Jeff Thompson

10

Mine is Winemaker Selection Red Blend. My last trip was to Portugal and this is taking me back. Smells ancient, then tastes surprising light but still ancient. Flavour is poppin. Love this so much. Can’t wait to have with BBQ tonight. — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Earlier this week, a rep for Crown Point wines hosted a tasting to show off a few of their newer releases. New to me, they are out of Santa Barbara and have the duo of Adam Henkel (former assistant winemaker at Harlan for 8yrs) and Philippe Melka (who came on starting with the ‘15 vintage) making the wines.


This wine is their Estate Selection, which is 73% cab, 16% malbec and 11% merlot. I believe this was the first vintage for this wine. It sports a very soft profile and is made in a riper style. Aromatically it smells of baked boysenberry, fig and mixed berry pie with milk chocolate chips. The ABV is around 15.2% and it shows here. Extracted on the palate with chocolate covered dark fruits, baking spices, nutmeg and Andes mint. — 7 years ago

with Clare and Weston

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.6

Monogram is a project initially started by Domaine Serene owner Ken Evenstad and the 2014 version is a simply breath-taking release. The Monogram is a limited production wine that is a barrel selection of what Ken and winemaker Michael Fay consider to be the choicest of lots. The wine is massive and brooding on the palate, showing a wonderful combination of dark and red fruits alongside wonderful earthy nuance —black truffle and peat moss — which all come into play. The wine finishes exceedingly long with dark fruits and minerals lingering on the stunning finish. This is a simply marvelous Pinot Noir which has the potential to evolve for decades. Drink 2019-2040- 96 — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

This is Gaston’s Special Club. What does it mean when a Champagne is labeled as Special Club?

The Special Club, or Club Trésors de Champagne, was originally founded in 1971 by 12 of the oldest families of the Champagne region. Since then, the club has grown to include 29 producers committed to excellence in all aspects of production. This exclusive membership is only open to Recoltant Manipulants (a French designation for a producer of grower Champagne). Champagnes must be produced, bottled and aged at the member’s estate. The Special Club Champagnes represent the tête de cuvée (a premier bottling often carrying a vintage date) selection for each member.

Special Club Champagne designation means they are only made in outstanding vintages from grapes harvested from member’s own vineyards. Each producer must submit his wine to two blind tastings panels of esteemed oenologists and wine professionals. The still wines (vins clairs) are tasted first and if approved may be bottled in the uniquely-shaped Special Club bottle before undergoing secondary fermentation.

After a minimum of three years aging on lees, the wines are tasted again for final approval.

On the nose; green apple, bruised Bosc pear, touch of golden apple, pineapple, cream soda, light citrus, sea shells/spray, brioche, gray volcanic minerals, soft chalk, spring flowers & citrus blossoms.

The palate is soft, delicate, subtly rich with micro oxygenation. Green apple, bruised Bosc pear, bruised golden apple, pineapple, cream soda, light citrus, sea shells/spray, brioche, gray volcanic minerals that have teeth and dig deep into your palate, soft powdery chalk, spring flowers & citrus blossoms.

Photos of; the house of Gaston Chiquet, cellar-hand hand riddling bottles, Owner/Winemaker Nicolas Chiquet inspecting bottles and one of their Grand Cru Vineyard.

Producer notes...Nicolas farms 23 heactares in the Valle de la Marne in the villages of Ay, Dizy, Hautvillers and Mareuil-sur-Ay. All of the fruit (including that which is used in the non-vintage cuvee) comes from premier and grand cru grapes. Nicolas does not employ any oak aging at Gaston Chiquet; he believes that concentration, fruit maturity and malolactic fermentation impart enough body and texture to make aging in barrel unnecessary.

The vineyards are planted to equal (forty percent each) parts chardonnay, pinot meunier and twenty percent are planted to pinot noir. Gaston-Chiquet. He also produces a vintage dated chardonnay from 5 parcels on the western side of the grand cru village of Ay. Usually recognized as a grand cru village for pinot noir, these vines of chardonnay were planted in Ay in the 1930s.

In 1919, two brothers, Fernand and Gaston Chiquet winemakers came together to create their house Chiquet Brothers. They were ‘pioneers’ in Champagne, the very first winemakers to take the initiative, bold at the time, to keep their grapes, turn them into Champagne and sell their own wine. Nicolas Chiquet planted his first vines in 1746, and since then eight generations have have managed their house. Gaston Chiquet registered the company in 1935 and expanded the property with land in Aÿ, Cumières and Hautvillers. Gaston Chiquet is best known for making the only blanc de blancs from the Pinot village of Aÿ. Aÿ was the big name in the area long before wines became sparkling, and many were the kings and popes who counted Vin d’Aÿ as their favorite wine. The vineyards slope down steeply to the village by the Marne River, and the best locations are just over the town, sheltered from the wind and with maximum exposure to the sun. — 8 years ago

Skip Smyser

9.4

Nils Venge was the first 100 point winemaker in Napa Valley. He still makes an amazing product 🍷. Earthy, flinty, hints of tobacco. Not the average fruit bomb. Very complex 🍷 — 9 years ago

Rafal Fisheer

9.2

Very fruitful, fresh taste. Fine and dry — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Earlier this week, a rep for Crown Point wines hosted a tasting to show off a few of their newer releases. New to me, they are out of Santa Barbara and have the duo of Adam Henkel (former assistant winemaker at Harlan for 8yrs) and Philippe Melka (who came on starting with the ‘15 vintage) making the wines.

