Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Happy Australian Christmas! 🎄🎁🦌🎅🤶⛄️❄️

After bringing this Rockford Black Barossa Sparkling Shiraz back from Australia and holding It for nearly two years as was recommended by their Winemaker, it’s finally ready for Christmas breakfast as is traditional in Australia. What a beauty she has turned out to be! Much softer and intergraded than it was in their tasting room.

It’s hard to find Sparkling Shiraz in the US, let alone a good one!!! This one is quite tasty.

It’s a beautiful sunny Christmas morning with Nat King Cole singing, “White Christmas” in the background.

The nose reveals; black currants, blackberries, black plum, olallieberries, mix dark berry liqueur notes, sweet tar, whiff of white and black pepper, saddle-wood, wafting vanillin, soft limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, black licorice, steeped fruit tea, light herbaceous notes, dark withering flowers, violets and a shade of lavender.

The body is full & rich. The fruits are beautifully ripe. The structure, tension, length and balance are finding their way but, will still benefit from a few years in the cellar. It also has a sound tannin structure, which is not found in champagnes and most sparkling wines. Black currants, blackberries, black plum, olallieberries, black cherry, plum, mix dark berry liqueur notes, whiff of white and black pepper, dark spice with some palate heat, saddle-wood, a leathery quality, wafting vanillin, soft limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, black licorice, steeped fruit tea, light herbaceous notes, dark withering flowers, violets and a shade of lavender. The acidity is round and well executed. The well polished finish is a nice balance of dark fruit & earthiness and is persistent for minutes.

Merry Christmas everyone!!! 🎄🎁🤶🎅🦌⛄️❄️🍾🍷🎶

@Bob McDonald Delicious!!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! — 7 years ago

with James and Christina

Jake Hajer

8.9

2011 in 2016. Granny smith apple and chamomile tea- clearly chard heavy with little reserve wine. Well made. — 10 years ago

Natan Mladin

9.0

Sluttish, sauternish, perilously drinkable Italian dolce spumante. Do i sense some noble rot activity here? Linden tea, honey, light caramel, ripe apples. Surprisingly long finish. Very pleasant. — 11 years ago

Majbrit Nielsen

9.8

Kocembas non alcoholic sparkling, based on tea.. Consider no alcoholic at all and are made methode traditionelle — 12 years ago

David Kline

9.1

Began as black olives for miles but betrayed its fruit roots quickly enough, with baked black cherry, and a black plum mash; black currant and gingerbread-mocha notes sparkling on its grainy veneer. Torn violet petals. Lots of sediment, or pigmented tartaric crystals. Super elegant and fleshy mouthfeel is perhaps its most compelling nuance. Black currant, soft leather, smoke, a scribble of pencil, snuffed wick, teak, and black tea. Bittersweet chocolate remains like a cloud, suspended while most aspects fade. Leather friction.
#cabernetsauvignon #cab #Walton #Egelhoff #StHelena #sthelenacab #napacabs #napa #cabsauv #newworld — 8 years ago

with Courtney

Douglas Braun

8.9

Seyssel sparkling 50%-Molette 50% -Altesse lots of chamomile tea aromas and toasted bread — 8 years ago

Christine Havens

9.0

A garnet-hued, frothy vixen of a wine, the Aphros Sparkling Vinhão Super-Reserva delights with ultra-earthy, pungent funk, and juicy black plum notes forming a concise bridge between nose and palate. Bright acidity cuts through layers of pruney deliciousness, the finish is brisk and short very much about black tea tannin and dried herbs. At 12.0% ABV it goes down very easily. I expect this pair well with charcuterie, unlike Lambrusco, it's bone dry. — 9 years ago

Jeff Verellen

9.4

What a bomb. Super herby: dark green, dew drop, darker tea. Buttery. Slight sparkling still(?). Could keep for ages still. Endless aftertaste. — 10 years ago

Chuck Ethridge

9.2

Blend of Grenache, Petite Sirah & Syrah. Dark and thick with hints of berries, roasted tea (did I just say that?) with a bit of tannin on the end.
— 11 years ago

Noah Hyte

9.1

Wild skin contact white. Tea Kombucha and Brett notes, dark gold/marigold. Really fun! — 8 years ago

Justin Hansohn

9.2

The best sparkling tea you will ever drink...depending on the day. The notes are so deep that I can’t imagine ever having the same experience with this wine twice. — 8 years ago

Alyssa Berger

9.8

Very aromatic with delicious red berries and a lovely creaminess. Sparkling wines aren't usually my cup of tea but I'll drink this rose any time. — 9 years ago

Ben Jones

8.9

The only sparkling Sav Blanc is the perfect summer sipper. Grass and orange peoke tea on the nose. Green apple, citrus rind, and Tang on the palate. A clean, predictably effervescent finish. — 9 years ago

Rajiv Ayyangar

9.8

Botte 47. Phenomenally complex and constantly evolving. Initially savory with some animal fur, toasty honey (aged semillon) notes, slight star fruit. Then it evolved into dried flowers, mushroom, and dark fruit - reminded me of a young Barolo. Then black tea, green tea. Then strong dried spearmint, honeyed toasty complexity like the '81 Lopez de Heredia. Medium bodied with slightly elevated sparkling acidity. Not intense, but persistent on the palate. To borrow a phrase from Veronelli- It burrowed into my memory. I hope it made me forever better. — 10 years ago

with H, Bjørn and 1 other