Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Happy Spring! It’s one of our favorite points in the year. More; daylight, a little warmer in CA and everything starts to bloom which, means a long summer of gardening and being outdoors every day/night is not far off.

Since it was such a great day and basically most Californians are shut-Ins, the voluntary self quarantining was getting to me. I did the landscaping and got an afternoon of fresh air today. A breath of fresh air...ahhh! Wow, was it needed after Gavin’s Newsom’s estimate of 25.5 million Californians would be infected with Coronavirus over 8 weeks yesterday.

So, a good night to celebrate another day of being virus free with my 2nd favorite N/V Rosé Champagne.

All my numerous previous notes apply.

Stay safe everyone and remember the new terminology of the new decade...social distancing! Cheers! 🍾🥂

Photos of; Spring in our backyard & a Billecart Grand Cru Vineyard.

— 6 years ago

Will Bean

9.4

What a find on half price wine night! Such a deal, especially with so much bottle age! — 7 years ago

with Jack

leon egozi

9.2

Superbowl of wine night. From a magnum — 8 years ago

Nena Madonia

9.9

Sunday night wine — 9 years ago

with Andrew, Dana and 1 other

Mark Flesher

9.5

Wine of the night. This wine had EXCELLENT fruit, and showed NO VISIBLE SIGNS of decline. Great powerful blackberry. I was guessing 01 Stag's Leap or Rutherford. Turns out it was Caymus SS 01, but I was second guessing myself on the year because it was a very purple color into the decanter and showing well. The wine had great vanilla on the front, blackberry on the front, and a more youthful middle and finish with some herb. This wine has 10 years left in it no doubt. Whoever cut this one off at 2017 has no idea. This one literally showed no signs of decline whatsoever. Drink by date 2007 - 2030. — 9 years ago

Cody Short

9.5

One of the best wines in a great night — 9 years ago

with Holli

admiral von schnauzer

9.1

Damn. Memories of date night oh so long ago. Still a mere baby. I've another bottle in storage, perhaps soon. Muscular, still overly (to me) tannic, acidity still high. But still. Can't believe what this costs now. Yikes. — 9 years ago

Tracy Lynn Rabago

9.8

For that extra special date night or big moment in your life, this red is always a winner. — 11 years ago

Reagan Nunnally

9.2

Big jammy zin on a cool fall night. — 12 years ago

Michael Wilson

9.1

Really lovely blend of 10 different grapes. Lots of purple flowers and pepper. — 12 years ago

with Scott

Mary H

9.6

Standout of the night, 1996-2012 vintages in the 168th edition. Complex flavors of citrus, creaminess, and earth, like a creamy mushroom puff pastry. — 6 years ago

Ryan Dennis

10

A smoother cab sav. Love it — 7 years ago

Jack Petras

9.8

Fortunate enough to have tasted this along with 6 other stunning wines last night during a cellar tasting. This 36 year old 2nd growth was nearly perfect, unusual but very pleasant mint, camphor, crushed sage and rosemary aromas with the same cooling delicate herbal initial palate. Dried but expressive red fruits mid- palate with a great structural graphite element throughout. Whiff of new leather. Changed in the glass showing different mellow facets. Pretty much intercepted at the exact right time. A real privilege to taste such a renowned vintage with folks who appreciates what was in front of them. — 7 years ago

Robert Agans

8.9

Very good. Paired with bolognese ragu over penne pasta and Parmesan cheese... home run. — 9 years ago

Tom Wildenhaus

9.4

Love it. This 2008 worked well last night. Crowd pleaser — 9 years ago

Anil Saxena

9.0

Beautifully rich and complex wine. It is oaky, chocolate, and wonderful dried fruit. The longer it breathes the better it gets. I'd certainly get more. — 9 years ago

Steve Wilcox

9.3

2012 ready now w/ big fruit and complexity — 9 years ago

Roy Goble

9.1

Wasn't happy with this last night, but this second bottle is definitely more Caymus-like. Glad I gave the vintage a second chance. — 9 years ago

