The Chef And The Winemaker

Elderton

Winemaker Select Shiraz

Very black wine. One of the darkest I've seen. Very complex wine. Dark black currant, blackberries, strawberries, cherries, very bold cocoa/chocolate. Smells extremely hot, spicy, red fruit. Medium long finish and medium plus acid. The longer it's in the glass, the more flavors that come out. Really blown away. — 9 years ago

Alyssa Romano
with Alyssa

Spencer Family Vineyard

Winemaker Select Sauvignon Blanc 2015

Absolutely delicious and yummy pairing to my stuffed Italian chicken breasts for dinner. — 9 years ago

Corra

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

She is just a good winemaker! — 10 years ago

Kimberly, Ryan and 22 others liked this
Ryan M

Ryan M

How did she do with the 2011 harvest?
Jim Trobaugh

Jim Trobaugh

I thought it was very good!
Martin G Rivard

Martin G Rivard Influencer Badge

@Jim Trobaugh I love Celia's wines!!! Her 11 were insanely good!

Vine Hill Ranch

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

A wine that I brought tonight and felt strongly about. Incredible pedigree, winemaker is from Araujo which is insane great! Beautiful 12 but I committed infanticide., should laid it down another few years but it did open up like a million bucks after a few hours. Truly opulent Napa wine which is well structured and loved by all tonight. A new rockstar on the block vs the the old rock stars that were drinking in full stride tonight. It's was awesome tonight but I can't wait for it to evolve a little and become STELLAR in the future. I highly recommend this wine. The preliminary rating is 96 to 98 and the 13 is even better if you can imagine that! — 10 years ago

Christine Kirk AlexanderRachel Eidelman
with Christine, Kirk and 1 other
Martin, Paul and 30 others liked this
Martin G Rivard

Martin G Rivard Influencer Badge

I would uncork one now to see it's evolution. Decant minimum of 3 hours and it will blow you away!
Eric

Eric Premium Badge

Great note- looking for some of this now @Martin G Rivard !
Martin G Rivard

Martin G Rivard Influencer Badge

@Eric Shanks You definitely won't be disappointed!! Pick up the 13 as well since I think it's even better than their insanely great 12. You can't go wrong with either vintage!👌

Hundred Acre Vineyard

Kayli Morgan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2000

DAG
9.6

It was a real treat pouring the first vintage of Kayli Morgan for the winemaker, Philippe Melka. Tough vintage but this wine is exceptional. — 11 years ago

Greg, David and 19 others liked this
Greg Gregory

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Thanks Dag for bringing this. It was very nice to have this for Philippe!

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2003

Gary Westby
8.9

One of chef de cave Geoffroy's favorite vintages, but not mine. The heat of the year and lack of Chardonnay makes for a flatter than expected Champagne. At The Relais & Chateau vertical of Dom Perignon with chef de cave Richard Geoffroy. — 11 years ago

Cleora Campbell
with Cleora
Perry, Anthony and 4 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1975

Private Vintage Dinner à la Chef Daniel Boulud. Chateau Lynch Bages, 1975 (in Jeroboam)! — 12 years ago

Saddlehorn Cellars

Bear Hug Winemaker Select California Chardonnay 2015

Not usually a white fan, but love this. Very drinkable, not too sweet, very nice chilled. Not gonna lie, drank a whole bottle in a sitting. — 9 years ago

Lake Breeze Vineyards

Winemaker Series The Spice Jar Gewürztraminer Blend 2016

Floral, Honeysuckle, grassy hay note, fruit forest, spicy, balanced sweet and acidic, would be great with curry or spicy savoury Mexican style, — 9 years ago

Belle Glos

Las Alturas Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014

Winemaker Joseph J. Wagner is a 4th generation winemaker from a family with farming and winemaking roots in the Napa Valley since 1906. Deep Ruby (darkest Pinot almost looks like a Cab) with aromas of ripe berries and spice notes. The palate shows rich black fruits, blackberries, plums and black cherries, vanilla spice, cedar and cacao. Rich soft tannins, firm acidity on lingering finish ending with mineral tones. Nice! — 9 years ago

Greg and David liked this
David Kebrdle

David Kebrdle

Had the various Belle Glos vineyards from Clark & Telephone to Dairyman. This offering is our wine clubs' pick. So different as a Pinot - great effort !
"Odedi"

"Odedi" Influencer Badge

Better than the C&T?

Drinkward Peschon

"Entre Deux Mères" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Charlie Beatty
9.7

Wow Blockbuster 2012 Napa Cab from a Great Lady winemaker . Loaded with black fruits that really express itself. We let it breathe a good hour. Showed beautifully against all the other cabs! I would give this a clear 97 Rating. A must sought after Cab, do not miss out here. CB — 10 years ago

Karen BeattyKurt Scheifele
with Karen and Kurt
David, Velma and 8 others liked this
Gerry Borreggine

Gerry Borreggine

Great, big Cabernet.
Maria Pepe

Maria Pepe

Love this wine.

