Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

A lot can happen in three weeks. Cheers 🥂 to that!

Top photos, April 11th. Bottom photos, May 1st.

Happy May Day all. Hope yours was as nice as ours.

Numerous notes still stand. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Mid Lemon in colour. Stone fruits on nose and palate. The big peaches and cream style. A typical delicious Leeuwin Art Series palate of profound intensity with Oak playing a supporting role to the abundant ripe fruits. Medium minus acid. A big generous Art Series Chardonnay which went well with fresh prawns. I think I would need to drink the remaining 3 in the next 18 months. Had another bottle with friends for lunch 9 weeks later on 16th November. All agreed this was the white wine of the day marginally from the 1998 Lovedale. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

More berry/cassis than leafy herbal Margaret River style - touches of capsicum though. Very enjoyable but I don’t know whether I would pick this as Margaret River in a blind tasting. Medium bodied but M+ intensity. Nearby neighbors of some of the big name producers without the price tag. Tasted another bottle 43 weeks later on 7th February 2020 with similar notes but showing more Margaret River herbaceousness. Excellent QPR for a Wilyabrup Cabernet Sauvignon. 92 points. Tasted another bottle on 19th March 2022 with consistent notes. Pretty much a typical Wilyabrup Cabernet Sauvignon. 3 bottles left. Tasted another on 3rd February 2023 with consistent notes. Had this with pasta. I didn’t think that was a good food/wine match but it worked perfectly. Tasted my 2nd last bottle on 28th June 2023. Certainly not a typical herbaceous Margaret River Cabernet. More cassis and blackberry like a South Australian Cabernet. — 8 years ago

Terena s

9.1

Very good. Lovely balance. Beautiful color. I like how Central Coast Pinot is different from North Coast. Less berry. — 8 years ago

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

8.9

Juicy and delicious and very much ready to go. 4 bottles downed in the last 3 weeks pretty much says it all. — 9 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Clear rich Crimson in colour. Whiff of wood varnish which blew off. Spicy - not as much pepper as usual. Cherries and supple savoury tannins. Medium bodied. One of my favourite Aussie Reds in the $20 to $30 category. 2nd ranked cuvée to their much vaunted "Langi" Shiraz. Tasted again 54 weeks later with totally consistent notes. Tasted beside Salo Syrah, from the much vaunted Hawkes Bay NZ District for Syrah. I preferred the Langhi. — 9 years ago

Joe Willey

9.4

Delicious. Almost more Syrah like than Sangiovese. — 10 years ago

Marcus Lancaster

9.0

Surprising! A touch of butterscotch quickly followed by Meyer lemon and lime.with chalk. — 10 years ago

Diane Kessler

9.2

This was so much fresher than a bottle a few weeks ago. The nose was all black cherry and mint. The palate had that plus cedar. Tannins are fully resolved. Yum. — 11 years ago

Doctor No

9.1

Mag of Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill. Drank beautifully. Seamless cab, still fairly primary. Medium long finish, moderate acidity. Not overly extracted. In Ligonier a few weeks ago. — 12 years ago

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.

— 7 years ago

Arden Barnett

9.3

Back to back weeks of the 95. Fantastic bottle. Finish was a little muted. Think a longer decant would’ve helped — 7 years ago

Rob Russell

9.0

Just had this in Bordeaux a few weeks ago. Like most wines of this vintage it took a bit of imagination to fully appreciate. It is clearly time to drink this wine, it may be on the downhill side of life. Overall a good experience for what was not noted as a premium vintage, but is a very solid wine. — 7 years ago

Love You More

8.9

Silky, smooth and fruity. — 8 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.3

Probably opened this too soon, which is so unlike me😬
Curious how this will stack up against the Carter Hossfeld which is almost the same blend of Merlot & Cabernet.
Find out in a couple weeks when Carter ships
Same price & almost exactly same ratings from WA,
95 for this & 94+ for Hossfeld — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Alban Vineyards as they state in their label "The first American winery & vineyard established exclusively for Rhone varieties." This Syrah has settled in nicely after 10 years in bottle. I would say it's peaking. On the nose; scorched earth, sweet & slowly baked; blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries, plum, huckleberries and dark cherries. Mint, eucalyptus, milk chocolate, black olive, notes of liqueur, crushed rocks, loamy top soil and lilacs, violets and lavender. The palate is rich and nicely resolved. The body medium-medium plus. The fruits are ripe, creamy and juicy; blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries, plum, huckleberries, dark cherries and strawberries haunt the long fruit set. Mint, eucalyptus, sage, smoked meat, milk chocolate, black olive, notes of liqueur, crushed dry rocks, gritty volcanic minerals, scorched earth, a little bacon fat, underbrush, a whiff of black pepper, lilacs, violets and lavender, great rich, round, fresh acidity with a very good, long, balanced, well structured, finish with length and staying power. I prefer this over the Cayuse I had a couple of weeks ago. Much better balance of fruit, earth, etc.. photos of their Edna Valley vineyard, fruit that needs netting to protect it from the birds, John Alban and the Alban barrel room. Producer notes and history...In 1985, John Alban planted grapes for other people until he bought an estate in 1989. He focused on wines made from Rhône Valley varietals. Alban is one of the pioneers of the Rhone Rangers movement. They are considered to one of the more influential American Rhone producers. In beginning to grow Viognier, Alban said, "I almost single-handedly doubled the world's acreage," referring to a time when its cultivation was reduced to 50 acres or 20 ha in two areas of the Rhône Valley, Condrieu and Château-Grillet. Alban's work, along with that of Josh Jensen of Calera Wine Company (just sold to Duckhorn, ugh!) in San Benito County, helped to significantly expand plantings of Viognier in California at a time when the variety was near extinction. Alban has 250-acre or 100 ha under vine. Their vineyard area extends 60 acres or 24 ha, planted with Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne. The Alban wines produced are; Lorraine Vineyard, Reva Vineyard Syrah, Seymour's Vineyard Syrah, Patrina Alban Estate Syrah and Pandora, a blend of Grenache and Syrah. They also used to produce a dessert wine from 5% botrytis grapes and aged in 50% new oak, called Rotten Luck. You can still find past vintages on Wine-Searcher. — 9 years ago

