Ryan Anderson

8.9

This 2014 vintage drank in August 2020 peaked after 45 - 80mins decant. On the nose and taste are various intensities of dusty cherry, slight plum, balsamic, violet, leather, licorice, and shoe polish (in a good way). Some savory, herbal notes appear after 2-3 hrs decant, while the fruit and acid fades. Not an outstanding brunello, but a nice quality for price. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

I’ve had a a fair amount of older Williams Selyem Pinot Noirs, this one is the most different. It seems more extracted and darker than the bright; cherries, strawberries & pomegranate Pinots from them that we’ve had a run on over several years.

The noses reveals, deep, dark, ripe; currants, blackberries, black cherries with liqueur notes, baked black plum, black raspberries with hints of blue fruit. Touch of smokiness, cinnamon, clove, vanillin, black licorice, mid intensity, sweet tarriness, herbaceous notes, mint/eucalyptus character, touch of tree sap, black, rich earth, steeped fruit tea, limestone, dry rock powder, dark chocolate bar, mocha notes with fresh, withering & dry, dark, red florals and just a hint of violets.

The body is medium full. It has gorgeous mouthfeel. There are still round, softened, teethe & tarry tannins here. Tannins were in the bottle neck which, is not always traditional even in older Pinot’s. The structure, tension, length and balance are really nice with another three to five years of good drinking ahead. It’s right around its peak. Perhaps, just the other side of the bell curve. Dark, ripe; currants/cassis, blackberries, black cherries with liqueur notes, baked black plum, black raspberries, cooked rhubarb, raisins with more blue fruit showing vs. the nose. Touch of smokiness, cinnamon, clove, light nutmeg, vanillin, black licorice, mid intensity sweet tarriness, herbaceous notes, mint/eucalyptus character, touch of tree sap, black, rich earth, steeped fruit tea, limestone, dry rock powder, dark chocolate bar, mocha notes with fresh, withering & dry, dark, red florals and violets beaming on the finish. The acidity is excellent. The long finish is; ruby, ripe, elegant, gorgeous, extremely well balanced and persists on the palate with warm, dark spice.

IMHO, Williams Selyem Pinot Noirs do not score well early and really shine at 10 years plus in many vintages. They are a Sonoma Pinot pioneer and a gold standard comparison for other producers and Pinot lovers to take note.

Photos of; Williams Selyem winery, Sofia’s great handy work with flowers and one of our two raised garden boxes. 💐 🌸 🌺 🌹🌼🥀 🌽 🥒🥬 🍅

Happy Memorial Day weekend all! Hope you are grilling & enjoying some of your favorite wines. — 7 years ago

Andrew Lohse

9.3

A seriously mysterious wine - idiosyncratically traditional, traditionally idiosyncratic. Secondary and tertiary aromas shine, but there’s still plenty of fruit - apricot, nectarine. Smoke, Stone. Wow. — 8 years ago

Niki Sherman

9.0

Scot likes lots — 8 years ago

Eric Egan

9.3

Phenomenal level; slow-oxed for 3 hours and decanted for 30 mins. Deep hue with a hint of bricking but good shine and legs - still vibrant on the nose with clear Cab Franc notes; smokey, almost meaty (bilton-like) with hints of cocoa nibs, roasted peppers, and pipe tobacco. Ever so slightly numb on the palate - clearly well balanced but perhaps becoming slightly unknit. I suspect it will come back together for the long haul so drink now or from 2040:-) — 9 years ago

Nico J. Snyman

9.1

Classic approachability always found in Raphet, young yes, but with some air it really starts to shine. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Creamed fruits, coffee grounds and dry floral nose. Ruby ripe dark fruits; blackberries, dark cherry, stewed plum, dry coffee grounds, tobacco leaf, softened leather, dry brown earth, crushed dry rocks, dry florals, nice acid and finish that will get there...it's just not today. There is great structure here with length and good balance but this needs another ten plus years to really shine. — 10 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