Cameron Hughes

The Flying Winemaker Zinfandel 2012

Smooth and light — 10 years ago

Stacey liked this

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1975

Nice to drink a d'Yquem at the top of its game; this 75 was; superb, peachy actually in harmony with the botrytis aromatics which have subsided back to semillon honey; dried nut delicious, not overly coloured; just perfect with double cream brie; produced by locals when d'Yquem winemaker came to town with 13 and 05 to show; wow, #sauternes #bordeaux #botrytis #sémillon #sauvignon #dyquem #classy — 11 years ago

Bob, Sybaritewino and 8 others liked this

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 1999

As the winemaker stated during a recent #VivinoTasteParty, Musar is Musar. There is a compelling quality to these wines that make them special, Musar has a unique thumbprint. Incredible complexity on the nose, it unfurls slowly revealing layers of ripe plums, figs, cigar box, dried rose petal, spice and marvelous top notes of mint and dark chocolate powder. Medium-bodied, fine, velvety tannins lead into notes of red currant, leather, and rust. It crescendos with a finish of peppercorn, spice and tobacco. — 11 years ago

Anthony, Kuan and 1 other liked this

Corison Winery

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Somm David T
9.2

On the nose, stewed fruits of; black plum, blackberries, dark cherries, plum and blueberries. Mocha, chocolate, mixed berry cola, sweet spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, caramel, loamy mineral soils and dry dark florals. The mouthfeel is less concentrated than other vintages of Corison but that's indicative of the 10 Napa vintage generally. The tannins are nicely resolved with another 5-8 years before they are completely resolve. The fruits are; dark cherries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, blackberries with strawberries that dance around the rest of the fruit. There's nice barrel toast, vanilla, nutmeg, light clove, cinnamon, touch of wood shavings, liqueur notes, caramel, mocha chocolate, mix berry cola, loamy soils, dry crushed rocks, bramble, dry stems with nice soft round acidity. The finish is a little lean but tasty. Good balance of fruit and earth with long, rich elegance. Cathy slightly overachieved the 10 vintage as a whole. Photos of; her estate building, Cathy in her vineyard, grapes coming in at night (better to harvest when the fruit is cooler) and her estate vineyard in all it's glory. Producer notes and history...Cathy Corison grew up in Riverside, California. She studied biology at Pomona College and was on their men's diving team, because the school didn't have a women's team. In 1972, she had to take an extracurricular class. She signed up for a trampoline class, but changed her mind upon seeing a sign-up sheet for a wine tasting class. This class was the catalyst that sparked her interest in winemaking. After graduation in 1975, she moved to Napa Valley in California. She received her Master's degree in Enology from University of California, Davis. Upon moving to Napa, she started working in the tasting room at Sterling Vineyards and at a wine shop. During this time, she was getting her Master's degree at the University of California, Davis. She was told by her professor that she would not get a job in Napa Valley because of being a woman. However, if she wasn't the first Napa Valley female Winemaker, she was certainly one of the first. She tried to get a job at Freemark Abbey and was denied because they believed she could not work in the cellar. She almost took a job at Christian Brothers in the enology lab. However, she decided not to take the job and in 1978 she became an intern at Freemark Abbey and eventually became their Winemaker. She joined Chappellet in 1983 and was their Winemaker for nearly ten years. She founded Corison Winery, in 1987. The winery is located in St. Helena, California in a barn built by her husband, William Martin. Corison makes Cabernet and Gewürztraminer. They produce about 3,500 cases a year depending on the vintage. The winery makes a Kronos Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and as well as a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The Kronos is an estate wine that is made from organic grapes. The vineyard is dry farmed. The grapes come from one of the oldest vineyards in Napa Valley. The Napa Valley Cabernet comes from Rutherford. The Gewürztraminer is called Corazón and comes from the Anderson Valley. — 9 years ago

Eric, Trixie and 40 others liked this
Eric

Eric Premium Badge

Checking this out later this month
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

@Eric S Corison is a pleasant visit. They also do a nice harvest party on Sunday afternoon in September.
Severn G

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@David T Nice write up again David. I'm intrigued to find her connection with one of my favorite producers, FAW. I'll drink vintages crafted under her care with a renewed perspective. Thank you.

Revana Family Vineyard

St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Mike R
9.4

Some things l like - family, long weekends, friends and wine - Revana was started with H Barrett consulting - I buy her stuff - she seems to not be part of winery of late - but I have 09 and 10s that she was the winemaker consultant - now a new winemaker but still purchased 12 and 13s. I bet I got the history lesson wrong but what I was told but enough bs -decanted for 90 minutes - love the nose with cherries vanilla and other delights plus the lady of the home says right mix of pepper and sage (not sure I can go that far) - now the initial taste - dark fruits with some added black olives - really leaving great smiles here - I bet I open another since it is a holiday weekend — 10 years ago

David, Matt and 27 others liked this
"Odedi"

"Odedi" Influencer Badge

Nice note
Martin G Rivard

Martin G Rivard Influencer Badge

Did you open another on this Holiday weekend?!?! Happy Memorial Day!
Mike R

Mike R Influencer Badge

Nope - one bottle two drinker night - but came close

The Winemaker Says Hi!

Prosecco

Wine maker says Hi!/Only prosecco I buy/Give this one a try 🍾 — 10 years ago

Derek RaymondKaitlin Gaska
with Derek and Kaitlin

Dom Pérignon

P2 Brut Champagne Blend 1990

Gary Westby
9.3

This is now called Plentitude 3 rather than Oenotheqe. Lush and fresh at once- a real treat. At The Relais & Chateau vertical of Dom Perignon with chef de cave Richard Geoffroy. — 11 years ago

Cleora Campbell
with Cleora
Veronica, Anthony and 11 others liked this