Ron R

9.6

Mini wine nerd herd in NYC! Our lovely ladies in shot.
WS event brings em to town. A wonderful gift from @Shawn R. Understated, yet extravagant. Weightless, with roasted nuts and baked apples on the nose and palate - to die for! Thank you, Shawn!!! — 6 years ago

with Anne-marie, David and 1 other

Jeremy Endo

10

10 year waiting list — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose reveals, black & bing sour cherries, blackberries, slightly baked strawberries, blueberries, some black raspberries, pomegranate extract and hint of plum, a fair amount of vanillin, soft limestone, whiffs of other baking spices, black tea, rich dark soils, faint crushed rocks, beautiful, fragrant, bright, blue, red and dark red florals.

The body is round & full. The tannins just starting to hit a good point of softening and rounding, yet have 10 plus years ahead. The structure, tension are hitting their stride. The length and balance are just getting to near perfect form. Two years ago, this wine was not ready and is now at the place I was hoping to get. I have two bottles left and I will have another in five years. Based on that performance, another in three to five plus years more. It’s the evolution that is so much fun to follow.

Black & bing sour cherries, blackberries show more on the palate and the pork pasta bring them out more deeply, slightly baked strawberries, blueberries, some black raspberries, pomegranate extract, cranberries and hint of plum, a fair amount of vanillin, soft limestone, nuances of volcanic minerals, soft baking spices, dark medium intensity of spice, black tea, rich dark soils, faint crushed rocks, beautiful, fragrant, bright, blue, red and dark red florals. The acidy is like a fresh water river. The long finish is unbelievably elegant, well balanced with a touch more fruit than earth, polished and persists seamlessly for several minutes.

I look forward to trying this wine again as it continues to evolve and improve over the next five to ten years...should be stunning! Well made Brunello’s simply take more than ten years in bottle to even begin to amaze.

Photos of, a wide hilltop shot of Casanuova, field hand harvesting their Sangiovese, large oak fermentation cask so there is less noticeable oak influence on the wine and their sloping vines on a sunny beautiful day.

@Oenotri Napa — 6 years ago

Victor Hwang

9.2

Palate was kind of shot but I remember this was big beautiful but too young. — 8 years ago

Sarah O'Kelley

9.2

First time caller/longtime listener - wow what an experience and what a divisive wine. But I love Chenin blanc, and I'm open to different styles. Joly's very natural style is definitely not for everyone. But I found it to be unique and complex. Aromas and flavors of dry apricots, yellow flowers/chamomille, toasted nuts and cheese. There's definitely a very savory quality to this wine and theres something Sherry like. The alcohol is even quite high which gives it even more of a Sherry quality. You have to be ready for this wine, and I finally was into taking the plunge. I think it was actually better to drink it on a random Saturday night with grilled chicken and summer vegetables than saving it for a special occasion when expectations might ruin the experience. — 8 years ago

Matt Lichtenberg

9.6

Fucking insane. Fruit and tannins in perfect harmony. California Cabernet cum shot. — 8 years ago

with Walker and Bryan

Aaron Tan

9.4

@Dominik SonaYou're the best! Walks off into the cellar, comes out carrying a massive bottle in a sleeve that could barely cover the label. I just love how ridiculous magnum riesling bottles look! I mean, we could see that it's a Koehler-Ruprecht for sure and the table shot straight to a warm vintage on the first sip (warm finish). Didn't take long for Franzi to identify the vintage and the rest of the pieces fell together subsequently (the body = spatlese, forget identifying the "R"). Guess making wines at the winery itself helps 😂

What to say about this wine? It's pretty intense, but the acidity and minerals kept it in check. Finely strung with pitch-perfect tension. This is the kind of wine that needs very little to push it over the edge into the hedonistic territory. Begs for time (like other 09's), as it's true elegance only revealed itself with air (bring on the crushed rocks and chamomile!). The nose is deep, with exotic fruit aromas, flint, toasted almond, florals, and that classic KR funk. Immense palate with lots of lychee and grapefruit, plus superb minerality with air. Creamy and long finish. Yes, the wine finishes a little warm and could be touch more focus, but it's a real class act for 09'! Power without weight, if you ask me. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Much darker fruits than the Proprietary and not as floral. Dark, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, bake rhubarb, cherries, cranberries & pomegranate. Vanilla, light cinnamon & clove, caramel, dark chocolate, medium spice, anise, light graphite, tobacco leaf, herbaceous notes, a little mint, dark red and bright light red florals.