In tonight's WS tasting, we had the 06, 04 and 02. There are at least two things that are true. One, time is kind to the older vintages and/or the 02 vintage was special. Likely, both are true. One thing that is undeniable, WS grows and cellars amazing fruit. Seriously, consistent! The raspberry in their aged fruits really shine. Followed by bright; strawberries,cranberries, pomegranate, limestone chalk, mid minerality, black & red licorice, earth, sweet spice and flat out elegance that goes on and on. The quality amongst their single designated vineyards is marginable from their Sonoma coast blends. Also, how they price them. — 10 years ago

Brianne Guist

8.9

Rich mouthfeel and ripe raspberry and cherry flavors. yum! — 11 years ago

Aran Healy

Partner Ruby WIne, Carlotta Cellars, Thistle Cellars

9.3

Great work. Natty PS, done really well...a little marsanne to boot — 12 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

It is highly challenging not to be drawn to the intense golden hue of this brilliant cold vintage Chardonnay. Needing an hour in the decanter to fully evolve, this stunning wine opens with an intense bouquet of roasted pineapple, apricot and Pazazz apple with wild mushroom undertones that all shine brightly in the glass. The soft and downright silky mouthfeel impresses as this gracefully glides across the mid-palate. Bright honeydew melon, pineapple upside down cake, vanilla cream and damp earth tones round out the palate. The combination of weight and tension in the glass is really thrilling. While gorgeous at the eight year mark, this beautiful wine still has a decade or more ahead of it. Drink 2019-2031- 95 — 7 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

8.9

Simple, refreshing — 7 years ago

with William

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. — 7 years ago

Jake Thornburgh

9.2

Classic medium-full bodied Barolo. Well balanced and the tar/rose aromas really shine. Got this at Whole Foods. Will get it again — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

When it comes to my B-day, there is only one fit, an old Pichon Lalande with my Ribeye. As a lover of Bordeaux, these two are my favorite pairing. It’s a very slow walk to the finishline. A small bite of steak and a sip of 89 Pichon Lalande. Then, repeat until finished. I had some concerns about this bottle. A slightly slippery and crumbling cork. The first sip was not bad, but not what you want or are expecting. After some time in the decanter, it really started to shine. On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral cassis, blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The body is full, round and silky. Tannins are well resolved at around 80%. The texture, length, tension and length are in a sweet spot. The fruits are ripe, ruby & expressively floral. Blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The acidity is just a little off but still nice. The finish is divided nearly equally in fruit, earth, florals and herbaceous. It’s very enjoyable but falls just a little short in longer, lingering length. This bottle had good storage, not great. Even so, still has another three to five years ahead. A bottle with excellent storage has another five years beyond this one. Photos of; the backside of Pichon Lalande, angled terrace view of their vines right next to Latour, my steak & twice baked potato (so good) and CEO Nicolas Glumineau. — 8 years ago

Henrik Poulsen

9.3

Amazing aging potential on (some of) these older Newton Chardonnays.
Starting out a bit questionable (possibly reduced?) it really started to shine after 3+ hours. — 10 years ago

B

10

Magnum 1984 Heitz Cellar Martha's Vineyard Cab. We decanted this at the start of dinner at Union and drank after the '97 Ornellaia and before the '94 Harlan. This had much less fruit than the Ornellaia- dusty, earthy notes with mineral, eucalyptus, and spice as well. Enjoyed this wine immensely, but it was hard for this to shine as it was sandwiched between the Ornellaia and the Harlan. This wine was great with pasta, but it would have been equally enjoyable to drink without food. — 10 years ago

Charles (Chad) Bucklin

Owner and founder of C. T. Bucklin Wine Advising

9.2

Rough at first. It took about 3 hours to really shine and show off. #bordeaux #cos #cosdestournel #2ndgrowth — 11 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

The 07 Lytton Springs is blackberry,boysenberry, blueberry, mulberry syrup over pancakes, an easy integrated array of spices with a whiff of white pepper in the forefront. Rich, jammy, juicy and syrupy. Really starting to shine but I'll hold the rest of my bottles another three years for it's perfection. — 11 years ago

Chantal Leyden

9.8

I'm usually not a fan of white but this was amazing. Notes of citrus, melons and a hint of honeysuckle — 13 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

If you didn’t know already, this is the second wine of Dominus.

