Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

In the ski chalet or in this case, the bar- Salmontini that overlooks Ski Dubai inside The Mall of the Emirates. Sofía is skiing and I’m having a glass Laurent-Perrier. Two bad discs don’t make for enjoyable skiing. Perhaps, the worst thing I could do for them. I’m getting the better end of the deal! 😋

We already spent a half-hour playing with King Penguins! 🐧 What fun!

As for the champagne, the nose reveals, green apple, lemon lime, pineapple, some hints of green melon and honey, vanilla, cream soda, beautiful soft chalkiness, sea shells, gentle volcanic minerals, spring flowers, Jasmine and yellow lilies.

The body is nice and glides easily over the palate. Nice mousse and mouthfeel. Green apple, lemon lime, pineapple, some hints of green melon and honey, vanilla, cream soda, notes of ginger, baguette crust, beautiful soft chalkiness, sea shells, more pronounced volcanic minerals than the nose and penetrate into the palate, spring flowers, Jasmine and yellow lilies. Really nice soft acidity and micro bubbles. The finish is rich, elegant, nicely polished and persists minutes.

Happy Good Friday and Easter weekend!
🐣 🐰 — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

This wine is made by Dan Standish who started his career by traveling all over the world learning the skill of winemaking. He returned to Australia to make wine at Torbreck. After making Torbreck, he starting his own project. This wine is produced from a vineyard with 100 year old vines with a yield of only a 1/2 ton on fruit per acre. In comparison to quality Napa producers, their yields are 2-3 tons per acre. Dan is absolutely one of the very best producers in Barossa.

On the nose, mulberries, olallieberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, lavender and violets.

The body is full, rich, ruby, lush and very inky. The texture is elegantly sexy. The 06 is still youthful & fresh. It still needs more time but, it’s delicious tonight. The length, tension, structure and balance are just coming into it own. mulberries, Olallieberries, Boysenberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, raisins, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, purple flowers, lavender and violets. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is long, thick, ruby, lush, elegant, well balanced with deep heat penetrating dark spices that rise off the palate and lasts several minutes. The 06 is still 5 years from it peak.

Photos of; The Standish Cellar Door, Owner/Winemaker Dan Standish, beautiful Barossa Vineyards and the old tasting room — 8 years ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.6

What a way to start the final day of #carmelgourmetfest . So delicate and so complex. Absolutely stunning bottle of wine. Dom rose is the only dom... Drank this with friends while the krug tasting was in full swing downstairs from us — 8 years ago

with Lee

Susan Sangiacomo

9.3

Been holding on to a few bottles only because I'm too lazy to open because of the wax seal. Actually, it's not that hard to open. Very smooth and a good time to drink. Would not suggest holding much longer. Had lunch with the family many years ago and they were very gracious welcoming us in their home. Also, they've been supporters of Meals on Wheels SF. Gotta respect those who respect and help the elderly!!! Cheers! — 9 years ago

Ron R

9.2

Lots of discussion about chards today, got us all twisted up in the game.
Nose is muted and isn't offering up much, besides caramel. Palette is restrained and somewhat delicate. Nice acidity and tension on the mid-palette. Clean, fresh citrus fruits finish delicately sweet. Minerality presents as granite. If this wine comes into contact with oak, it's not perceptible. Strong showing, however, the 13 vintage is a touch better. — 10 years ago

with Anne-marie

Kyle Groombridge

9.3

"I make wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is at Calon"... I can see why Nicolas Alexandre Marquis de Segur said these iconic words after having this wine in my glass. The nose is so inviting with warm spice, cigar smoke, embers, and toast. Raspberry syrup, plums, vanilla, and toffee on the palate. Nice thread of smoke throughout with nice balancing fresh fruit. What an enjoyable wine! 20 months in new oak - obviously the more accessible style the new owners are going for... the Pinot the other night gave an experience, this one tells a story. — 10 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.6

Tha k you Mr. Lurton for coming by and pouring us four vintages of Cheval Blanc! This was in a great spot with the most olive intrigue, new leather and cool blue fruit. Where is my steak? — 10 years ago

with Sarah and Dave

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

10

The 1982. Spectacular earth, dark fruit, herbs de Provence and full body give this drinker a lot to love. They don't make them like this anymore. Perfect with Marie-France Ariston's leg of lamb! — 11 years ago