The difference between this wine and the previous two is that this is their Cabernet (92%) with just a dash of merlot, petit Verdot, malbec and cab franc. Similar to the ‘15 Estate Selection in how this is big and dense but still harmonious. Rich and dark fruits with graphite, cassis, and mocha. Big tannins with a dark and compact core...blackberries, underripe blueberries, violets, and dusty cedar. — 7 years ago

with Clare and Weston

Farrar Langlois

9.3

Andy loved this one. — 7 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.6

Proof that, indeed, there is truth in wine.

While Heidi Barrett makes her only Chardonnay and Spring Mountain Cabernet for Fantesca, my understanding is she will not make Pinot Noir. That responsibility falls on Fantesca’s Associate Winemaker Tony Arcudi, who also makes wine under his eponymous label in addition to consulting for Kapcsandy.

Fantesca’s 2014 King Richard’s Reserve is sourced from a selection of prime vineyards in Russian River Valley including Bacigalupi, Ulises Valdez, and Martinelli. Reminiscent of my experiences with Williams Selyem Pinot Noir. A rich, yet beautiful expression of Pinot Noir that juxtaposes lush raspberry and black cherry against a backdrop of herbs, flowers, and forest floor. The balance between opulence and restraint is where the beauty lies. — 7 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.1

I’ve had the hardest time remembering my new zip code even despite having written it a thousand times in the last few weeks... maybe I’m still dreaming... anyway...

It was still 90° at 7:30 so I went in search of Sauvignon Blanc. Sunshine Foods is the local grocery and has exactly the surprisingly very good selection that should be expected from a specialty local grocer in the heart of Napa Valley. I’m not going to lie, I bought this wine so that I would finally learn my zip code (even if I did let somebody ahead of me at checkout so I could finish researching it).

The winemaker is Sam Baxter of Terra Valentine and it’s sourced from the San Mateo Ranch Vineyard in Rutherford. At $19 that was good enough for me. Loaded with ripe pear and fresh, almost underripe melon, lime zest, and stony minerality, with just a tinge of honeysuckle that softens the corners. The acid is relatively toned down but still present enough to satisfy most purists. — 8 years ago

Nicholas Karavidas

8.9

Medium colored and balanced body, soft palate and very easy drinking red blend. The feel of a nice blended Merlot with some Zin fruit and spice. — 9 years ago

Skip Smyser

9.3

Can hardly wait for their winemaker dinner at Capitol Cellars. 2013 is outstanding 🍷 — 9 years ago

Ken Rogers

9.2

NOT Heritage Selection, but Elkhorn Peak in the Guest Winemaker Series. And the guest winemaker was my friend, colleague and former co-worker Dale Taunk. An absolutely delightful Pinot--cherry with a hint of earthiness on the nose, a round, smooth mouthfeel, and a supple, juicy palate of dark cherry fruit and a hint of savory mushroom. — 9 years ago

Flora Bokma

9.1

This is another wine we are drinking in the pandemic quarantine of 2020. I love it! Vary dark in the glass... almost opaque. It smells good, dark boysenberry with a suggestion of earth wood and a bit of spice and chocolate. It rolls on the tongue like velvet, so smooth. Pleasant medium length finish. Nice nice! — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.7

The 2016 'Kathryn Hall' Cabernet Sauvignon is a show-stopping wine from winemaker Steve Levesque. Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot with the core fruit sourced from a barrel selection from the Sacrashe Vineyard. Simply captivating, this opens to inviting aromas of ripe dark currants and blueberry compote that collide with violets, tar and shades of sweet pipe tobacco that all sing in the glass. On the palate this is soft and plush, with beautifully round polished tannins and a gorgeous seamless quality, as well as wonderful weight that truly entices. It continues to deliver layers complex flavors including blueberry compote, leather, mocha, creosote and shades of Asian spices that all build up to the long multidimensional finish. While a delight in its youth, the 2016 'Katheryn Hall' Cabernet Sauvignon should also go on to provide enjoyment for twenty years. Drink 2020-2038- 97 — 7 years ago

Frank Rotello

9.0

Definitely had that wet dog French funk on the nose. Great bramble red fruits. A little poblano and baking spice. Smooth tannins. Well balanced. This Chilean winemaker has obvious roots to the French style of carmenere. Worth picking up for the price. — 7 years ago

Al Shikoh

8.9

Pizza dinner with Arcadian winemaker Joe Davis. A Terry Theise selection imported by Skurnik wines. Disgorged August 2017. — 7 years ago

Василий Куртц

9.2

#incorrect it is "luis felipe edwards winemaker selection reserva sauvignon blanc leyda valley" 2017
Очень крутой нос: Вечерний летний сад после проливного дождя. Мокрые кусты смородины и горький крыжовник. Сильный и сладкий, переливчатый и многослойный.
Рот- очень вкусный СБ с отличным балансом, не жидкое, не тяжёлое, не простое, но и не излишне сложное для восприятия.
Реабилитировало фирму после всех фердибоблей нижних линеек, а то я совсем её бояться начал уже. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

On the nose; deep, dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, strawberries and hues of blue fruits, purple, perfumed florals, dark chocolate, caramel, nicely layered baking spices, spice, fresh & dry red florals and violets. The body is full with firm tannins. The fruits are ripe and gorgeous. Dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, strawberries and hues of blue fruits. Cinnamon, clove, dark spices, new leather, cedar, graphite, loamy dry soils, dry crushed rocks and beautiful, fresh & dry red floral with violets. The structure, tension, length are still big & profound. The balanced finish is very nice and will show incredible beauty & elegance with 10 plus years in bottle. This is absolutely not a wine to drink young. Photos of; their dogs who are best friend and very playful. They also couldn’t take their eyes off our selection of cheeses. Their Winemaker Thomas River Brown, who has made at least 8 💯 point wines and their vineyard view sitting on the house patio. — 8 years ago

Bill Morgan

9.0

Excellent dry full flavor. As the winemaker says - a baby Cabernet — 9 years ago