The nose reveals; sour dark cherries, blackberries, baked strawberries, sugar style plum, black raspberries, sweetened, lean pomegranate, candied raspberries, blue fruits, vanilla, light clove, anise, steeped, black fruit tea, graphite, dark, rich, turned earth,sweet tarriness, limestone, alluvial soils, dry top soil, leathery notes, cedar, moist crushed rocks, dash of dry herbs with withering, dark, red flowers and old violets.

The body is medium full. The tannins nicely resolved but, still show a fair amount of firmness. The structure, tension, length and balance have hit a high point. Sour dark cherries, blackberries, baked strawberries, sugar style plum, black raspberries, sweetened, lean pomegranate, candied raspberries, a fair amount of blue fruits that hide on the nose, vanilla, light clove, dark spice anise, steeped, black fruit tea, graphite, dark, rich, turned earth, dark tar, limestone, alluvial soils, dry top soil, underbrush, tough shoe leather, cedar, moist crushed rocks, gritty volcanic minerals, dry clay, dash of dry herbs with fresh & withering, dark, red flowers and bright violets. The acidity is vibrant and fresh. The long finish starts ripe, bright candied fruits and slides into slightly dominate, dry earthiness and persists several minutes.

I would say this is still a hold for another 3-5 years. The 05 could show another point or two then. Just missing 92 now.

Photos of; Dominus and their estate vines, wine making legend, Christian Moueix, (been blessed to sit with him through a couple of dinners), their barrel room and the reverse view as you approach the winery. — 7 years ago

Greg Koslosky

9.6

Bordeaux of the vintage candidate power elegance depth and refinement . Cassis black berry minerals tobacco spice shoe polish wow ! — 7 years ago

Richard Brand

9.0

Black currants, green apple, unripened apricots, red cabbage, with an earthy mineral finish. Very approachable! — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Updating notes from 29 weeks ago.

On the nose, macerated & baked; blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, plum, strawberries with raspberries painting the background. Mocha, vanilla, dark chocolate, fruit liqueur notes, dark rich soil, limestone minerals, fresh & decayed red florals with bright fresh field of blue & red floral florals with violets.

The palate is elegant, rich and full. The tannins nicely softened & resolved. 60-65% resolved. There is nice; soften structure, very good balance with excellent length. The fruits are; ruby ripe blackberries, sweet & sour dark cherries, blue fruit mix, black raspberries, plum, creamy raspberries and hint of strawberries. The red florals & violets really shine through on the palate as well. Sweet tarry notes, dark fruit liqueur, dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, vanilla, some black licorice, limestone minerals, iron, tarry notes, smoke, used leather, cigar with ash, touch of dry stems, pinch of herbaceousness, dark spices, dry clay, loamy dry top soil, dry crushed rock powder, just hint of white pepper, blue & dark red florals, lavender with violets, good round acidity and a long, elegant, balanced finish that lasts minutes.

Better with a good meat sauce pasta than pizza. Slightly overpowered our pizza tonight. But, still delicious.

Photos of; the backside of Valdicava, one of their vineyards and Valdicava winery owner Vincenzo Abbruzzese.

Brunello’s take years to come around and why Italians hold them extra year(s) over other varietals/regions in bottle. It’s ten years before good Brunello producers wines are truly enjoyable; which is why I still have so many in hibernation. Drink through 2025. — 8 years ago

with Christina and James

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Blue fruits shine with dark cassis and dark chocolate. Finishes with dark and mid red fruits. — 9 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

8.9

Will come around at the moment too young and closed. Chalky rose pedals shine through. — 10 years ago

Michael Mallon

9.0

This was a winner. Black cherries and red fruit shine forth once the tannins have had a chance to mellow out. Chocolate, herbs and earth throughout. Well structured. — 10 years ago

Ginevra

9.5

Rain or shine, this bottle makes me feel happy:-) — 10 years ago

Charles Hetzel

9.7

1989 Chateau Lynch Bages Bordeaux - the WOTN and truly remarkable depth and great fruit. It let the Pauillac shine through. — 11 years ago

Dick Schinkel

9.1

Firm, masculine and structured, notes of tobacco, cassis, blackberry and earth shine through with effort. Full bodied and traditional in style — 12 years ago