Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Oh…the fruit is still solid with dry herbs. 94 a special Napa vintage. 13.4% ABV, miss it. This is when FA was still rocking it.

This gets better & better with each sip. The fruit still ripe, ruby and glorious. When Napa didn’t pick overly ripe fruit. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, purple fruit blend, dark cherries, strawberries, blueberries & raspberries. Sage, black earth, dry twig, red & dark berry cola, softly layered baking spices-clove, cinnamon & vanillin, caramel, mocha powder, chocolate pudding, anise to lighter tarriness, some graphite, soft charcoal, volcanic ash, understated; oak, leather, tobacco, fine grain still somewhat grippy tannins, touch olive tapenade, fresh florals that are; dark, red, blue with liquid violets, balance, length, mid structure & tension with polished elegance for days.

Recent retail purchase. Large library allocation they bought winery direct.

This well stored has another 4-7 yrs left.

What is a good 1994 memory? A question I ask friends when I enjoy an older wine with them. — 6 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Pleasant drinker w/ some energy for under $30. Tart to slightly sour cherries, strawberries, plum, La Morra clay & limestone, red/pink roses, touch of dry herbs, fine grain tannins, more modern in style, chestnuts, dry twigs, rainfall acidity, nice wire to wire consistent experience. — 6 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.7

Another light red sipper. Tart cherries, strawberries, touch of raspberry, dry clay/soil, red/pink rose petals, fine grain, very dry tannins, big acidity and another ok finish that is not all that interesting. At least, to me. — 6 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

2013, the last vintage Charles Hendricks made at James Cole. I bought 8 bottles on Winebid that were all $30-$50. This one $50, stealing. Before buying these, the winery sent me a library email of his & his apprenticeship’s wines at $175-$250. So…I caught extreme value.

The nose is dark and brooding. Dark core of currants, black, plum, blackberries, black raspberries, poached/baked strawberries, dark, cherries, some purple fruits, anise to black licorice, rich, dark earth with dry leaves, steep black tea, dark chocolate, mocha powder, caramel, layered, baking, spices, dark spice, chocolate, pudding, withering to candied, dark, florals, violets and lavender.

The palate shows; velvety, rounded, dusty M+ tannins, a dark core of currants, black, plum, blackberries, brambly black raspberries, poached/baked strawberries, dark cherry kirsch & purple fruit blend. Anise to black licorice, rich, dark earth with dry leaves, steep black tea, dark chocolate, mocha powder, caramel, layered, baking, spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanillin, dark spices, espresso roast, chocolate, pudding, dry, crushed, rocks, dry limestone, dry twigs, dry herbaceous notes, black pepper notes, withering to candied, dark, florals, violets and lavender, excellent acidity with a well structured, balanced, elegant finish with good length that is polished, last 90 seconds and long sets on dry earth and clay.

This is peaking with 5-7 yrs of good drinking road ahead. — 7 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Starting to settle in nicely.

Nose shows beautiful; blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries & near candied plums. Tree bark/sap, steamed rhubarb, sun tea w/ fruit, dark rich earth w/ leaves, cinnamon, nutmeg & clove, vanillin, Provenance herbs, red roses/flowers, violets and just a whiff of lavender.

It glides over the palate. Ripe/rich; blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries & near candied plums. Tree bark/sap, steamed rhubarb, sun tea w/ fruit, dark rich earth w/ leaves, cinnamon, nutmeg & clove, vanillin, Provenance herbs, tobacco, grilled meats, dry oak barrel, dry top soil, limestone grain, red cola, touch of orange peel, red roses/flowers, violets and just a whiff of lavender, wonderful acidity, balance and elegant finish that lasts two-minutes and long sets on earth. — 6 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This is not ready but showing well for only being open an hour and not decanted. It is a wine that really should not be opened until it has had 8-10 yrs plus in the cellar. Not as tight as I imagined but tight.

While it has firm, fine grain tannins. It also shows beautiful & elegance. This is aged in small barriques for 12 months and then another 12 months in large Slavonian casks.

Lightly tart & sour cherries, strawberries, plum, raspberries, dry cigar box, sun to fruit teas, soft old leather, limestone, dry crushed rocks, dry to moist herbs, some white & black pepper, grilled meats, barrel shavings, very light baking spices-clove, nutmeg, vanillin, beautiful Asian spices, some dark, dry soil, pink & red roses for days, beautiful acidity, excellent balance, mid structured-toned, great finesse, elegant finish that sneaks it way to a long even finish that sets on earth & barrel powder.

94-95. Really good but hard to justify at $750. — 6 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Quite nice and drinkable. Pops big lemon, green apple, underripe pineapple, tart white citrus blend, topical melon, saline, fine powdery minerals, blooms spring flowers, grand acidity and a smartly polished finish that lasts near a minute. Crushable for $25 retail. It was served a little colder than I like my whites. Perhaps, get more out of it a bit warmer. — 6 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This is far too young but when I have a chance to look in on Cheval Blanc I do.

Nose shows; ripe blackberries, strawberries, dark cherries, plum, moist clays, coffee, moist herbs, roasted chestnuts, amazing florals that are red flowers, red roses, lilacs & violets.

The palate shows some nice evolution but still too young to drink. Ripe and slightly candied; blackberries, strawberries, dark cherries, raspberries & plum. Moist clays, coffee, moist herbs, roasted chestnuts, espresso, mid berry cola, caramel, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, crazy, round, bold spice, moist tobacco, used leather, graphite, dark, rich earth, dry stone, limestone, soft oak powder notes, amazing florals that are red flowers, red roses, lilacs & violets, round, rainfall acidity, balance, mid structure/tension, grand length and a two-minute long polished finish.

94-97 — 6 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

While this is made in a more modern style this needs 7-10 to show its better self. Shows taunt fine grain, dry tannins. Dark tart cherries, juicy strawberries, touch of raspberries, plum, dry tobacco, soft new leather, dry herbs, dark spice, some white pepper, limestone, dry crushed rock powder w/ some grain, mid berry cola, tea, red/pink roses, nice acidity, well; knitted, balanced, structured, mid tone, good length and nicely polished finish that lasts 90 seconds and lands on dry earth & tobacco. 92-94. — 6 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.7

Definitely a summer afternoon wine with a Margherita pizza. Light sour cherries, strawberries, some white pepper, fine grain tannin profile, saline, dry top soil, rose petals, big acidity and a pleasant finish but a bit uneventful. — 6 days ago