Sommelier
Nightcap. I have been eyeing this 2018 Bourgogne Rouge for sometime and haven’t found the night to enjoy. Seems it was meant for tonight’s nightcap.
I enjoy Henri’s whites over his reds. His whites are go to. But, this red burgundy is quite pleasant. Nice on its own but is more friendly with/ food…Duck Confit.
It has started to settle in nicely. Fruits are dark & mid red & forward. Ripe, lush & juicy; blackberries, black raspberries, plum w/ heavy skin, strawberries, red cherries & pomegranate with blue & purple fruit hues. Light baking spices-cinnamon, nutmeg, vanillin, chocolate pudding, toast, moist, blended limestone minerals, dry top soil, beautiful, soft, dark spice blend, fresh rain showered forest floor, tea, tree sap, fresh herbs, touch of mint/eucalyptus, moist, grey volcanic clay, dry twig, red cola notes, dry, floral, dark, red & purple flowers/florals, round acidity and a nicely knitted, tensioned, structured, balanced, rich, polished finish that last a full minute.
$30-35 on release. — 13 days ago
The one thing I get from this wine w/ this age is cognac notes and the 07 is just starting cognac notes on the long set. Still, rounded, medium plus, velvety tannins.
The fruits are ripe, juicy, lush; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, darkest cherries, & red cherries on the long set, strawberry hues. Chocolate/ cake/pudding/mousse, dark berry cola, mocha, dark chocolate, caramel, dark spice, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, anise core to black licorice, dark spice w/ palate heat, dry, crush rock, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, liquid, dry herbaceous notes, fresh to withering; dark, red, slightly blue flowers framed in a field of violets & lavender, round, summer rainfall with a softly tensioned state, tall structure, well balanced, finely but deeply knitted & evenly polish finish that is nearly endless.
If you can have patience, Tapestry is one of the best Napa Cabernet for the money & this one has plenty of life ahead. 10 plus years.
Photos of; sunset on a BV vineyard, their tasting from many vantage points & old Victorian House. — 22 days ago
Beautiful. Young Tempranillo is rough & rugged Wild West tumble weed. This is soft, ruby, lush falling onto minerality and dry brush.
The fruits are dryish to ripe, creamy and rich; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum into black plum pudding, dark cheries, blueberries hues on the long set, dry tobacco, sandalwood to cedar, dry herb-sage & thyme driven, limestone/sandstone minerals, black pepper, anise to black licorice, dark chocolate, caramel, mocha, moist, grey, volcanic clay, withering, dark red, flowers, round acidity, balance, softened tensioned, nicely structured and polish for days that lasts two-minutes.
Paired this with/ a dry rub tri-tip and a burgundy marinaded Cardiff Crack tri-tip. Both very different and enjoyable, but this was a slightly more enjoyable with the Cardiff Crack burgundy marinate.
Photos of; two of their different seasonal vinyards, cave entrance & large cellar vats. — 22 days ago
I think I’ve had their N/V, not vintage.
Big co2, rich, ripe mouthfeel w/ excellent mousse.
Ripe, white dominate peach with some yellow, pineapple juice, green apple, tropical melons, lime/lemon zest, heather honey notes, caramel hues, vanillin, cream, some nougat, medium white spice-ginger, very light chalk powder & limestone, sea spray, bread dough, yellow flowers, jasmine & spring flowers, big, racy, big acidity with an elegant, rich, ripe, balanced , softly tensioned & well knitted finish that lasts 90 seconds.
100% Blanc de Blanc w/ 5g dosage which is right where I like it...4-5 grams.
This should lay down another 3-5 years.
— 6 days ago
Farmers market visit this morning dictated this after finding some decent Heirlooms awaiting my organic garden ones and deserving after cleaning the damn gutters all afternoon. .
Like this Rosé quite a lot. The price for it, not so much. But, worth it once in a while and this one has been laying down a number of years, so… If you haven’t had a good Tempranillo Rosé worth acquiring.
I like it as it is not overtly sweet like many Bandol’s & Californians.
The nose shows; blood orange, not quite ripe tangerine, baked rhubarb, strawberries, red not dark cherries, ripe, yellow peach with skin, hints of watermelon at the rind, limestone marl with orange & red flowers.