Josh Orr

9.7

If this's wine doesn't make you happy then you should be committed. Beautiful spicey complex nose with a soft palate that just glides along for days. #winning #holysmokes #chateaumargaux #cabernet #toolegittospit — 11 years ago

with Brian

Patrick Dolan

9.8

51% cab 49% Shiraz. It's a baby grange made from grape that don't make ultra hard and expensive grange classification and uses same barrels. Very rich stewed fruits and notes of blackberry and raspberry. Smooth and complex with outstanding finish and overall taste. — 13 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Color me impressed. This was a delightful, textbook expression of Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon with the fruit, texture and “je ne sais quoi” to remind me that Napa can still make interesting, balanced and delicious CS. Another impressive wine by TRB. — 7 years ago

Cameron Etezadi

9.3

Good structure but too young to be opened and consumed. Needs five to ten years at a minimum before you should be drinking this. Bright red with bold tannins and a high acidity make this delicious but painful today. Left my mouth still watering for the long finish. Plums and blackberries dominate the body profile. — 8 years ago

with Eric

Shay A

9.2

Celebrating the 4th a little early with a yearly family tradition...listening to the Fort Worth Symphony at the Botanical Gardens with the best firework show in Fort Worth!

Noticeable step up from the Chandon, in both nose and palate. Much more herbaceous on the nose with added limestone. Palate shows more of the classic chalk/yeast notes with minuscule bubbles. ALMOST creamy (but not quite). There is a baked key lime pie type finish. A nice US sparkler for the price. — 8 years ago

Adam Wills

10

Both me and the girl enter our 40th year in 2018, so we are celebrating a couple of days early with the oldest champagne we've ever had. Special is an understatement. Tastes like I'm butt naked, face down in a seafood tower on the top of the Empire State Building, waiting on a helicopter to come take us to Waffle House to sober up before we get in a Ferrari to see a 35mm print of E.T. Endless thanks to @Christian Moses for this bottle. Will remember it for a long time to come. ❤🥂 Happy New Years Friends — 9 years ago

with Christian

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This is the most picturesque Chateau in Bordeaux. Oh...and they make a pretty amazing Bordeaux. It's a good first look at the 03 vintage from my five bottle set. There are steak wines and then there are steak wines. This was a 10 pair with the T-bone...Heaven. The tannins have softened but have many years ahead to get to that perfect place. The mouthfeel is full, round, creamy and elegant. The fruits have a not too sweet liqueur style. They are; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, sweet tobacco leaf, anise, used leather, black tea, used coffee grounds, rich wet black turned earth, stones, dry red florals, spice; clove, nutmeg, baking spices; very light vanilla, touch of caramel, dark chocolate and acidity that pours over the palate. There is the start of harmony in the structure, length, balance and tension. The finish lasts a full two-minutes and it crushed with the T-bone. Next bottle in 5-7 years. For the legions of you on Delectable crushing only young Napa Cabernet, you have no idea what you're missing in aged Bordeaux...forget about it...even vs. well aged Napa Cabernet. Respect!!! 3-4 hour decant and it needed every second of it. — 9 years ago

Colleen Alteri

9.8

Bought this Pinot in their vineyard. Most beautiful place on earth. We loved the wine and the vineyard so much we had to take the memory with us and open on our 1 yr anniversary. Soooo good!
— 10 years ago

Barbie Fiallo

8.9

Delicious blend! Having it in England so not sure if I'll get the same product in the US.... Very fruit forward with a hint of earth in the finish. — 10 years ago

with Jonathan

Frank Kuo

9.4

Color of dark bloody red with nice legs on the rim. It swirls with sort of dense structure. Nose of waves and waves of dark chocolate, raisins, black pepper, and powerful alcohol. Every note is powerful. Taste of dried fruit sweetness, like dates, wrapped in bright acidity, low tanning, smoky, and spice note like black pepper. It is jammy and chewy. Aftertaste of sweet note with a hint of bitter zest. Overall, the aftertaste is the only weak link to make it a great wine. Enjoy it now. — 10 years ago

Pamela Burns

9.3

My brother bought this at the vineyard and just shared it with us! — 11 years ago

Grant Nieland

9.2

Birthday wine with my love, she turned 30 yesterday and enjoying a nice glass of wine. Bold and long lasting cab, perfect fit for us tonight. — 11 years ago

with Kellyn

Brian Raynor

9.1

Jen and Nick shared gave to us. Very smooth. Drank with Marty in 3/4/19. Marty liked it a lot — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Light app tonight for dinner. Burrata, roasted garlic, two different cherry tomatoes picked tonight from the garden, pesto sauce, olive oil and Tondo balsamic vinegar. The only balsamic to use. Found it in Tuscany years ago and it’s all we use. You can order it on Amazon but, not inexpensive. All over, crostini’s drizzled with smoked olive oil. Soooo good!

