Moone Tsai Wines

Moone Tsai Wines

Black List XXI Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

100% Cab from Soda Canyon and Atlas Peak. Aged for 20 months in 42% New French Oak. Mild tannins and very European in style. Notes of sweet baking spices, tamarind, cedar, vanilla, and black fruit (Blackberries, Cherries, etc.). This one is right up there with Blacklist XIII, which was a 50/50 blend of Cab and Merlot, but very similar in style and structure. — 6 years ago

Sharon, Shay and 13 others liked this

Moone Tsai Wines

Corinne Cuvée Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2017

Shay A
9.2

Finally getting around to posting wines from my annual Napa trip from two weeks ago. Always goes by quick! Lots of fun new stops this year.

It was my first time trying Moone-Tsai wines aside from their widely distributed Napa Valley Cab, so some of these were totally brand new to me. Melka is the winemaker.

Inaugural vintage for this wine. Fruit is coming from Petaluma Gap. This seems to have a Burgundian flair, but the fruit won’t allow it to go fully there. Fairly ripe black cherries, crunchy cranberries, underbrush, black tea and slightly green. Mellow on the palate with more tannin than acidity right now (which seems unique), and a definite dried floral, dried black fruit and herbal streak down the middle of the palate. Needs some time.
— 6 years ago

Tom, Somm and 26 others liked this
Deborah M

Deborah M

Wow. These are all new to me. I only am familiar with their Napa Cab. Great reviews.
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Deborah M : If you like Melka’s style, these are up your alley. I was really captivated by the Paige Cuvee Chardonnay, but all three cabs were flat out incredible.

Plumpjack

Estate Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Shay A
9.3

November’s 4th Friday was a big hit. There is no way I’ll be able to upload all the wines, nor give them the reviews they deserve, but there were a few worthy of mentioning!

Yes, I had to do a double take when I saw the vintage...2017! And it’s drinking like it’s open for business. Similar to the Moone-Tsai it was next to, but everything turned up to 11. Aromatics of triple fudge dipped blueberries and blackberries. Currant and Mexican vanilla too. On the palate, dense and rich. An absolute flavor bomb of baked plums, cinnamon, espresso beans and nutmeg. Maybe this is in a youthful just released phase before shutting down to gain some complexity...
— 6 years ago

joe leatherwoodWeston Eidson
with joe and Weston
Sharon, Tom and 41 others liked this
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

I love the Plumpjack tasting room in Napa. Simple, understated and warm. But in my mind, the cabs are over-priced, by a huge margin. That’s why you rarely see em on my feed any more...
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Ron R : I can agree to that. Haven’t been to their tasting room, but when I visited Odette earlier this year, they poured Cade and Plumpjack (sister wineries). Prefer Odette by far, and same price point. Give it a whirl.

Bruno Paillard

Blanc de Blancs Champagne Grand Cru Chardonnay 2009

Matured 2009 bruno paillard montagne de reims @4400-3300, Eric Tsai, 191102 — 6 years ago

Sono Montenidoli

Tradizionale Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2016

Fresh,comfortable aroma. A bit ripen flavor. Special. Soak it with skin longer so. @850-765, Eric Tsai, 191102 — 6 years ago

Moone Tsai Wines

Black List 3 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

ed
9.3

the last blacklist 3 — 6 years ago

Michelle MonborneAlly Monborne
with Michelle and Ally
Paul and Joey liked this

Moone Tsai Wines

Black List XIII Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

50%Cabernet Sauvignon& 50%Merlot ..... doesn't get any better than this. Favorite Blacklist by Moone Tsai! 😃🍷.... stay safe and drink good wine my Delectable friends. — 6 years ago

Shay, Arden and 7 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

A very opulent producer of wine. 👍🍷
Stephen Pierron

Stephen Pierron

Indeed @David T ! Melka makes some fantastic wine for Moone-Tsai (and Lail Vineyards). I've been a fan of Moone-Tsai for awhile, but their Black List wines are truly exceptional, fun, and delicious! Cheers!! 😃🍷👍

Moone Tsai Wines

Paige Cuvée Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay

Shay A
9.3

It was my first time trying Moone-Tsai wines aside from their widely distributed Napa Valley Cab, so some of these were totally brand new to me. Melka is the winemaker.

Anytime I see Ritchie vineyard, I perk up. I really enjoy the fruit coming from that vineyard and this was no different. Bright and gold in the glass showing aromatics of banana bread pudding, powdered lemon bar, and honeyed tropical fruits. Vibrant acidity at this age with some classical Ritchie nuttiness alongside lemon cream and honeysuckle. Really good.
— 6 years ago

Joshua, Tom and 29 others liked this

Moone Tsai Wines

Black List XI Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

It's time for #MerlotThursday. Here's a delicious one from Napa.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blueberries, black plums, cherries, wood, cloves, vanilla, spices, espresso, dark chocolates, peppercorn, dust and graphites.

Full bodied with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, cherries, sweet raspberries, tobacco, peppercorn, cedar, leather, vanilla, earth, licorice, spices, metals, chocolates, dark roast coffee and light vegetables.

Long finish with firm tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a great Merlot from Napa Valley. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Rich and extracted.

