolved, rounded, velvety M+ tannins. Nicely ripe fruits that are floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel river, softly layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanillin, warm caramel, dark Asian spices with palate burrowing heat, dry tobacco/ leather, cedar, grilled meats, very underrated graphite, sweet tarriness, black licorice, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola, candied to withering; dark, red, blue florals wrapped in liquid violets, epic rainfall acidity, well balanced-structured-toned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls on earth & heated spice.
95-96 peaking. — a month ago
Launois Père et Fils
Vinum Dei Brut Champagne Blend
I’ve had this once but that was some time ago, revisiting. Launois Champagnes are imported I believe exclusively by K&L Wine Merchants. It took K&L 5 yrs of relationship building to gain their trust/relationship. Launois is very selective about who represents their cuvées. BTW, K&L now has a small NYC shop. I believe the reason they opened in NY was for the additional shipping. So, if you couldn’t order from CA retail and could from NY, K&L is another option for you. I believe if they are the best retail shops in America, certainly top two or three.
Note the cork has a rubber seal. So, no wine contacts the cork. Launois is the only producer I’ve experienced that does that.
This cuvée is 60% Chardonnay & 40% Pinot and hails from the Coteaux du Sézannais and Côte des
Blancs. 7g.
The nose is pronounced & beautiful. Gently bruised Bosc pear-red & golden apple, just ripe pineapple, white citrus blend w/ a grapefruit lead, tangerine/blood orange, brioche, graham crackers, vanillin, frothed cream, chalky notes, lifted white spice, sea spray, elderflowers & white spring flowers.
The palate shows: bruised Bosc pear/red & golden apple, just ripe pineapple, white citrus blend w/ a grapefruit lead, tangerine/blood orange, brioche, graham crackers, vanillin, frothed cream, chalk bits,, volcanic minerals, limestone, lifted white spice that burrows into the palate with some heat, saline, sea fossils, elderflowers & white spring flowers, lively, crisp acidity, rich, well structured/balanced and an elegant finish with long length, two-minutes. — 6 days ago
Domaine Charvin
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2010
This is an unusual CdP. In the sense that is is dark, thick and like chocolate for water.
My first of three bottles.
The nose shows a very light flaw, some soft VA, bandaid. The core is all dark currants, candied, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, both plums-heavier black, black raspberries, hints of raspberries & wafting strawberries. Chocolate cake w/ fudge frosting, incense, black pepper, black coffee, anise to black licorice, grilled meats, crushed rocks, lime-sandstone, dry herbs with floral candied dark, red flowers with liquid violets wrapped in lavender.
The palate reveals; dark currants, candied, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, both plums-heavier black, black raspberries, hints of raspberries, some pomegranate & wafting strawberries. Chocolate cake w/ fudge frosting, caramel, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, incense, Christmas cake, red & dark cola, olive tapenade, black pepper, black coffee, anise to black licorice, smoke, grilled meats, soy sauce, crushed rocks, lime-sandstone, moist clay, dry herbs with dark, gentle dark spices, red& dark flowers with candied liquid violets wrapped in the same candied lavender, grand, round, rainfall acidity w/ a rich, lush, well balanced, nicely toned/structured, elegant finish that shows length that lasts 90-120 seconds and falls on chocolate cake, clay & spice.
Untypical for a CdP to be so thick, round, rich and a bit of wine candy.
93-95 with the meal.
Drink over the next 7-10 yrs and perhaps a couple to three yrs +. Greatly depends on storage and how you like your wines in age. — 20 days ago
Merus
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
This was still a bit of a baby. Much more life than expected based on a number of other 2012’s I’ve had.
The color is still very dark.
Showed nice evolution & integration. Nicely ripe, blackberries, black raspberries, both plums but more black, layered baking spices, moist tobacco, soft leather, elegantly soft earthiness, beautiful, round, dark spices, beautiful dark & red flowers with lavender and violets, excellent, round acidity, extremely well balanced, very elegant finish with great length.
Easily has another 10-15 yrs of good drinking left w/ proper storage. Think it will show another point in another 5yrs. — a month ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
Better with the Rib-cap. The 08 vintage was spotty to good. This one shows the shortcomings of the 08 vintage. Really good fruit, but lacks typical, depth, mid palate, and length.
The nose is class Bordeaux.Ripe to ruby fruits of, black plum skin, slightly syrupy blackberries, plum, dark cherry liqueur, strawberries, dark currants. Dark chocolate cake with glaze, screaming, lead pencil shavings, tobacco, leather, dry riverstone, limestone marl, forest floor with dry leaves, soft, incense, black, licorice, red, cola, dry herbs, tomato, leaf, with dark and red flowers, framed in violets.
The palate is ripe to ruby fruits of, black plum skin, slightly syrupy blackberries, plum, dark cherry liqueur, strawberries, dark currants. Dark chocolate cake with glaze, screaming, lead pencil shavings, deep, dark spice that expands wide, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, caramel and vanillin, dry tobacco with ash, leather, dry riverstone, limestone marl, dry crushed rocks, forest floor with dry leaves, moist clays, soft, incense, black, licorice, red, cola, savory dry herbs, tomato leaf, dry oak barrel shaving to cedar with dark and red flowers, framed in violets, acidity is ok, just not right, finish is good, not great, it falls hard on spice and is short of a minute.
93 with the Rib-cap. Green Bean from my organic gsrden. Drink now through 2035. — 6 days ago