Somm David T 
A. Rafanelli
Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Arnot-Roberts
Watson Ranch Chardonnay 2018
One of about 7-10 Ca Chardonnay’s I enjoy. My last of three. Their 2018 is slightly better than other of their vintages I’ve had.
This rides the fence of of white burgundy & Ca Chardonnay.
Macerated red & green apples, some lime & lemon pulp, tropical fruits, kiwi, heathered honey, caramel, sandstone, saline, dry river stone, soft white spice, just a hint of brown sugar, a near chalky presence that coats the tongue, vanilla, frothy cream foam, yellow flowers, jasmine nice round acidity and an elegant rich, balanced, nicely tensioned w/ a 60 second finish that lands on volcanics and just a shade of spice. — 8 days ago
Taittinger
Comtes de Champagne Grands Crus Blanc de Blancs Champagne Chardonnay 2013
Softer than when I had it last. Still needs another three years + in bottle.
Nice entry with beautiful mousse. Lime zest, green apple, lemon, white grapefruit w/ pith, pineapple flesh, white nectarines, herbaceous, white spice/ginger, graham crackers, saline, sea fossils, limestone marl, volcanics, chalky bits, yellow flowers & white roses, jasmine, gentle, crisp, acidity with balance for days, mid tension/structure with a smartly polished, elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds that long sets on spice and volcanics. — 21 days ago
Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey
Au Bout du Monde Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Chardonnay 2022
I do enjoy & respect PYCM’s craft. This Bourgogne is well worth twice what I paid. You can pay much more for many non-white Bourgogne’s. I am just not sure the additional spend pencils vs those higher prices in many QPR comparisons. One qualifying remark, in really good vintages.
It is an insanely great pair w/ the Jasper Hill Farms, Harbison and honey crisp apples. 92 on its own, 93 with the paring.
My July 2026 notes still hold. — 13 hours ago
Casa Emma
Gran Selezione Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend 2016
The only two things disappointing about this wine is that it wasn’t eight years older and I didn’t have more of it. I could only think how great it was tonight and how much better it would be in roughly eight years. Not to say I was disappointed, it was delicious..
Its fallen into nice evolution. Still needs some further integration, but it was really nice. Beautiful sour cherries, excellent texture and body, softened dry earth, tobacco, touch of leather and had amazing red florals with haunting violets.
2016 is an amazing vintage. — 21 hours ago
J-M Seleque
Le Quintette Extra Brut Champagne 5 Terroirs Chardonnay
I have always enjoyed their cuvées. First time having the Quintette.
The entry is elegant…beautiful fine mousse. Green apples, lime w/ just a touch of zest, lemon pulp, some kiwi & green melon, yellow pear w/ no skin, topical melon, notes of melted caramel, well cooked bread crust, a hint gingerbread, graham crackers, sea spray, understated sea fossils, elegant chalkiness, grey volcanics, dry river stone, yellow & white flowers with fruit blossoms, excellent acidity with soft, gentle structure/tension, elegant finish for that lasts 90 seconds and falls on gentle spice & volcanics.
• Virtue "Justice" planted in 1950.
"Pernay "Les Frileux" planted in 1959.
• Pierry Chevernets" and "Cantuel" planted in 1981 and 1986.
• Crohaut" planted in 1985.
• Mardeuil "'Les Basses
Ronces" planted in 1982.
- Cultivation in oak logs of 350 to 600
100% Chardonnay.
Revolts 2020 + 20% of Solera started in 2012.
Fermenter in oak that are 350 à 600 litres.
Unpasteurized, unfiltered wine
Dégorgement : 11/2023. Dosage : 2g/L.
Photos of, JMSÉLÈQUE, vineyards and Jean Marc Seleque. — 15 days ago
Launois Père et Fils
Vinum Dei Brut Champagne Blend
Solid producer about 35-40 minutes drive south of Rheims
Quality producer that is still fairly priced in the mid-forty-dollar range.
My previous notes from August still hold here. I would only add, while champagne really goes with anything, This is an excellent pair with food/dishes one might not expect. Believe it was built for more than a start with cheese, small bites, dessert or a closing night glass. Handles heavier dishes beautifully.
— 14 hours ago
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005
My last of three.
The 05 vintage is basically perfect fruit etc…
This started a bit slow from an hour decant. It really pick up steam w/ the Waygu Ribcap.
The Bordeaux elegance & earth profound. The fruits are floral-laden. Dry blackberries, raspberries, both plum, with skin, dark cherries, dry strawberries, baked rhubarb, hints of raspberry, dark chocolate bar, light caramel, dark spice with a little heat, dry limestone. topsoil, dry riverstone, cigar box with ash, old used leather, dark forest floor with leaves, clove, touch of cinnamon, vanilla and a pinch of nutmeg sweet graphite, used charcoal, black tea, mid berry cola dark wuthering flowers, hence of lavender and old violets, perfect around acidity with a well-balanced structured, evenly tensioned finish that last minutes and lands on dry earth and spice with florals — 7 days ago
Château d`issan
Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2006
It is the 2006 vintage. So for me it lacks the depth I seek, but shows all the grace & style that is everything I love about Margaux wines.
While this misses in some areas, it nicely delivers in all the higher toned nuances of Margaux.
Lean, brambly, wild, blackberries, black raspberries, dry plum skin, well baked strawberries, dark cherries, dark chocolate baking bar, chocolate pudding, layered baking spices, dry tobacco w/ ash, well used leather, understated graphite, used charcoal, dry pebbles/soil, gentle dark spices, moist volcanic clays, dark withering flowers, dry red roses & bright violets, nice acidy and a good, even, well balanced finish that lasts almost a full minute.
This will drink steadily for 5-7 more yrs but not improve. — 21 days ago
Tenute Loacker
Corte Pavone Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2006
Had three bottles since 2010 or so. This is my first.
Nice, elegant but lacks what I hoped in Brunello’s I’ve had from this vintage and previous Brunello’s I’ve enjoyed.
It needed the bolognese. As the night & the meal progressed, it showed me its better self. It was short/less even w/ a hour decant. — a month ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
One of the very best QPR’s in Napa/Sonoma. I have had all the top tier Napa Cabernets. On the secondary markets, I pay in the $70 to $90 range. I enjoy this producer more than many of the higher-priced Napa Cabernets. Including; Realm, Maybach, Phelps, Outpost, Lakoya, to name a few.
This 2007 is right around the top of the bell curve. It delivers everything you expect from the 2007 vintage and yet, it’s a Sonoma producer, which lends itself to the expression, don’t judge a wine by its region.
My 5/24 note remains. To that end, for me, this is not a producer to open young if you’re looking for its best self. You can open a wine whenever you want to, but I would pushback that you’re not getting its best self. This 07 still has a fair amount of teeth. The integration and evolution is incredible. It’s flat out near perfect as to when to open your first.
The short notes on this are perfectly ripe/ruby fruits that are;, blackberries, black raspberry, black plum, haunting raspberries, dry earth, cinnamon stick for days, endless far east spices, dark chocolate, caramel, black licorice, mid berry cola, dark & red flowers with violets and hints of lavender, excellent round acidity, a well-made balanced finish that is the definition of elegance with earth and spice on the long set that goes on and on.
In a QPR Napa/Sonoma Cabernet race with the higher-priced Cabernets, it is not even close.
— 10 hours ago