Needs an hour to open up properly and show the tannins. After 3 hours of airtime, black licorice notes come in, which was a nice surprise.

Could use a few more years in the bottle to mature, but already drinking very nicely now.

This Single Vineyard is a very hard one to come by. Thank you Kim and Barry for sharing this with me.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

100% Merlot grapes were grown at 2,100 feet of elevation. Aged in French oak (60% new) barrels for 25 months. A small production of only 143 cases.

Delicious and tasty.

15.3% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$215.
— 6 years ago

Brandon, Shay and 15 others liked this
Stephen Pierron

Stephen Pierron

Nice bottle!!!!

Domaine Michel Gros

Les Chaliots Nuits Saint Georges Pinot Noir 2004

It is necessary to take decanting. But from one hour, we can enjoy complexity. A bit body more than mid. Elegant. Aroma actually better over time, 2 hours and more 2004 @4650, Eric Tsai, 191113 — 6 years ago

Sono Montenidoli

Toscana Sangiovese Blend 2015

2015 but matured. Ripen cherry, licorice. @, Eric Tsai, 191102 — 6 years ago

Varnier-Fanniere

Brut Zéro Grand Cru Champagne Rosé

Red cherry, charming! jean fanniere champagne brut zero rose. Avize grand cru @3300-2350Eric Tsai, 191102 — 6 years ago

Bollinger

Rosé Champagne Blend

balanced at high level with a bit acidity to feel its feature. It has elegancy, deep pale red fruits taste. @, Xiaduo - Eric Tsai, 191113,
@, Xiaduo - BBQ, 190917-191114
— 6 years ago

Moone Tsai Wines

Black List XVIII Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Shay A
9.5

Finally getting around to posting wines from my annual Napa trip from two weeks ago. Always goes by quick! Lots of fun new stops this year.

It was my first time trying Moone-Tsai wines aside from their widely distributed Napa Valley Cab, so some of these were totally brand new to me. Melka is the winemaker.

This was my wine of the lineup for both now and possibly down the road. A great blend of the Howell (massive structure, chalky/dusty, big and ripe fruit) with the Cor Leonis (slightly savory, inky, herbal). This has velvet like tannins right now but they are really persistent. Plum, nutmeg, creme de cassis, heady display of the entire fruit spectrum (red, blue and black) jump from the glass. Slight addition of graphite, black licorice, and currant on the palate. Juicy, savory, decadent. Lots going on here. Very good.
— 6 years ago

Eric, Ryan and 38 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Stephen Pierron : This was a spectacular wine. It’s my wife and I’s anniversary year, so we bought one to tuck away for the future. Steve did a great tasting for us. He’s a close buddy of my friend Weston of Montagu Wines, who also uses Brasswood. Been going to Brasswood for years now and the mozzarella never gets old!
Stephen Pierron

Stephen Pierron

@Shay A Happy anniversary!! Glad you had a great time! I've heard of Montagu but have never tried their wines! Is the owner local to Texas by chance?
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Stephen Pierron : Our anniversary is in July, but we make an annual trip out to Napa every February! And yes, Montagu’s owner/winemaker is from Fort Worth. His name is Weston Eidson. If you ever make it over here, happy to introduce you. He makes some wonderful wines.

Brasswood

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2017

Shay A
9.1

If you aren’t familiar with Brasswood, you should change that. A truly state of the art custom crush facility in St Helena (has housed clients like Bevan Cellars, Moone Tsai, Montagu, Modus Operandi, Dark Matter, etc), with tasting rooms, caves, a shop, bakery and a fantastic restaurant. On top of all that, they have their own label, which Angelina Mondavi consults on.

This is my first time trying their Chardonnay offering, courtesy of Brasswood’s Somm
@Joshua Fisher . I was fortunate to follow this over the course of a few days. Day one had this showing very primary...down the middle type chard. Day two saw this increase in complexity...certainly true to Napa chard with a warm and soft profile, revealing lanolin, lemon cream, and even a cotton candy note on the nose. The palate has added notes of ripe melon, banana, and powdered sugar. Viscous but a line of acidity keeps this nervy. Thanks Josh.
— 6 years ago

Severn, Vanessa and 38 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Very special. From 1.5 hours after opening, deep, smooth, vintaged taste. Maybe more hours better. One of best Poillac @5500, Eric Tsai, 191113 — 6 years ago

Bruno Paillard

Première Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend

Fruity aroma. Citrus @, Eric Tsai, 191108 — 6 years ago

Varnier-Fanniere

Grand Vintage Brut Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay 2012

Very special. Pear ripen fruity taste. Slight sparkling? fanniere champagne brut grand vintage, Avize grand cru @5000-3550, Eric Tsai, 191102 — 6 years ago

Aaron liked this

Bruno Paillard

Dosage Zéro Champagne Blend

Not only standard features but also special elegancy, citrus@3900-2800, Eric Tsai, 191102 — 6 years ago

Moone Tsai Wines

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2016

Ken Z
9.1

Drank 6/13/19. Tasting event. Tasting pour.

Oak, and a touch of pear on the nose. Nicely balanced with green apple, vanilla, pear, and oak. Medium, dry finish

4/21/8/4/3 +50 =90 Pts
— 6 years ago

Ken, Shay and 3 others liked this