Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Now BSR is one of our main Friday 375ml weekend kickoff celebration starters but, tonight is a little different and even more special.

I’ll be a little mysterious and private about it. However, let’s just say it has taken ten years over a long road to achieve a goal of mine but, today I did. So, a mighty BSR cheers with our favorite N/V Rosé Champagne (except Krug Rosé) with the love of my life, Sofia.

All my many notes still apply.

Hope you all have a great weekend and enjoy some nice wine and or spirits. Cheers! 🍾 🥂

Photos of; the House of Billecart Salmon, cellars, barrel room and Grand Cru vineyard. — 6 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.1

8 May 2018 — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

This is surprisingly for sale through Delectable...buy a bottle. If you haven’t had a well made Napa Cabernet this old, it’s a fun & enjoyable experience. This is a library selection release and was it a steal for under $50. Its a very classic BV. Especially, for the time period. On the nose; notes of Cognac; which I get in older BV’s. Ripe & slightly baked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, rhubarb, figs, dates, cherries, dry, loamy, brown, top soil, steeped tea, dry & decayed brown florals with violets. The body is leaner to medium. Tannins completely resolved. There are noticeable tannins but it’s the acidity holding this wine together so well. The palate is ripe with baked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, rhubarb, figs, dates, cherries, strawberries, and notes of light blue fruit. Some black licorice, cognac notes are very present on the palate. Loamy, brown, top soil, steeped tea, soft spice, clove, used leather, very soft chalky volcanic minerals, crushed dry rocks, dry & decayed dark florals with violets. The acidity is like rain. The well balanced finish is long and beautiful. Photos of their tasting room on Hwy 29, Rutherford vineyard just after harvest and tasting room on 29. Producer notes and history... Beaulieu Vineyard BV is a vineyard near Rutherford, California locates in the Rutherford AVA. It was established by Georges de Latour and his wife Fernande in 1900. BV was an initial a purchase of 4 acres of land in 1900. Beaulieu Vineyard derives its name from the French phrase "Quel beau lieu" which translates in English as "What a beautiful place!". Legend has it that Fernande uttered these words when she first saw the land. The following year, they purchased a nearby winery originally built by California Statje Senator Seneca Ewer in 1885. De Latour's knowledge about phylloxera; which had ravaged many Napa Valley vineyard and his decision to import a rootstock variety resistant to the pest helped secure his stature as one of the early pioneers of California's wine industry. When Prohibition in the United States began in 1920, most wineries in the country were forced to close. However, Beaulieu smartly obtained a contract to supply sacramental wine to churches nationwide. The demand for such wine increased dramatically during the years of Prohibition and the winery repeatedly expanded. By the Repeal of Prohibition in 1933, production had grown to over 1 million US gallons per year. When Prohibition ended, Beaulieu hired Andre Tchelistcheff from France as winemaker and the quality of its wines increased significantly. Tchelistcheff also became a mentor to other important winemakers such as; Mike Grgich at Chateau Montelena who’s Chardonnay won (The Judgment of Paris), Joe Heitz of Heitz Wine Cellars, and Robert Mondavi. By the 1940s, Beaulieu wines were served at all major White House functions. In the mid-1940s, Beaulieu was owned by Marquis de Pins, whose wife was a member of the French wine-making de Latour family. In the 1950s and 1960s Beaulieu was considered one of the "big four" Napa Valley producers, along with Inglenook, Charles Krug (I have mad love for their 50’s & 60’s wines. Perhaps, their greatest period) and Louis Martini. The winery was purchased by international conglomerate Heublein Inc. in 1969. Heublein was later acquired by RJR Nabisco, then sold to Grand Metropolitan in 1987. Grand Metropolitan became Diageo in 1997 through a merger with Guinness and is now the largest multinational beer, wine and spirits company in the world. In 2016 Diageo sold Beaulieu Vineyard to Treasury Wine Estates. Between Treasury, Jackson Family Vineyards and Constellation, they own a huge chunk of the wine producing world. Beaulieu Vineyards is one of the largest land owners in Napa Valley with more 1,100 acres in vines. Their best parcels are located in the Rutherford appellation. They have plantings of all the major Bordeaux varieties; Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. They also have vineyards with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah. In addition, they maintain a vineyard that is used to experiment with a wide variety of different grape varieties including; Carignane, Petite Sirah and Valdiguies. Today, Winemaker Jeffrey Stambor continues the tradition of finely crafted wines handed down to him by legendary BV winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff. — 7 years ago

Immanuel Black

9.5

Good God man!
This and Papi 15 go down as my favorite American spirits. — 9 years ago