The palate shows nice viscosity. Blood orange with peel, not quite ripe tangerine, baked rhubarb, strawberries, red not dark cherries, ripe, yellow peach with skin, hints of watermelon at the rind, touch of pink grapefruit, something in between Cointreau & Grand Marnier, sun tea, very soft chalk & white spice, limestone marl with orange & red flowers, rainfall acidity, nicely knitted, a fair amount of tension for an aged Rosé, excellent balance & structured with a smartly polished, elegant, lush finish that lasts nearly two- minutes.
This 2010 is in high cotton and not slowing down. Another 8-10 years with maybe more. Leans into 95.
Pairing; Organic Heirloom tomatoes grown in a greenhouse topped w/ di Stefano Burrata, Spanish Ricon Subbetica Olive Oil, Tondo Balsamic Vinegar (the best period), organic fresh basil, Companion Simple Sourdough Crustini’s. — 13 days ago
I have posted endless notes, vintages & terroirs from this producer. I am not sure what else I could say. This 07 Westside Road Neighbors is a stunning example of their craft.
Interesting I put that plum from my neighbor’s tree in the shot. I get some plum from their Pinot’s, but this has a ton of black plum in its profile.
The fruits are floral & candied fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, dry, sour, tart red cherries, blueberry hues, slightly overripe strawberries, some raspberry, dry cranberries & pomegranate. Mocha powder, cinnamon stick, nutmeg & vanilla, some of the best, dark Asian & Indian spice, caramel, light, moist tobacco, dry, used leather, faint notes of grill meats, moist dark earth with dry leaves, dry herbs, wet, grey volcanic clay, limestone/sandstone, candied florals that are; dark, red, blue & framed in liquid violets, excellent round acidity with a smartly polished finish that is; perfectly balanced, smartly tensioned, wowly structured, elegant that lasts minutes.
This 2007 is still peaking w/ another 6 to do I say 10 years of life in it. — 6 days ago
This 14 has a bit of a story. I opened their 2005 last weekend, which was fantastic, I also opened their 2014 as an example w/ a friend to show how important aging is in Italy reds out of Tuscany & Piemonte. Also, how long it takes for the amount of new wood use Italians put to both to soften. The Italians hold them back in bottle sometimes two to three years or longer. The 05 last weekend was a 93-94. This after an hour & half decant, 90-91. In time, add one to two points.
For those who didn’t study their ass off to pass the Court of Master Sommeliers exam, the difference between Chianti & Chianti Classico is, Classico needs to come from a specific region in Chianti and needs to have an additional 10% of Sangiovese over regular Chianti.
2014 a good but not all-star vintage like 2010.
The 2014 still young. Showing dry; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, some black plum, dry cranberries & strawberry hues. Oak barrel shavings, dry; leather, cedar, & dry tobacco, limestone & sandstone power, dry twig, dry river stone, dry top soil, slight candied & withering; red, dark, purple flowers framed in violets, nice acidity and a taut structured & tensioned but balanced, elegantly polished landing on dry earth that lasts nearly 90 seconds.
It is a good pair w/ the lasagna that has a really nice dark seasoning in it. An aged Nebbiolo might have worked better. From, The Adorable French Bakery at the Santa Cruz Farmers Market. No permanent location. — 13 days ago
Leaner than the El Puntido. This is more classic Tempranillo. Drier & earthier.
Beautiful wine. Ripe, juicy & slightly candied & floral fruits of; mid to dark cherries, black raspberries, black raspberries, dry blue berries. Cherry cola, dry tobacco w/ ash, dry leathery, barrel staves, muddy herb mix, dark, dry spices, steeped, sun tea, mid; clove, nutmeg, vanilla, limestone minerals, crushed limestone/dry rocks, dry flowers that are black, red w/ dry lavender, round, high acidity with a high, dry tannin finish that falls on to the wild, dry, earthy, wildest finish that is balanced for many minutes.
Paired this with/ a dry rub tri-tip and a burgundy marinaded Cardiff Crack tri-tip. Both very different and enjoyable, but liked the dry rub with the Rioja.
Photos of, my visit to the Bodega, old oak vats that are decades old, neutral wood that is still used as of 2015 when I visited & been repaired endlessly, old wood press and tasting room outside their cellar/tasting room. — 22 days ago
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
Happy Birthday James.
Lush, rich, ripe, velvety tannins and nicely balanced. — 2 days ago