MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.1

Very much in the style of the Sandhi wines from Santa Barbara. Touch of flint, matchstick, lemon pie and cream. #oregon #chardonnay #eolaamityhills — 4 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.2

Medium deep pink moving toward reddish orange. Citrus melange aroma... orange, blood orange, sour key lime and pink grapefruit. Powerful weight on the palate but round and creamy in texture. The finish is awesome—long, sweet, savory, lasting almost a minute... with just the slightest hint of funky, cheesy forest-floor. Perfect foil for fresh broiled salmon with grilled broccoli and a Dijon cream sauce. So very glad I kept this wine so long before popping... far from over the hill.. could see enjoying the wine at 25 years. What a wonderful pink wine! — 4 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.5

The 2016 Barbaresco Ronchi, the estate’s top selection, marries elegance with power so well. Freshly cut flowers, mint, sweet red berries, anise and blood orange confer freshness that plays off the wine’s dense, expansive fruit. A rush of sweet raspberry, cherry and rose petal punctuates the exuberant finish. The 2016 is a fabulous wine from a property that has been on the ascent in recent years. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, October 2020) — 5 years ago

Andrew Liguori

9.0

Slight golden hue from a little age. Absolutely refreshing, thirst quenching. Great with a blistered shishito starter. Light body, subtle primary notes with hints of Meyer lemon, stone, apricot and dried up blood orange? — 5 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.5

Friday night and had a taste for a Chilean wine so I picked up a couple Carménère. This first I chose was the 2017 Espino Carménère Reserva Especial by William Fèvre. A blend of 85% Carménère, 13% Malbec and 2% Syrah. You may know the name William Fèvre from Burgundy. William wanted to try and find another area for growing Chardonnay and went to Chile and saw the locals using the benches and he wanted something with more elevation so got land closer to the mountains. Here he is producing wonderful Chardonnay, Carménère and many other wines.

On the nose there is black plum, raspberry, cherry, smoked bell pepper, vanilla, hibiscus and some smokey notes.

On the palate there is green bell pepper, strawberry, raspberry, menthol, green peppercorn, spice and sandlewood.

This wine is medium to full bodied with medium to + acidity and medium + mouthcoating grippy tannins that leads into a pleasing long rich tannin finish. Have a wonderful weekend and please stay safe. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Had another bottle, Wow! Laura Catena, 4th gen winemaker, grew up in Argentine-Italian winemaking family in Mendoza. Wines, named after her children - Luca, Dante & Nicola - background of the label is the McDermott coat of arms of her American husband, Daniel McDermott. Single-vineyard wine from land belonging to the Laborde family. Deep red with big ripe fruits & smoky oak. Palate plum & jammy blackberry, spice with nice earthy character. Tannins are a bit rustic, lingering ending with toasty oak & spice. — 6 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.7

One of the stars of the vintage, the 2015 Domaine de Chevalier has turned out even better than I expected. Bright floral notes give striking aromatic lift to the rich, sumptuous fruit. A marvelously complete wine, the 2015 is racy and silky on the palate, yet also has tremendous freshness. Bright red cherry, blood orange, white pepper, spice and dried flowers build into the super-expressive finish. The 2015 has been nothing less than stunning the three times I have tasted it so far. This is a tremendous showing from proprietor Olivier Bernard and his team. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Tasted three times. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Feb 2018)
— 7 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

10

The 2005 La Mission Haut-Brion is unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage. Effusive aromatics and bright, red-toned fruit make a strong first impression. A wine of vertical intensity and explosive energy, the 2005 is a towering masterpiece. Today it is just at the beginning of a long drinking window that will last another few decades. Red cherry, plum, leather, spice, gravel, smoke, blood orange and pomegranate infuse the palate staining finish. In 2005, La Mission is a wine that satisfies all the senses, from the intellectual to the hedonistic. Magnificent. Tasted two times. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, April 2021)
— 4 years ago

Will Stanley

9.6

I’ve been itching to try Il Poggione’s 2015 Brunello since buying a case this time last year. I could count on one hand how many Brunellos I’ve had in the past, so this was exciting from the POV not just of this being a very highly rated wine, but from it being a new experience and foray into the world of Tuscany.

It has a translucent crimson robe, with aromas of dried cherry, tobacco, cedar, iron, beef blood and from somewhere an aromatic lift of lavender.

The palate is defined by vivacious acidity, mouthwatering tannin and a core of candied cherry, walnut, dark chocolate, espresso, all cut to a very savoury tune.

