Sommelier
A Charles Hendricks wine.
Medium plus tannins. Ripe, rich, floral fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, black plums/ extra skin, dark cherries, plum pudding, dark spice with heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, mid berry cola/licorice, dark rich soil with dry leaves, dry tobacco, dry twig, cedar, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, fresh to candied; dark, red, purple flowers, round, sharp acidity, highly structured, well tensioned, balanced finish that lasts two-minutes and lands on minerals.
Good tonight…better in 5-7 years.
Photos; James Cole, Silverado sign, bronze logo statue and private tasting room. — 7 days ago
Are there many/any better Pauillac second growths?
2003 a ripe, warm vintage.
Soften medium plus tannins. It’s Bordeaux lush, ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum that leans into pudding, dark cherries, ripe strawberries, hues of purple & blue fruits. Dark spice w/ palate heat, nutmeg, clove , cinnamon notes, mid berry cola, some black licorice, vanillin, dark, rich forest floor with a touch of dry leaves, lead pencil shavings, dry tobacco, sandalwood to cedar, 1/2 used leather, limestone, dry, crushed rocks, dry river stone, dry herbs, dry to moist, grey, volcanic clay, fresh & withering dark, red flowers, framed in lavender & liquid violets, excellent acidity with excellent; tension, structure, balance and elegant finish that goes on and on.
First wine w/ an Allen Brothers Ribcap.
Photos of; Chateau Pichon Lalande, Virginie de Pichon Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande, library cellar and estate vineyard. — 15 days ago
Top 3 new world producer of nearly a 100% Ganache and or Syrah.
This w/ a 4 1/2 hour decant after a meal falls into black plum pudding.
Ripe, nectar driven; blackberries, plum pudding, dark cherries, black raspberries, poached strawberries, blueberry pie, dark berry cola, black licorice, dry stem, dark rich forest floor with leaves & dry twigs, pipe tobacco, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry herbs, dark, mid spice, some black pepper, top soil, steeped tea, some me baking spices, baking spices, fresh herbaceous notes, dark, red, purple, blue, withering flowers, perfect acidity and a well balanced, knitted, softly tensioned, elegant finish that lasts two-minutes. — 15 hours ago
My go white Bourgogne producer. Especially, in a great vintage like 2020. Extreme White burgundy value.
The closer it gets to 61-62 the more flavorful it gets!
Happy Birthday Angela. — 17 hours ago
Second Sauternes pairing with my homemade Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Didn’t use the additional crushed pineapple this time. Both preparations are very good. I think I prefer it w/ less pineapple.
In 2014 I attended the Bordeaux En Premiere. One of the six days, we toured 8 Chateau’s tasting multiple vintages at each in Sauternes & Barsac. Then, went back to Chateau Guiraud for dinner. Before the dinner, Bill Blatch then arranged for a Sauternes tasting after tasting at 8 Chateau’s in Saternes & Barsac. We tasted 50 Sauternes in basically in 60 minutes. After that, my hand was like Winne the Poo in the honey jar from dumping. After, my wish wasn’t necessarily for the forthcoming dinner, but rather wished to go to a Dentist for a teeth cleaning I had so much RS in my mouth. None the less, dinner was fantastic and started with warm Foie Gras & gravy. Perfect as is w/ the Pineapple Upside Down Cake tonight.
This 05 is everything that you taste in the Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Perfect paring. Newly a quarter century and no fading in its evolution.
Dry; stone fruits, pineapple, orange citrus, pineapple. Marmalade, caramel, saline, limestone, honeycomb, beeswax, coconut, vanilla, saline, round acidity with yellow florals, toasted nuts with round acidity for days. Elegance, balance, structure and round, rich polish that goes in and on. Coravined from 375ml.
Bill Batch (who worked for Cristy’s & owned his own negotiate company) has somewhere around 5,000 bottles of Sauternes. He does a Sauternes & Sausage party bi-annually. Good luck getting a well sought after invitation. There are more people in Bordeaux who want to attend then there are available invitations. — 15 days ago
Straight up delicious every time w/ this age and longer.
Happy Birthday Angela. — 16 hours ago
Amazing w/ the Allen Brothers A-5 wagyu.
This is another Bordeaux producer that makes wines for the ages. I’ve waited & waited on 2000, this shows some readiness. Yet, will go another 20 plus years.
Tonight this is well balanced earth & candied fruit. In 10 years, this is candied fruit & florals.
Still medium plus tannins. Blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with ample skin, juicy dark cherries, poached strawberries, raspberries, dry limestone grains with powder, dark, forest floor with dry leaves, some dry herbaceousiness-bay leaf, mint, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, some cinnamon, hints of vanillin, mid berry cola, sandalwood to cedar shavings, used leather, pipe tobacco, anise, some mocha, sun tea, dark, red, purple flowers with a touch of blue, excellent acidity and a well knitted structure, balanced, nicely tensioned with a ripe, elegant finish that lasts two-minutes.
Photos of; Chateau Calon Segur, tasting room, barrel cellar and estate vineyard. — 7 days ago
Mother Mary of God! Near Pomerol like. Charles Hendricks masterpiece. Menthol & a touch of mint.
Stunning vintage & wine.
This 07 is in perfect shape…at its peak. Still has 7 plus years of life.
Black raspberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries, purple fruits, dark chocolate/pudding, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, softened, cinnamon stick, vanilla, dark, rich soils, moist, limestone mush, black tea, black licorice, bay leaf, salted caramel, dryish twig, menthol, mint, volcanic ash, sandalwood, dark withering to candied, red, blue florals, lavender framed in violets with perfect acidity and a amazingly, structured, well knitted/tensioned and elegantly polished finish that lasts minutes falling squarely on earthy minerality.
Second wine with an Allen Brither’s Ribcap recently bought on the secondary market for $55.
Photos of; James Cole on Silverado Trail, brass statue that is their bottle logo & their private tasting room. — 15 days ago
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
Still one of the best Napa Cabernets for the money. 12 a fruity & very high yield vintage in Napa Valley.
12 is a fruit leaning vintage. It is juicy, ripe, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum pudding, some boysenberries, cedar, medium plus tannins, dry tobacco, leather, dry leaves, expresso, French barrel shavings, sandstone, dark, rich, sweet, turned earth, stems, black, rich, sweet earth, steeped tea, alluvial limestone minerals, baking spices, liquid, dark, red, purple flowers, w/ rainfall acidity and an elegant, rich, fruit driven finish that lasts nearly two-minutes.
12 a vintage to age, but not long age. Lacks the tannins to do what 13, 14 will.
Happy birthday Angela. — 15 hours ago