Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Continuing quest to taste as many 22’s as possible.

Beautiful honeysuckle notes, Meyer lemon and spring flowers on the nose.

The palate show a good presence of Meyer lemon right at the top. Butterscotch notes, honeysuckle-honey comb, apricots, yellow peach, ripe, syrupy pineapple, cream, slivered almonds, saline, flinty notes, limestone marl, toast, some soft white spices, lots of moist to mushy chalk, yellow & spring flowers, excellent, round acidity and a well made, elegant, round, lush, finish that lasts 90 seconds landing on spice & minerals.

This will merit another point of two with appropriate age but still hard to justify $240 a bottle. The strong lemon presence needs time to calm. — 5 months ago

Adam Kincaid

8.9

This will please some garnacha fans, though I can’t say it’s my ideal Reserva blend. 78% Tempranillo and 22% garnancha, which seems like way too much. Has a sweaty sock aroma that blends with some cherry and vanilla flavors. Almost like a tart cherry pie. The cherry flavors continue throughout with some chocolate and a bit of caramel. Round and silky, and seems loosely structured. Just slightly less dimensional than I would want. — 2 years ago

with Jillian

DAL 9000

9.3

Big bold dark fruits plums and blackberries up front. Bold but creamy. Undertones of chocolate and tannins. Long and lush. Layers and complex. — 3 years ago

Eric Ford

9.1

Great wine in this price range. Full and complex. $30 at OWC. — 4 years ago

with Jill

Brett Francis

9.1

This was quite flavorful and interesting. It had some jam, blackberry, hints of leather and smoke. It had a nice mouthfeel and a medium finish. All in all this was the standout of the night, but still young. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron.

What a great vintage. Its tannin structure will outlive the 09 and anyone 45 and older. The 2010 is a forever vintage and while different than 09, it will undoubtedly be just as great. It’s just going to take a lot more bottle age than the 09.

The body is full and round. The tannins have rounded but are still big and chewy. It’s more concentrated than 09. The fruit is really beautiful and again perfectly ripe. Dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, dark plum, poached strawberries with hints of raspberries. Soft soil structure; dry top soil, moist clay, medium intensity dark spice, fresh tobacco, dry herbs, crushed rock powder, with dark, withering florals with violets. The texture is velvety. The structure and tension are big. The length and balance are worthy of its perfect score. For me, it’s just not there, yet! The acidity is really good. The long, lush, ripe, well balanced, polished finish is deliciously persistent.

Photos of; our dinner group, tasting room at Pontet Canet, the horse plows they still use in the fields and Chateau Pontet Canet. — 6 years ago

Billy L.

9.2

Nice Sauv. Blanc — 7 months ago

Courtney Bristol

9.0

Lots of deep berries. Paired with black cherry and vanilla. Always good. — 8 months ago

with Scott

Doug Powers

9.2

Color shows clear maturity, but on palate minerality, touch of sulphuri (burnt match) as well, round, and moderately fat fruit, with still excellent acidity, solid, long finish, mature but still quite fine!! — 3 years ago

with Jim

Mark Farrell

9.5

Lighter in color for a 2019, more of a medium ruby. Nose is cherry pie, not tart cherries but sweet black cherry. A bit of dust and a lot of cedar chest. Great structure, smooth tannins, and medium to full-bodied. The lighter color fooled me into thinking this would be a lighter cab, but it packs plenty of punch. The finish lingers especially pumping those cedar notes throughout. — 3 years ago

Nneka Uzoh

9.1

Really delicious on a very hot day. Very drinkable. Notes of apricot, melon, greenery, and orange blossom — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Four day weekend. Gotta get it off to a good start. Been awhile since we had our 375ml of Ruinart.

The nose shows, ripe, slightly candied; black cherries, strawberries, kirsch cherries, rich, summertime watermelon, touch of orange citrus family blend, pomegranate juice, hints of fruit roll up & haunting apricots. Sea fossils & spray, a little bread dough, grey volcanics, chalky powder, orange, spring flowers with fresh & withering, red & pink rose pedals.

The palate is full & touch gummy/candied. Fruits are well extracted, deep, ruby; black cherries, blackberries, strawberries, kirsch cherries, rich, summertime watermelon, touch of orange citrus family blend, pomegranate juice, hints of fruit roll up & haunting apricots. Ghostly, not quite fruit brandy or fruit liqueur character, sea fossils & spray, a little bread dough, not quite medium, white spice with hints of palate heat, grainy, grey volcanics, chalky powder, orange, spring flowers with fresh & withering, red & pink rose pedals. The acidity lively and crisp. The round, well balanced & polish finish is always consistently satisfying and lingers for minutes.

Photos of; the House of Ruinart, Dom Thierry Ruinart, nicely light caves and rolling, hillside, Grand Cru Vineyard.

