Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Other than the style of 80’s Bordeaux’s, 2005 is my favorite modern vintage. It was a grand slam year/vintage for the Bordelaise.

2005’s are drinking beautifully with still room for improvement. Of course, Saint Julien is know for its elegance and this Lagrange is all that. The evolution at this point is sheer beauty.

Round, lush, ripe, soften fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, both plums, black raspberries & slight bake strawberries. Some red & black licorice, dark red, cola, soft used leather, dry tobacco, soft graphite, savory herbaceous notes, beautiful, relaxed, dark spice, dark rich earth with stones & dry leaves, limestone, gentle unstated spice, undertone; cinnamon, nutmeg, & clove. Black coffee tones, black tea, red roses, red & dark fresh & withering flowers, perfect acidity, balance for days, elegant, smartly polished, elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds and lands on spice & minerals.

Delicious today & will drink beautifully for another 15 years.

Winemaking; 46% Cabernet, 45% Merlot and 9% Petit Verdot. From 40 year old vines and rests in 60% new & 40% used oak for 21 months. — 13 hours ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Woodcutter entry level for Torbreck. For just under $20 a very good Shiraz for the money.

This is young and full throttle. Alcohol seems hotter than 15%. But their reds need time.

Lots of ripe; mulberries, blackberries to pie, gooseberries, black raspberries & dark candied black cherries. Anise into black licorice, sweet tarriness, black ground pepper, fresh tobacco, leather, barrel shavings, dark spice, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, dry crushed rocks, red flowers, lavender, violets, full round acidity and nicely balanced, big tensioned, well structured, lush, elegant, well polished finish that lasts 90 seconds and fall on spice and pleasant earthiness.

Let rest another 3/5 years before opening. In Australian Shiraz hard to beat at this price point. — 15 hours ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Young but still beautiful. Better things with aging.

This rides the fence of having reductive & oxidative characteristics.

Bruised apple & pear, some apple cider, kumquats, some pineapple, tart lemon & lime zest, ginger ale, white spice-ginger that burros in the tongue w/ some heat, cream, baguette crust, limestone crumbles, saline, sea fossils, slightly bitty chalkiness, dry volcanic minerals, white flowers with greens, excellent acidity, well balanced & tensioned, polished elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds.

Photos of my October 2023 visit to Philipponnat. Clos Des Goisses which grows over the top of their facility and the view of the Cote de Blancs from the Clos Des Goisses vineyard. The best ripe and in this case unpicked vineyard fruit I’ve had was on that day in Clos Des Goisses. It wasn’t ripe when they harvested but it was perfect on the day of my visit. I would only add that I have tasted ripe vineyard fruit from all over the world. That’s how great it was!!! — a day ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

After reading the story of this producer, I inspired to try it. Especially, at $59.99 for a quality Napa Cabernet. These two brother’s are true pioneers of the Napa Valley. They do their own thing. Don’t follow trends and are not aggressive with their bottle price, nor do they really wish to. More rare than common in today’s Napa Cabernet market. I have a lot of respect for that and Napa Pioneers.

This also drinks pretty well for a young Napa Cabernet. I was expecting bigger/bolder based on write up. Not that this won’t benefit from cellaring.

The fruits are nicely ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries, cherries & blueberry hues. I was expecting more teeth. Think it is showing the finesse & balance of most 21’s I’ve had. Dark spice, grilled meats, light black pepper, barrel dust, dry tobacco, leather, savory herbaceousnes, moist clays, dry crushed rocks, cola, flower bouquet of red, blue & purple fresh flowers, rainfall acidity with a well balanced, softly structured, elegant finish that lasts just over a minute and lands crushed rocks and touch of spice.

It will be interesting to see if this shows more in 5 years. — 14 hours ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

First time having this producer.

Right off the top, this is much sweeter than the CNP’’s I am used to drinking. The fruit here are crazy ripe. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries. Not much in the way depth or grilled meats. It is highly drinkable. I don’t want to throw them in with Caymus’s modern style but it is hard not to think it. There is some mid spice here, moist, clays, dry stones, some very light herbaceous notes, some barrel dust, light black pepper, loads of red flowers, nice round acidity and decently balanced, elegant, round, lush finish that last a minute.

If you like a young, pop and pour easy to drink CDP for under $35, this for you. — 14 hours ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

While 2011 followed 2010, which is not a fair comparison, this is still amazing with seasoned Pork Rack. Tonight, this is in prime form with & without Pork Rack. It is presenting its best self.