The body is beautiful, round and just full. It’s beautiful. The length, structure and balance are knitting together nicely. The florals sing and shine on the palate. Dark, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, baked rhubarb, cherries, cranberries & pomegranate. Vanilla, light cinnamon & clove, caramel, dark chocolate, medium spice, anise, light graphite, tobacco leaf, herbaceous notes, a little mint, dark red, and bright light red florals. Their 2016 vintage all possess amazing acidity. The finish on Cabernet is better earlier than the Proprietary. It’s seamless, elegant, ripe, floral, balanced fruit & earth and persistent.

One producer note, Owners - Ed and Deb Fitts are in the process of transferring ownership of the winery to Jim Bean and Christine O'Sullivan. Jim and Christine have been grape growers in the Napa Valley for many years. They also both held senior leadership positions at Apple as well. At this point and time, it is believed that Winemaker Philippe Melka will continue to make their wines.

Photos of; the winery and tasting room shot on a sunnier day than this visit, their immaculately clean barrel room, stainless steel tank room...transferring wine from tank to barrel for fermentation or from barrel to tank to be blended and their Estate vines on a beautiful Napa sunny day. — 6 years ago

Bret Barker

9.1

I love tig- 2001 shot let’s try the 2005. This is on the back nine but not shot. Fruit fading a bit and some of that barnyard funk. Touch of mineral and tobacco — 7 years ago

with Adam

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

It’s officially Summer! Time for Rosé. Tempier is one of my favorite Rosés. They’re even better when you let them round out a year in bottle before enjoying. The color darkens to a slightly rustic orange color.

On the nose, some sour notes with a little funk. Sweetness and sourness in the fruits. Strawberries, tangerine, cherries, Georgia peach, nectarine skin, juicy watermelon near the rhine, unbelievably just a touch of petrol, gummy character, chalkiness and fresh pink spring flowers and pink roses.

The body is round and full for Rosé. Sweetness and sourness in the fruits. Strawberries, tangerine, oranges, cherries, Georgia peach, nectarine skin, juicy watermelon near the rhine, well ripened rhubarb, just a touch of petrol, gummy character, spice, chalkiness, perfect intensity of crushed volcanic minerals with fresh pink spring flowers and pink roses. The acidity is like a waterfall. The length, structure, tension and balance are excellent. The long, rich, elegant finish is beautiful and lasts minutes. It’s delicious!!!

Photos from our 2016 visit. Domaine Tempier tasting room and cellars, shot of our barrel tasting w/ their assistant Winemaker (a sweetheart), the digging for their additional cellar; which I imagine is now complete and the view from the Domaine entrance — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

My favorite Chateau property in all of Bordeaux. Perhaps, my favorite property in all of the world's wine regions. Oh...they make pretty good wine too! It's an amazing majestic property to stand in front of and gaze. On the nose; warm, ripe black currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, touch of blue fruits, leather, wood shavings, lead pencil, light baking spices, soft spice, dry crushed minerals, rich black earth, dry stones and dry dark florals with violets. The fruits on the palate are ripe and somewhat baked in style from the warm vintage in 03. Blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries develop as it sits on your palate. Violets, dry dark florals, spice-box, cigar with ash, very light; cinnamon, vanilla, clove. Crushed dry rocks, stones, rich black earth, suede style leather, graphite, cedar wood shavings, dry stems and powdered tannins with some soft stickiness. This finish is ripe; round, rich, dark fruits, dry powdery tannins, warm semi-sweet earthiness with decent acidity that is off just a bit from the warm vintage but goes on over a minute. Photos of; that amazing Chateau, wide side shot of the Chateau with estate vines and two different shots of their cellar...stainless tanks and large French oak vats. Still has 15-20 years of good drinking going forward. — 8 years ago

B

10

Magnum 2000 Coche Dury Mersault. Dinner at T w neighbors. First white, alongside the '07 Leflaive Batard Montrachet out of magnum. Both great, but very different. I preferred this over the Leflaive by a long shot. Great to drink alone or with food. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Our main course wine with Kentucky Bourbon chicken skewers, Rosemary potatoes in smoked olive oil with snap peas & green beans straight out of garden.