Jose Moran

9.3

A few weeks of skin contact. Complex but still young — 11 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Usually have the best wine of the week at Sunday lunch. The 86 Latour is this weeks wine of the week. Hi Tannic year in Bordeaux and many experts think that Latour lost the plot in 86 with most thinking that Mouton was the wine of the vintage. This wine had lots of leather savouriness with no fruit character but still a class act. A good wine but not at the usual superlative Latour standard. — 11 years ago

Erica Smith

9.0

Drank this mid-week a few weeks ago. No notes but it was very good and I would drink again. — 12 years ago

Mark Lindzy

9.6

Open about 6 weeks. Fresh acidity, Brazil nuts, black tea tannins, salty caramel. I fucking love this wine. — 12 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Finally getting around to posting wines from my annual Napa trip from two weeks ago. Always goes by quick! Lots of fun new stops this year.

Our trip ended with a tasting of Lewelling & Hayfork, courtesy of daughter Haley at their family home in the vineyard. Although I’m not posting pics of the Lewelling cabs (2017s and didn’t have labels yet), they are impressive, and the Wight vineyard cab is flat out delicious!

The fruit here is the same as Lewelling’s wines, but there is usually a splash of petit Verdot to give more color and structure compared to the 100% Cabernets that Lewelling bottles. Dense, ripe and chewy. Very dark in the glass showing sweet smoke, blackberry compote, baking spices, and espresso aromatics. Whereas the Lewellings have a beautiful red and black cherry liqueur type profile, this is decidedly darker, but every bit as tannic and age worthy. Added notes of graphite, currant, creme de cassis and mixed berry pie at the finish. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Last year Barb and I attended the annual Tasting at the Pinot Shop in Launceston. Of the 75 approx Tasmanian Pinot Noirs this one was in my Top 3. It has gone on to wow audiences at subsequent tastings around the country. Had a bottle a couple of nights ago with the following tasting note. Whole bunch stemmy notes. More floral savoury and earthy than fruity notes. Incredible depth to the palate - sumptuous and delicious. Oak perfectly judged giving a slight burnt flavour. Medium + bodied with silky ripe tannins. Low acid. Beautiful now - drink sooner rather than later. Will please “crowds” and experts alike. Opened a bottle 176 weeks later on 21st October 2022. Still very good - raspberry notes coming through. Not the absolute wow when it was young. — 7 years ago

Beth Hamilton

9.0

Super intense. Inky black/red color. on the nose, charcoal and molasses? Or burnt marshmallow? taste of ripe red cherries and black current jam and graphite. — 8 years ago

Patrick Derdeyn

9.3

Popped In anticipation of this weeks release. These are just ridiculously good and they always show a certain characteristic that is immediately identifiable as Myriad, the best way I can describe it is “weightless”. The wine glides over the palate like pure liquid velvet with everything in great balance. Rich dark fruit, ever present acidity, a kiss of oak, and tannins that have already softened a bit at this early stage. — 8 years ago

Sara Murrill

9.0

Tastes great after a little aeration! Smooth and dry but not too dry. — 9 years ago

jarred gild

Head Wine Buyer Western Market

9.6

picture from a few weeks ago, but still on my mind — 10 years ago

with Kyo, Kim and 2 others

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.6

This wine is a stand alone gem. Very difficult to read and closed and may be too light and disappointing right now but that is deceiving. I am collecting these wines and they are ridiculously good with age. Currently available only from Crush or Chambers or Winfield Flynn in New York. I also tasted the 2015 in barrel 3 weeks ago which in the barrel is a flat out 10. The 2014 is chalky and herbaceous very subdued. The power and elegance of this wine is hidden right now almost like a sleeping giant. — 10 years ago

with Lyle

Richard Young

Wine Specialist Christie's

9.6

Twice in two weeks....beautiful Sangiovese — 12 years ago

with Christy

Aran Healy

Partner Ruby WIne, Carlotta Cellars, Thistle Cellars

8.9

Chenin, skin fermented 2 weeks — 12 years ago

Sam Bilbro

Owner/Vineyardist Idlewild Wines

9.7

Acidity, texture, stones, umami, and lemon. Yum. — 14 years ago