My notes are written from the bottom of the bottle. I leave 2-4 inches in bottle after decanting, depending on how many pours. It forms an expression, “The Truth is Inside.” It is the expression of the very best in the bottle. Wine never lies. Everything that you tasted earlier, tastes more. Tannin soaked.

The evolution is just short of its prime…another 3-5 years before it starts its decent. Excellent with the seasoned Pork Rack. A better pairing than the 2010 Kosta Browne.

Ripe & lush; blackberries, sour dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum skin, hints of strawberries, cherries, dark chocolate, limestone/sandstone, leather, dry tobacco w/ ash, some graphite, grilled meats, charcoal, dry stone, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, spices, barrel toast, dry, black licorice, dry herbs, stems, well done toast, moist volcanic clays, withering dark, red flowers w/ red roses, nice acidity with an elegant, balanced, nice tensioned finish that fall onto spice & dry earthiness and lasts two-minutes.

The Fossacolle family winery lies in the village of Tavernelle in the south of Montalcino.  Owner and patriarch Sergio Marchetti has familial roots that date to the 18th century,  but Fossacolle is a mere baby in relation to Brunello, having only released their first vintage, 1997,  in January 2002.

Photos of; Fossacolle, founder-Sergio Marchetti, their fruit & vineyards. — a day ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Another easy to drink at pop & pour. It’s a blend of 30% Syrah, 20% Cab Franc, 16% Merlot, only 10% Sangiovese, 6% Petit Verdot & 2% Grenache. As IGT as IGT can get. At 59.95 a bit pricey. Better at $45.

Nice ripe; blackberries, dark and slightly sour cherries, black plum skin, moist clays, muddy sandstone, pleasant spice, light, fresh tobacco, used leather, touch of tomato leaf, moist, mushy volcanic minerals, dry twig, dusty stones, dark & red, withering flowers, round acidity, well balanced, soft tension, mid structured, round lush finish that last 90 seconds and falls on oak powder, spice and pleasant soils. — 14 hours ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

They might want to rename this bottling to, “Everything Including the Kitchen Sink”. It is a blend of mostly; Zinfandel 65%, Syrah, Petite Syrah. Tempranillo, Trousseau, Castets, Cabernet, Merlot, Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir Lenoir and more. 🤯

It’s aged in 25% new oak for 10 month and the rest in used oak.

It drinks like a Zinfandel that you might think has a couple other varieties, not that long list.

It is pleasant at pop & pour. But full disclosure, I don’t embrace much in the way of Zin’s. When I do it’s primarily Ridge’s blend.

This is juicy, red, purple & blue fruity fruits. Some dry top soil, some used leather, light pepper, moist clays, some herbaceous notes, dark chocolate to mousse, mid berry cola, lots of fresh, red, blue and purple flowers, pleasant, round acidity, a nicely balanced, lush, elegant, polished finish that land on earthiness & wood powder.

It is not bad but at $54.95, there are Ridge’s I buy first for under this price point. — 14 hours ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This 2010 is in tip-top form.

Beautiful, ripe fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, plum/black plum for days, cherries, strawberries, raspberries & some pomegranate highlights. Cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg & soft vanillin, black teas, mid berry cola, both licorices, fresh tobacco, used leather, steeped black tea, limestone minerals, some charcoal, pepper, grilled meats, dark spice w/ heat, sandalwood to cedar, dark, withering flowers with violets, grand acidity and a balanced, well tensioned/structured, elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls on spice.

Even adding the plum reduction sauce, the 2011 Burnello is still the better pairing.

Photos of; Kosta Browne winery, founders-Dan Kosta & Mike Browne and their barrel & tasting room. — a day ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

If you like dark, sweet tarriness, dry herb buffet, round meaty, not overdone tannins, you will love this 2013 Tor Howell Mountain.

This 2013 Tor has just started its drinking window. It is really good but better things lie ahead in 5-8 years.

Dark, meaty, heavy, round tannins. Black currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, plum, raspberries, sweet dark chocolate baking bar, mocha, caramel, black tea, dry herbs for days, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, dry top soil, limestone, volcanic minerals, dry river stone, dry clay, twig with raindrops, iron pan, touch of iodine, dark, withering flowers, lavender & violets, very nice round acidity and a well textured, tensioned, structured, balanced but still shows braun, elegant, polished finish that lasts for days and falls on clays, earth & spice.

Photos of my Pebble Beach Food & Wine tasting with Tor & Andy Beckstoffer. — 7 days ago