Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Merry Christmas Eve-Eve everyone! 🎄🎁⛄️❄️🎅🤶

The nose reveals; heather honey quality, beeswax, slightly sour lemons-the good accents of Lemon Pledge, lime candy, overripe pineapple, understated, mixed stone fruits, some golden & green apple, orange rind, inside side of the the banana peel, cream, hints of butter, vanillin, caramel, soft, medium, white spice, chalky powder, river stones, delicate, herbaceous notes, volcanic minerals, spring flowers, touch of jasmine & yellow lilies.

The palate is; quite full, round, thick, lush & waxy. Guides effortlessly & smoothly over the palate...no harsh elements. Heather honey quality, beeswax, slightly sour lemons-the good accents of Lemon Pledge but, less of it on the palate than nose, lime candy, overripe pineapple, understated, mixed stone fruits, some golden & green apple, orange rind, inside side of the the banana peel, cream, hints of butter, vanillin, caramel, chalky powder, river stones, light herbaceous notes, saline, volcanic & granitic minerals, spring flowers, touch of jasmine & yellow lilies. The acidity is round & phat. The structure & tension have softened and will get better with a little more time in bottle. The length & balance are knitted well. The delicious finish is well balanced & polished with the soft, white spice lingering on the long set.

A nice Mendoza Chardonnay and a great Costco QPR at $16.99.

Photos of our visit to their restaurant & tasting room in the spring of 2018. Definitely place to taste & have lunch or dinner. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

For me, there is one Napa winery that was great in the pioneer days and lost their edge for a time but, has seriously reclaimed it. That winery is Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. It is largely overlooked with so many modern quality producers rising in the Napa Valley.

This 09 Fay is outstanding in a way that is truly unique to Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars.

The nose reveals, dark currants/cassis, deeply extracted; blackberries, black raspberries, black raspberries, black plum, black cherries with faint, creamy raspberries on the high nose & glass edges. Dark expresso roast, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, mocha, caramel, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, black licorice to anise, medium intensity dark spice, limestone minerals, dark, rich earth, dry crushed rocks, volcanic minerals, steeped tea, fresh tobacco, graphite, dark liqueur notes, Provence herbs with dark, florals, fresh & withering, candied florals with bright violets.

The body is full, silky and velvety. The tannins are rounded, soft yet tarry and teethe, 40% resolved. There are 10-20 years of life ahead depending on how you enjoy & store wine. The tension, structure, length and balance are just starting to climb to its peak. Dark currants/cassis, deeply extracted; blackberries, black raspberries, black raspberries, black plum with skin, black cherries with faint, poached strawberries & creamy raspberries. Dark, well pressed, expresso roast, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, mocha, caramel, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, dark, Asian & India spices with heat, black licorice to anise, medium intensity dark spice, limestone minerals, dark, rich earth, moist clay, dry crushed rocks, volcanic minerals, steeped tea, fresh tobacco, touch of black pepper, graphite, dark liqueur notes, Provence herbs with dark, florals, fresh & withering, candied florals with bright violets and lavender. The acidity is phat, round and fountain drippy. The long finish is; big, round, elegant, ripe, ruby, well balanced and persists deeply for minutes.

Photos of, their tasting room & Estate vines, barrel room, non-stop swinging pendulum ball and aerial view of their Estate. — 6 years ago

Sarah Blakemore

9.4

amazing. tangy finish. phat cab. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

This is a $30 retail Chardonnay that just hit K&L this week at $14.99. To quote Ralph their Senior Buyer who buys their Bordeaux wines, “The best screaming deal in richly styled California Chardonnay I've tasted in my 40 years here. When I tasted this here at my desk with our buyer Ryan Woodhouse, I said to myself, wow this is very good, expensive Chardonnay.”

The nose shows big, round richness. Lots of green & golden apple, Meyer lemon, ripe pineapple, lime zest, some stone fruit, caramel, vanillin, butter, cream, white spice, volcanic minerals, good presence of nice chalkiness, hint of herbs with yellow flowers/lilies.

The palate is, round, rich and phat. It’s beautiful over the palate. Loads of green & golden apple, Meyer lemon, ripe pineapple, lime zest, some stone fruit with apricots dominating, slight notes of honey, caramel, vanillin, butter, cream, white spice with some palate heat, grainy volcanic minerals, good presence of; beautiful, moist, powdery chalkiness, hint of herbs with yellow flowers/lilies. The acidity is round and voluptuous. The long, rich finish is; elegant, well balanced, hedonistic and persists minutes.