The nose reveals, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruit heaven, slightly stewed plums, creamy, black raspberries, strawberries on the high nose and glass edges. Sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, dry stones, crushed, dry rocks, medium, dark spice, savory, grilled meats, underbrush, limestone & sandstone minerals, steeped tea with beautiful florals of dark red, blue and violets.

The body is round, lush and medium full. The tannins are rounded & well resolved with baby teeth. The structure, tension, length and balance are somewhere around the top of the bell curve with another five years of life ahead. It’s gorgeous as it slides over the palate. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruit heaven, slightly stewed plums, creamy, black raspberries, raspberries & strawberries. Mid red cola, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, dry stones, crushed, dry rocks, medium, dark spice with just a touch of heat, savory, smoked, grilled meats, dry tobacco, well worn, softened leather, underbrush, limestone & sandstone minerals, steeped tea with beautiful florals fields of dark, red, blue, violets and soft lavender. The acidity is like a warm, river palate dip. The ripe, juicy, elegant, well balanced finish is delicious and persists a few minutes with excellent florals on the long set.

Photos of; Aerial shot of Domaine De La Janasse, the Galet stones that are a signature of Rhône, Founder of Domaine De La Janasse - Aimé Sabon and their staff at harvest time. — 6 years ago

Lucy Tang

8.9

Delightful almost like juice — 6 years ago

Sam Agami

10

Wow, old school perfection! California wine from a forgotten age. Pure Italian-American greatness. Reminds me of the wine my childhood landlord would make from the vines that grew behind our house just upstate from NYC. Dark fruits abundant, soft acidity and tanins, nice touch of oak, without obscuring the graps as so many California wineries are obsessed with doing for some reason these days. Found this at a random liquor store on a road trip, will seek it out now. Even better than the Cribari Chianti or Coppola Rosso, which were my previous favorite in this genre, the wonderfully underappreciated "backyard" wine... — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose reveals, ripe, slightly baked plum, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, raspberries & strawberries on the glass edges. Baking spices; vanilla, cinnamon, clove. Dark spice, limestone minerals, crushed dry rocks, some black licorice, herbaceous notes, notes of eucalyptus, dark rich soil, used leather with lavender & bright red florals.

The body is medium and lush. The tannins are nicely resolved with dust. The fruits are bright and ripe; slightly baked plum, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, raspberries & strawberries on the glass edges. Raspberry cola, baking spices; vanilla, cinnamon, clove. Dark spice, limestone minerals, crushed dry rocks, some black licorice, herbaceous notes, notes of eucalyptus, dark rich soil, used leather with candied lavender & bright red florals. Beautiful round acidity like a rain shower. The long, rich, lush, round, elegant, balanced, polished finish is delicious.

Photos of, Regusci Winery shot from the Silverado Trail, tasting bar, entrance and Estate vines. — 7 years ago

Bret Barker

8.9

Birthday wine tasting-not a bad bottle in the bunch! We had two mags of this and well. It was disappointing. Not a lot of fruit or structure. They weren’t shot just sort of there. It really stood out against the Conterno and flaccianello — 7 years ago

with Ben, Jason and 1 other

Matthew Beckman

9.3

Thanks @romo for the BdM CC vertical of 08, 09, and 13. Here we have @Bill Bender taking his Delectable shot on one hell of a patio. The 08 stood out to me as being the standout evening, although that was debated between the tasters — 8 years ago

with Bill, romo and 2 others

Trevor Carruthers

9.0

Bags of sweet berry fruits, smooth. Lasting finish of vanilla and some oak. Delicious. — 8 years ago

Adam Jesberger

9.1

Shocked this is still so solid. Found it upright in a random liquor store. Was sure it would be toast. Its actually great and evolved nicely. Thank you 08 for your high acid. — 8 years ago