Andrew Berge

9.6

Wine of the night. — 11 years ago

Peter Plaehn

8.9

1995 from Mag. A beast that evolved all night. — 11 years ago

Jamie Magid

10

1948 Cheval Blanc going to be a great night. — 12 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.1

The juice, the energy, the dammit I don’t want it to be so tasty but...Artemis got you. Because she’s a goddess and says so. I mean, there are other deities. Ones more powerful or whatevs but I’ll run through the woods with this for a night — 6 years ago

Bret Barker

9.7

We ended the night with Insignia and this Napa more than held up to the Bordeaux bottles. Deep purple with black cherry, chocolate and hint of cedar. Awesome, awesome wine. — 7 years ago

Christophe Aebi

9.2

Was slightly disappointing against the other premier crus from the night. Not the first underwhelming encounter with HB, maybe just not my wine. — 8 years ago

Mickey K

9.5

Excellent, bold new world take on a traditional CDR. Tobacco and raisins. Maybe cinnamon or cardamom. But more fruit forward with jammy dark berries. Tangy. — 8 years ago

Martin G Rivard

10

What a beautiful person inside and out! I'm blessed beyond measure to be able to call him "Dad". Words can't adequately express how much I Love him. We opened a few bottles last night that I will hold near and dear to my heart forever. We are celebrating his completion of 6 rounds of chemo therapy in his battle against Prostate cancer. This is his 3rd time in the ring against this opponent and it appears that he's won with a unanimous decision by knockout at this time!!!!!! Love you dad!!!!! So proud of your strength through this process. My Father was born in 1940. A difficult year to say the least:
Germans entered Bordeaux in June of 1940. As dictated by Hitler himself, it was the sworn duty of each and every commander to search and seize whatever could be used for the advancement of the German cause. Bedlam broke out. Chateaux' were ransacked, wine cellars were looted if not used for target practice. The Chateauxs were forced to continue producing wines. It's poetic justice that Mother Nature provided the Germans with the worst growing season from 1940 to 1944!!!! The Germans left Bordeaux in 1944 to the cheers of the residents "Au Revoir Les Allemands"!!!! The 1940 bottle that we enjoyed this evening survived World War II. It Survived the ransacking, pillaging & plunder of countless German soldiers. It's outer capsule showed evident signs of its struggle but it's inner beauty was unblemished and glorious. I've had many, many vintages of Latour from 1928 and on but none have ever tasted as perfect as the one we enjoyed tonight. This 1940 was perfect. It was a fighter, it never gave up, it never relinquished in the face of adversity. That's my Father, that my role model. He's a beautiful person inside & out. I think 1940 is the best vintage that I have ever had the privilege to enjoy. Special thanks to my good friends Michael Troise whom provided me with much of the insights in regards to the incredibly difficult vintage and David Page whom gifted this bottle to me for our celebration this evening. I will never forget your generosity. It was a glorious evening to say the least!!! Wine has a way of bringing people together and encapsulating an evening and event. I couldn't think of a better way to rejoice in his victory than to open a Father & Son birth year wine. — 9 years ago

with Ryan, Christine and 1 other

Tawnia Milligan- Beckwith

10

One of my favs!! — 11 years ago

Hermes Ortiz

9.7

2002 SHAFER Cabernet Sauvignon
"Hillside Select"
Napa Valley, California
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Silky smooth.
Soft, lush tannins.
Dark, Black Fruit.
Blackberry and Blueberry Flavors.
All Elements in harmony.
Great Balance.
Extra long finish.
"Wine of the Night".
Still has another 5 - 10 years of life ahead. — 11 years ago

with Jeffrey

Kathleen Matsoukas

9.5

From our 2014 Napa trip. Yummy grapefruit. — 12 years ago

Dan Bock

9.8

Florally silky delight! Best wine of the night. — 13 years ago