Nice to see a newer release California wine at 13.4% ABV.

Drinks nicely even beyond its full retail price!

A little background on their Winemaker, Dan Fitzgerald. Dan cut his teeth as Brack Mountain’s founding Winemaker. Prior to that, he worked with Winemaker Bob Cabral at Williams Selyem Winery in the Russian River Valley, rounding out his trifecta of Pinot noir and Chardonnay winemaking. Also, had experience at James Halliday’s Coldstream Hills Winery in Australia’s Yarra Valley and Robert Sinskey Vineyards in Napa Valley.

The Sierra Mar Vineyard was planted by the Pisoni Family and sits adjacent to the famous Gary’s Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. It is owned by Gary and Rosella Franscioni. The vineyard has been in their family for three generations. “Mountain Sea” translates in Spanish to Sierra Mar. The vineyard sits just over 1000 feet and is one of the highest altitude vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands.

Photos of, the barrels this vineyard is fermented, WineMaker Dan Fitzgerald and their Sierra Mar Vineyard. — 7 years ago

with James and Christina

Chris DeBarr

9.4

Delightful lively flavors at a full gallop, like phat plums & wild strawberries, racy, bright, so very juicy & happy. — 9 years ago

Chris DeBarr

9.2

Enso, made in PDX, has released their "Chateauneuf du Stark" based on the quartet of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Counoise (each at 25%) from Columbia Valley. Fragrant, phat, flirting with smoke & slate but so juicy...call me muy loco but it reminds me of papaya crossed with tobacco. Whatever, this li'l Stark ode to Chateauneuf isn't too big for its britches, it's daring & delightful! — 10 years ago

with Christie

David A

9.5

Spot tf on. Phat. — 10 years ago

Craig Haserot

Founder and Proprietor Sojourn Cellars

9.2

Phat forward in a great space for just pop and pour right now. Some matchstick reduction which is ok. — 11 years ago

Brendan Kaz

9.2

Very phat — 11 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose reveals, mashed, sour, candied/liqueured, meyer lemon, very ripe, pineapple, golden apple, lime skin, & green apple w/ almost no skin, fresh, herbal qualities, honey, beeswax, vanillin, warm caramel, limestone minerals, soft chalkiness, wet stone with yellow lilies and florals and mixed greens.

The body is; round, rich, bold, thick & waxy. It is gorgeous over the palate. Mashed, sour, candied/liqueured, meyer lemon, grapefruit pulp, dry & candied pineapple, golden apple, key lime, stone fruit, tangerine & green apple w/ almost no skin, fresh, herbal qualities, honey, beeswax, vanillin, warm caramel, toffee, marmalade, white spice, limestone minerals, soft chalkiness, wet stone, dusty dry rocks, saline notes with yellow lilies, white florals & mixed greens. The acidity is, beautifully, round & phat. The rich, ruby, heather honied, well balanced/polished finish delicious & lingers well.

Photos of; two aspect views of Domaine Leroy & Madame Lalou Bize-Leroy (The Queen of Burgundy) in her precious vineyards. She all about bio-dynamic, lower yields, prunes by hand and sings to her vines. And, who could argue her success. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

It has been awhile since we’ve had the 2014 and it’s evolving nicely.

My suggestion is you chill down the Davis Chardonnay, take it out of chill mode a half-hour to forty-minutes prior to enjoying. Then, get this soft white cheese from Harbison Cellars - Spruce Bark Wrapped Bloomy Rind and the Firehook crackers and enjoy them all together. They are a Heavenly pairing together.

As for the 2014 Davis Chardonnay, the nose reveals, more honey notes, overripe; pineapple flesh, golden apple, sour Meyer lemons. Apricots, peach, lime candy, green apple, beeswax, honeycomb, tangerine notes, saline, excellent, soft chalkiness, limestone & grey volcanic minerals, a little white spice, yellow lilies, fruit blossoms, jasmine with a touch of mixed greens.

The body is full, thick, lush and rich. The texture is gorgeous and sexy...beautifully delicious over the palate. Lots of honey notes, over ripe; pineapple flesh, golden apple, sour Meyer lemons. Apricots, peach, lime candy, more green apple, beeswax, honeycomb, tangerine notes, caramel, a touch of toffee, butter, cream, saline, excellent, soft chalkiness, limestone & crushed, grey volcanic minerals, a little white spice with a touch of heat, yellow lilies, fruit blossoms, jasmine with a touch of mixed greens. The acidity is excellent, round and phat. The long, rich, lush, gorgeous, sexy, well balanced finish persists nicely for minutes.

