Tasty just sipping by itself — 7 years ago
Varietal characteristics. Dark fruits, some spice and pepper. Strong tannins, but still smooth. Drinking well now but could happily sit another few years. — 8 years ago
Lovely SBS. Under the odds. — 9 years ago
Color of dull ruby with shades of purple and brown on the rim, a bit cloudy. Nose of cocoa, spice, burning sensation in the nose, fermented cabbage, carbonated water, and a bit berries. Taste basically follows the nose with quite good tannins and slightly sweet, some tobacco leaves, and some bitter tangerine zest. Aftertaste is medium with some more sweet ripe grape and peppery note. A bit light yet on par. — 6 years ago
Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron.
The 96 is a nice surprise add from Clyde’s cellar. Thank you Clyde.
This 96 is beautifully floral. The evolution is right around its peak. The body is medium full and the tannins soft. It’s an elegant beauty.
The fruits are ripe and delicious. Leaner blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries and shades of raspberries. Soft earth; dry top soil, dry rock, limestone minerals, old tobacco, soft leather, cedar with dry and withering red & dark florals. The acidity is like a waterfall. The long finish is well balanced fruit & earth and in a sweet spot.
Photos of; our dinner group, tasting room at Pontet Canet, the horse plows they still use in the fields and Chateau Pontet Canet. — 7 years ago
A new favorite. Great tobacco and spice flavors play off the blackberry. Medium body, very low acid. — 8 years ago
Merlot the way it’s supposed to be made. Fruit with balanced structure — 8 years ago
During the month of January, the Wednesday Wine Committee has a unique format...the sparkler, whites and dessert wines can be from any vintage and any location, but the reds must be from the 2007 vintage. It was my first time providing a wine for a lunch, so I was excited to see how it showed. As always, all wines were served blind.
This was a treat for me to be able to serve. Tom Farella only produces this Alta bottle in special years. The ‘07 was his last one before he brought it back in ‘14. Cabernet dominated blend complimented by a bit of merlot from the famed Farella vineyard. Supremely balanced. Raspberries, plums and blackberries on the nose and palate, but the finish was plush. This is about at its peak and will stay here for another 3 or so years. Oak was almost fully integrated. Very happy to have two of these still sleeping. This was the group’s consensus “wine of the day”. — 8 years ago

Haut-Bailly Dinner in SF with Veronique Sanders of Haut-Bailly.
The 2010 is an excellent vintage but, it is for the later part of your life or your children.
This is drinking beautifully with a 4 hour decant. The structure & tension are just starting to their softening stage. The length and balance are in the forget about it range and will just get better & better. Ripe, stunning fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum & a touch of blue fruits. Moist clay & top soils, stones, mint, graphite, fresh tobacco, dark cola, anise to black licorice with stunning, withering floral bouquet. Acidity is perfect. The finish is everything you want in a Bordeaux.
Definitely a 99-100 point wine in 15 years plus.
Served with the Cheese Plate; Red Hawk, Hop Along & Roquefort. @Mathilde French Bistro
Photos of; Clyde Beffa Owner of K&L Wine Merchants & Veronique Sanders, dinner menu & pairing, Veronique talking terroir/vintages & dinner guests. — 6 years ago
Lemon and apple crisp. Great full smooth body with enough acid holding everything in the right spot. — 7 years ago
Another one from my kitchen display. Small production and an excellent Sonoma Syrah! — 9 years ago
Bright, herbal with earth tones. Solid wine to celebrate the Warriors game 2 W. — 9 years ago
Ryan Stewart
Golden amber color. Briny, diluted iodine, smoky, red fruit, floral and herbal notes on the nose. Warm mouthfeel. Hints of sherry and stewed fruits on the palate. — 6 years ago