Not quite sure where “D” gets $83 when you can buy this all day at just under $65. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The nose reveals, ripe, brightly floral dark & red fruits. Blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruit heaven, black raspberries, baked strawberries & rhubarb, cherries, prune notes, and dry, slightly burnt cranberries. Mixed berry cola, steeped tea, vanilla, touch of clove, allspice, used leather, limestone minerals, dry stone, whiff of graphite, faint herbaceous notes, dry underbrush, old cedar, tobacco leaf, with withering red & dark withering flowers with violets.

The body is medium to full. The tannins round, nicely softened but still a little tarry. The structure, tension, length and balance are are harmonious and starting its climb to their peak. The mouthfeel is gorgeous and sexy. Brilliantly, bright, laced; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruit heaven, black raspberries, raspberries, baked strawberries & rhubarb, cherries, and dry, slightly burnt cranberries. Mixed berry cola, steeped tea, vanilla, touch of clove, dark medium spice with heat, allspice, used leather, some sweet tarriness, limestone minerals, rich dark soil, dry stone, whiff of graphite, faint herbaceous notes, dry underbrush, old cedar, tobacco leaf, with withering red & dark withering flowers with violets. The acidity was very good and the finish showed it’s Saint Julien elegance. It’s a beautiful wine now and over the next 15-20 years.

Photos of, Chateau Leoville Barton, the “Gentleman of Medoc”, Anthony Barton, harvest work of their Merlot and their barrel cellar.

An hour and a half in decanter.
— 6 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Medium deep ruby with thin ruby rim. Quite high toned ripe fruit at first, cassis, blackberry , violet and dry spice. Quite round and generous on the nose still fruit driven. On the palate Ripe fruits, but with good freshness, with cassis blueberry , blackberry and dark cherry . Suave polished tannins and surprisingly fresh acidity. Overall excellent balance. Long with a sweet cassis tinged finish . Rich , round and hedonistic but well balanced overall, just entering its early drinking window where it will probably remain over the next 15 years . — 7 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Medium ruby core , slightly wider garnet rim . Quite open on the nose , spice , tobacco , sous bois , truffle , cassis and blackberry , leather . On the palate quite round and rich , tannins present but more rounded , than the 2005. Cassis , blackberry, grafite , tobacco , slight smoky note . Good balanced acidity , cassis and juicy blackberry notes . Tobacco and mineral tinged finish of good to excellent length . This is showing well now but will continue to improve over the next 5-10 years and show well for a further 10-15. — 9 months ago

Brett Francis

9.2

This was excellent and had both a spicy set of flavors, white pepper, bell pepper and hints of barn floor, as well as a nice fruit set of flavors in boysenberry, and black cherry. Beautiful deep red and violet colors. Definitely seems like it could also benefit from more years in bottle. — 3 years ago

Leo Gentile

9.4

Deep purple without a hint of any other suggesting improper storage. Classic if a bit understated Napa nose. Soft yet appropriately firm tannins. Ripe black fruits. Luscious wine. Suggest drinking sooner rather than later owing to fruit ripeness. — 4 years ago

Brett Francis

9.1

Had a nice crispness you’d expect from SavBlanc and a more interesting barnyard flavor, paired with vanilla and a hint of straw. Enjoyable and a good wine to start the evening with. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Wow! Velvet, dark currants, mocha, caramel, dark chocolate, saddle-wood, underbrush, gravel, stones & elegance that only happens with this much time forward. Round acidity and beautiful balance and finish.

Stupidly good with our Tri-tip!!!

Photos of; my visits to Bodega La Rioja, their well backlit tasting bar, outside patio and large oak barrels that were assembled inside the Bodega more than 100 years ago...they’re that big and have required many repairs over the years. — 5 years ago

with James and Christina

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Barrel taste of the 2016 Insignia.

The nose shows bright red floral fruits. Ripe; dark cherries, blackberries, creamed black raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and a touch of pomegranate. Vanillin, light cinnamon, dark rich soils, dark chocolate bar, soft understated volcanic minerals, violets, red and dark florals.

The wine is still extremely fresh. The body medium full. Tannins are round & slight tarry. The fruits are very ripe and bright. Ripe; dark cherries, blackberries, creamed black raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and a touch of pomegranate. Vanillin, light cinnamon, dark rich soils, dark chocolate bar, soft understated volcanic minerals, limestone, violets, red and dark florals. The acidity is fresh and waterfallish. The fruit is beautiful. The wine has a long way to go in barrel but, it shows great promise. The finish is already well polished with great structure, length and balance.

Photos of; their Napa Estate vines, logo woven into the carpet, futures offering area and long shot of their visitor center building and terrace. — 7 years ago