Very, very long life ahead. Would love to taste this alongside Produttori del Barbaresco’s 2016 Barbaresco in ten years’ time. — 4 years ago

Will Messer

9.0

Wonderful red blend from Napa; same winemaking family as Caymus. Joseph Wagner, son of Chuck, also created Meomi while at Caymus. Good value. — 5 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.2

light translucent ruby fading to pale watery rim; red cherry, mushrooms, rose petals; bright red fruit, bit of spice; medium body, medium+ acidity, light tannins, 13% ABV; sourced from famed Seven Springs Vineyard planted in 1984, built around a core of own-rooted Pommard and Wadenswil clones planted in iron-rich, rocky, volcanic soils, farmed biodynamically; lovely, nicely balanced; $35 — 5 years ago

Al Shikoh

8.9

medium violet; violets, potting soil, hint of smokiness; cranberry, sweet tarts, fairly short finish; light bodied, crunchy, vibrant acidity, little tannin, 12% ABV; 100% Gamay sourced from block of historic Seven Springs Vineyard planted in 1983 in own-rooted vines, fermented while cluster with carbonic mace ration in concrete then aged in concrete and stainless steel; $35 — 6 years ago

Joseph Barsky

8.9

2011 Vintage. 12.9% Alcohol. Thin and weedy in past times opening and not worthy of a TN, now finally getting better although still thin. Taking on a brick rim so I would say now is the drinking window. A Garagiste special deal that was not so special. Bought 6 and this is the third one opened with dismal results on the prior two. Better after airing for an hour. @jason carey DipWSET time to try one again from your case if you still have them. — 6 years ago

J Levenson

9.1

The quality for price is outstanding. In 1936 “Caillou’s owner had no desire to join the governing ranks of anything, let alone a wine appellation. This brazen act excluded the estate from the AOC and essentially carved out a chunk of Châteauneuf-du-Pape‘s border. Today it continues to be an ‘unclassified’ section in what is otherwise some of the most prized vineyard land in the area“-Ian Cauble, master sommelier — 4 years ago

LM Segal

9.5

I’m a sucker for Ornato but this was so awkward for an hour, warming from cellar temp and getting some air at 17 years young. After 90 min decant (+airation) powerful nose of blood red🌹and asphalt, not a single hard edge on the big but light and round gem, bloody beautiful, feminine leather and sour 🍒. Finish went on forever with just a twinge of drying tannins suggesting it’s time to drink these. Best news: I have 3 more. — 4 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

The 2008 R. Lopez Heredia ‘Vina Tondonia Reserva’ Rioja is a marvelous effort from this challenging vintage in La Rioja. The wine is a complex blend of Tempranillo (75%), and Garnacho (15%), with Graciano and Mazuelo (5%) that was aged for six years before bottling. The wine is might be showing a bit more depth and concentration than the ’07 bottling while the ’07 is slightly more geared towards finesse. Deep white truffle and wild blackberry notes combine with shades of cinnamon, orange rind and sour kirsch on this gorgeous bouquet. The palate is wonderfully viscous and concentrated. Layers of sour red and ark fruits collide with minerals, smoky terroir and shades of blood orange zest and peat moss on this simply gorgeous palate. Rich and layered, yet having a sterling sense of tension, this magical new wine will cellar well for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2020-2038- 95 — 5 years ago

MaJ CappS

8.9

Violet laced prune juice of a nose,

Blackberry jam, cassis , violet, blood orange pith, medium bodied with a tangy zing to bring up the rear. Long finish, with tannins - front and flanking.

Love Tannat from Uruguay. South America has such spectacular vines. — 5 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.3

One of my favorite Cuvées from this excellent grower, rich and intense, black cherry, blood orange, spices and a chalky minerality. Delicious. — 6 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.3

This has settled down nicely since the last bottle in 2015 and seems ready to go. Very good SB Pinot from the vineyard now known as La Côte. Part of my “Open that oversized bottle week”. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I generally try to keep politics or sorrow events off this platform. However, this morning we watched the McCain funeral and were genuinely moved. We should all hope for such a beautiful funeral.

Today, John McCain brought the world one final parting gift. A message of; peace, unity, love, respect and hope for our country. Let’s hope people listen and try to live their lives with a little more of each.

Today, a country grieves the loss of a great American and celebrates the life of a true American hero. We will miss you and your voice in our country’s discourse. Cheers & R.I.P John. You have certainly earned it.

I can’t think of many better bottles than to celebrate his life and his service commit to our country!

Disgorged in Autumn of 2014. 57 wines with the oldest from 2000 to 2008.

On the nose, blood orange, white citrus, orange peel, dry apricot, Mexican papaya, spice, sea spray, sea shells, gray volcanic minerals with grit, citrus blossoms and spring flowers with orange Gerber Daisies.

The body is full, rich and lush. Micro oxygenation, blood orange, tangerine, white citrus, orange peel, dry apricot, yellow peach, Mexican papaya, baguette crust, spice with palate heat, sea spray, sea shells, gritty gray volcanic minerals with citrus blossoms and spring flowers with orange gerber Gaisies. The acidity is perfect. The finish is beautifully long, rich, lush, elegant and goes on and on.

From 375ml. — 7 years ago