Pound for pound, dollar for dollar, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better CA Chardonnay for the money. $36 member price and $48 non-member price.

You want to enjoy this just below room temperature to get all it has to offer.

Photos of, the right side view from their terrace with their signature windmill, the center direct view of the valley floor through to the other side, the Harbison soft white cheese & Firehook crackers to a pair with the Davis Chardonnays.

Their Chardonnays show varying nuisances year to year but, are very consistent in quality year to year. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Mother Mary of God! It’s a stunning example of why I adore White Burgundy.

The nose reveals; Meyer lemon, Granny Smith apples, pineapple, lime zest, stone fruit, under ripe green melon, beeswax, honeysuckle, touch of caramel, fruit blossoms, river stones, cream for days, gentle white spice, powdery limestone & brilliant, soft gentle chalkiness, steely minerals, some flintiness with jasmine, mixed greens, yellow lilies and spring flowers.

The body is full, rich, lush and waxy. It’s simply stunning as it glides over the palate. It just doesn’t get much better in White Burgundy unless you spend seriously more money. Meyer lemon, Granny Smith apples, pineapple, lime zest, stone fruit, under ripe green melon, kiwi, bruised Bosc pear, beeswax, honeysuckle, vanillin notes, touch of caramel, fruit blossoms, river stones, cream for days, butter, gentle white spice with soft, warm heat, herbaceous, powdery limestone & brilliant, soft gentle chalkiness, steely minerals, some flintiness with jasmine, mixed greens, yellow lilies and spring flowers. The phat, round acidity is like a warm, gentle rain shower. The rich, lush, ripe, polished, well balanced finish is delicious and persists several minutes.

Photos of, Chassagne Montrachet, the old vines of Domaine Pierre Yves Colin Morey, Pierre-Yves Colin the eldest son of the famed Marc Colin and cellar of Domaine Pierre Yves Colin Morey.
— 6 years ago

Chris Hofmeyr

10

Phat wines co Pty Ltd, Pokolbin, NSW Chardonnay — 9 years ago

Keith Whitener WSET Diploma, CSW

9.1

Still a phat fat tie fruit bomb — 9 years ago

Chris DeBarr

9.2

So much jolly smooth phat & happy in one squatty bottle! A perennial favorite. — 9 years ago

with Christie

Chris DeBarr

9.3

Phat, luscious, yet whale-bone dry. Biodynamic, carries that taste of pecans and nuttiness that marks Malvasia, but the bubbles lift it to a beautiful heft. Very exciting wine... — 10 years ago

Chris DeBarr

9.2

Round, phat, dense with minerals that lurk within a nimble yet plush frame. It'd be your lucky day to find this gem by the glass! — 10 years ago

Craig Haserot

Founder and Proprietor Sojourn Cellars

9.1

Phat, nice. — 10 years ago

Chris DeBarr

9.1

I love Gentilini's sexy, opulent red wine, "Eclipse," but this shape-shifting white Robola started shimmering, plush, and phat, but as it warmed up next to spicy fare, a honeyed Semillon richness arrived. Really good at either end of the spectrum! — 11 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

The nose reveals; dark, sweet, tarry, currants, ripe, ruby, candied, blackberries, dark cherries, ripe black plum with soft skin, purple fruit blend, blueberries, creamy dark raspberries, mixed berry cola, anise to black licorice, notes of ripe port, sandstone/limestone, dark spices, steeped teas, dry & fresh herbaceousness, crushed, dry rocks, black tar, dark chocolate, caramel, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, soft leather, saddle-wood, leather, dry & fresh tobacco, bay leaf with fresh & withering, very dark florals.

The body is; full, round, velvety and drop dead, gorgeously sexy. Their 97 shows the excellence of the vintage. The structure, tension, length and balance are in peak form. However, this wine has another 10 years ahead. The soft, round, silky tannins melt in your mouth. Dark, sweet, tarry, currants, ripe, ruby, candied, blackberries, dark cherries, ripe black plum with soft skin, purple fruit blend, blueberries, creamy dark raspberries, mixed berry cola, anise to black licorice, sandstone/limestone, dark spices, steeped teas, dry & fresh herbaceousness, crushed, dry rocks, rich, black, turned earth, black tar, dark chocolate, coco powder, caramel, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, soft leather, saddle-wood, leather, big graphite, some, subtle, grilled meats, dry & fresh tobacco, touch of black pepper, bay leaf with fresh & withering, very dark florals. The acidity is round and beautifully phat. The long, ruby, ripe, rich, well knitted texture & balance are outstanding and persists endlessly. Beautiful vintage and wine tonight!