Deborah Heath

9.0

#aquavit from House Spirits Distillery, Portland OR, giving a #negroni some Nordic flair — 9 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

8.9

Happy #WorldWhiskeyDay. Light amber in appearance. Nose with oiled notes of stone fruits, a bit of sweetness and raw banana. A lot sweeter than the 8 year with s boy of sliced in the finish. — 6 years ago

with India

P A

10

Coming back from South Fork of the Flat Head River by the Spotted Bear Ranger Station what a better way to finish a fantastic day fly fishing than to go to the Spotted Bear Distillery in Whitefish Mt. If you love gin this is for you. Cheers 🥃🇺🇸 — 7 years ago

with paul and Anne-Reed

Severn Goodwin

9.1

So, not sure how to follow up on a night that included an incredible wine dinner featuring Ridge Vineyards... The jammy Zin's have left me looking for something a little sweeter (I have no Ridge in the house as alternative). So off to the wonderful land of pomegranate liqueur over ice. This is a dangerous bottle, hence it hasn't been cracked until tonight, I had to clean the dust off, but now it'll never make it back to the shelf...Seek and be rewarded! — 8 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.6

Burnt caramel, fruit cake, brine, vegetal perhaps, wood, malt, and a good dose of smoke. Thanks to GC for this amazing drop!

Note: High Spirits is an Italian independent bottler owned by Ferdinando (Nadi) Fiori, which specialises in single cask single malts bottled at cask strength. This bottling is part of the Loch and Castles of Scotland series (No 4 of 18), sporting some beautiful old prints of the subject-in-question on the front label. Incidentally, bottle no 4 of 326 (and 18 mags). Distilled 1995, bottled 2005. Ex-port cask. Springbank Distillery, Campbeltown.

From the whisky whiz KL's IG, although I didn't exactly get the same notes (much to learn here; KL tasted the exact same bottle): A very unique nose. Quite vegetal, capsicum, with a touch of smoke. Rather tight. Palate is sweet and syrupy, vegetal, earthy, and malty. Left to open in the glass for 10 to 15 min, and that's when the magical Springbank character appeared. Beautiful and elegant. Lots of port character. — 8 years ago

Paulo Ribeiro

9.5

Last of pappy's recipe that I've got in the house. Time to go hunting... — 8 years ago

Antoine Pin

Wine Buyer Kroger/QFC

9.2

Oh boy, move over South Gin. 92pts. ANW206 — 8 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.0

Love the flavor - aging finished in oak wine barrels — 9 years ago

Ichiro Kawachi

9.3

Blast of peat / approaching Ardbeg level / sensation of sitting next to hearth in some crofter’s sod house — 6 years ago

Martin G Rivard

9.8

A Great night to say the least:
Magnum of Gargiulo money ranch road,
2000 Bryant, 25 year Macalllan. Totally forgot to post this pick from a few weeks back!
The Bryant drank as good as any French Bordeaux that I’ve ever had. The money ranch toad was mediocre in comparison and the 25 year Macallan was 2nd only to the amazing company we had in our house that night!!
Great times to say the least!
— 7 years ago

with Christine

Patrick Rodrigues

9.2

For a change in gin, this is really good. — 7 years ago

Bill Bender

9.6

Just one cube and instant nirvana. Kentucky USA in the house 🥃 — 8 years ago

Matt Trader

9.2

Just about as Texas as any beer could be. Imperial stout from Martin House Brewing Company, aged 6 months in Witherspoon Distillery Bourbon Barrels from Lewisville, TX, and brewed from a variety of 8 specialty hops and Columbus hops. Pours like the blood coursing through the veins of Acheron - dark black, and with the consistency of tar. This is some tasty stuff! Sadly, last of the two cans in my allocation! — 8 years ago

P A

9.3

Spotted Bear Limoncello in a drink called the "Dancing Dorothy" a local variation of "Police and Thieves"at the Spotted Bear Distillery in Whitefish Mt. Add this distillery to your bucket list. Cheers — 8 years ago

with Taylor

George Chen

9.0

At $100/shot at 15 Romolo and since I've never had it it was a treat but not again. Very intense with some bite and has that artisanal flavoring but not one of my top spirits for that kind of money even if you can't find it commercially. — 9 years ago

Doug Burress

Sales K&L Wines

9.5

OsCo...Oakland Spirits Company. A fabulous new distillery coming out of the East Bay this year. Their signature "Automatic Gin No. 5" is loaded with tamed cardamom, spice, and juniper. A must try for gin fans! — 9 years ago