The nose reveals, sweet & sour dark cherries, dark berry mix, stewed dark plum, blue fruit hues, touch of baked strawberries, tomato with leaf, sweet tarry notes, limestone minerals, dark rich soil, light baking spices and dark & blue fresh florals.

The body is medium full. Soft, round, tannins 70% resolved. The structure, length, tension has hit a high point. Ripe; sweet & sour dark cherries, dark berry mix, stewed dark plum, blue fruit hues and a touch of baked strawberries. Tomato with leaf, sweet tarry notes, on the long decant, add malt & light caramel, used leather, saddle-wood/cedar, limestone minerals, dark rich soil, medium dark spice, light baking spices and dark & blue fresh florals. The acidity is nice. The finish is good, balanced and lasts minutes.

Photos of, the tasting room at Produttori which is just under and to the right of the clock tower in the arial photo, arial view of the hilltop town of Barbaresco and our delicious small plate.

Producer note...Produttori is the third largest co-op in all of Europe. Be that they are a co-op, they still make some exceptional wines as well as great QPR wines. 🇮🇹 — 8 years ago

GabWine

9.6

When we open from 1987, we expect everything. One thinks of its conservation in cellar, the risk that it is passed or incredible, with the tannins having evolved in this vial ... The cork pulled-out, in perfect state and one knows in advance that one hit the jackpot and that it will be phenomenal. A coppery robe, a complex nose with aromas of black and floral fruits. In the mouth, an explosion of flavors that take the length and makes us go back in time. A very large estate for an incredible wine, to fall 😍🍷 — 8 years ago

Bill Bender

9.4

WNH Southern gathering hosted by @Mike R and old Heitz vertical (70,74,85) sourced by @Martin G Rivard (from Benchmark) who also contributed some on his own dime. This ‘70 started with a wet cardboard musty nose and a slightly hollow mid palate and astringent finish. As the evening evolved and the steak showed up the wine did a complete 180. More tannins than fruit but it was a structured beauty that may not be at it’s peak but is still a gorgeous wine. Ripe plum, stewed fig, bayleaf. I didn’t get any eucalyptus from this but there’s a strong earthy, old world with a CA spin vibe. After dinner and before the fire pit some of us finished the decanter of this and were impressed at how it was still ascending hours after being opened. — 9 years ago

Chris A

9.6

Margaux. Love. Finesse. Words that pair well together to describe this brilliant Bordeaux - as I am likely biased to a good Margaux, this is just wow. Deep, mature red fruits and a well matured robust body make this a wonderful experience to be cherished with each sip. Finishes nicely and is just pure bliss, paring well with the awesome notes on the nose that bring you right to France with the first whiff, on a first class ticket to Bordeaux. Leave the bags unpacked and don't bother leaving for the airport - France has just arrived at your door, and she wants to share. You need this in your life for the holidays! — 10 years ago

with Theresa, Lynn and 1 other

Michael D

9.4

Well here we are over a year since we uncorked this beauty from Spain..As usual the rush of aroma as soon as you uncork this fine wine was very evident. Poured into a decanter and sitting idle for more than 90 mins was excruciating hard to say the least but we'll worth it...Dark rich Garnet ... Slight acidity up front. ..well balanced Tannins and subtle acidity make this a perfect starter to an overall successful dinner party...the 1st of 6 that evening with Insalata Caprese (sliced fresh mozzarella, tomatoes,fresh basil salt olive oil with a drizzle of Balsamic vinegar), more assorted cheeses...A great way to start the evening!!!😊 — 10 years ago

Seth Morgen Long

Broker • Arterberry Maresh / Winemaker • Morgen Long

9.4

For some reason, bottles in France always taste better than bottles in the US. There was a depth, richness and profundity here that I associate with Poyeaux or Bourg... — 10 years ago

Michael Horkay

9.2

Wow here is a wine with soul. Take a minute to examine what this means.... This is a wine of amazing purity. Most at the table could only gasp... Sigh and say holy shit they don't make them like this. Over the plateau barely this wine possessed riveting purity and crazy forest floor notes. It's a wine that defies words but only the purists will comprehend it. — 10 years ago

Alex Sanchez

9.2

Give me a case of this pleaseeee. So beautiful and light with low alcohol. I love the color, nose, everything! I want more and would love to make wine like this! — 11 years ago

Elena Pantaleoni

Owner/Winemaker La Stoppa

10

2002, great wine, elegant, deep, we could have drunk much more but unfortunately it was the last bottle! Marcel, you are always with us! — 12 years ago