Photos of; Cardinale tasting room, our Lokoya & Cardinale hybrid tasting as the road to Lokoya was not open after the big rains a couple of winters back and their terrace view from the tasting room. — 6 years ago

Zack Hall

9.3

Uh great mdb rem of some white burg bruh phat. Great texture slightly honeyed bright acidity — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I normally don’t buy a lot of CA Chardonnay as I prefer White Burgundy. Also, I don’t spend at this price point on a bottle of CA Chardonnay. However, the CIX Vineyard is planted from Montrachet clones. I was curious to see how a Montrachet clone would perform in the hands of a revered Sonoma producer.

While this is an excellent CA Chardonnay, I find the strong structure and heavier (not heavy) wood use not in my wheel house. Especially, at this price point. I like the Davis Estates Chardonnay nearly as much and find the Aubert style in it for $36 member price & $48 non-member price. Night and day in terms of price point but, not so much in terms of quality. However, I will say again, this CIX is better, just not the QPR.

It is also a shade hot on the palate & the back of the throat. We’ll see how the other two bottles evolve in successive 2-3 year increments over this bottle tonight.

The nose reveals; Meyer lemon- curd/meringue, lime candy, green apple, underripe, green melon, notes of kiwi, remembrance of lemon pledge, honey, beeswax, honeycomb, vanilla, light caramel, butter, cream, white spice, touch of white pepper, saline, waxiness, limestone minerals, strong powdery chalkiness, herbaceous notes, spring flowers, jasmine, fruit blossoms, yellow lilies with mixed greens.

The body is quite full, thick & waxy. It’s beautifully elegant over the palate. The structure, tension, length and balance are just starting to ascend. Still needs another 2-3 years to show its better self. But, if you have multiple bottles now is a good time to try one. Meyer lemon- curd/meringue, lime candy, green apple, underripe, green melon, very ripe pineapple, notes of kiwi, hints here & there of white peach, buttered popcorn, as it warms near room temperature, add butterscotch, cream, honey, beeswax, honeycomb, vanilla, light caramel, white spice with heat, touch of white pepper, saline, sea spray to sea fossils, waxiness, grassy notes, dry straw, limestone minerals, strong powdery chalkiness, herbaceous notes, spring flowers, jasmine, fruit blossoms, yellow lilies with mixed greens. The acidity is beautiful...round & phat. The long finish is; rich, lush, ripe, elegant, well balanced and persists for several minutes.

If not for the alcohol heat, it would make 94 with a possible 95-96 down the road.

Photos of; Aubert Vineyard at sunset, the rootstock of the CIX Vineyard, Owner-Winemaker, Mark Aubert and I think the CIX Vineyard but, not positive. — 6 years ago

Jonathan Wall

9.0

Phat and Plush. Huge mouthfeel. Napa QPR. — 7 years ago

Daniel McGeough

9.0

A little phat for my liking, still delicious tho' — 9 years ago

Craig Haserot

Founder and Proprietor Sojourn Cellars

9.3

Just starting to shed some baby phat this wine has 50 years in front of that this is a hold for another 10+ at this time friend — 9 years ago

Chris DeBarr

9.3

A very elegant charmer of an orange wine. Cattaratto is the racy component of Marsala (Grillo is the phat cat purring in the sunshine...), and this jets into terra incognita with aplomb, showing tricks with acidity, a bit of residual sugar that honeys like apricots, and just a kiss of tawny tannin structure. This could roll with anything from lamb curry to caponata to hamachi collar in a miso glaze.... — 10 years ago

Chris DeBarr

8.9

The Grolleau supplies the phat, round, warm spice embrace while the Cab Franc gives angularity & Tellicherry pepper, so the pieces of the surprising jigsaw puzzle fit together just so! — 10 years ago

S Butterfield

Sommelier Flask Fine Wines

9.3

Phat wine. — 10 years ago

Tony McClung

President Scarpetta Wine

9.2

Rich and PHAT. — 11 years ago

Christopher Neal

9.8

One of my favorite wines. — 12 years ago