David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Last night, my second favorite pairing. Tonight, my favorite! An older Pichon Lalande and a ribeye. Counting it down.

While this 03 is delicious tonight, I won’t touch another bottle until 2028 for the way I’ve learned to enjoy em. However, a good time for a check in given I have several more bottles.

The nose reveals; thick, rich, dark currants, creamy fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, hints of cooked rhubarb, black plum with heavy skin & strawberries on the glass edges as it opens. Anise, Indian & Asian spices, soft leather, older tobacco, dark & milk chocolate, caramel, some black licorice, steeped fruit tea, limestone minerals, dry, river stone, moist clay, dark, rich, turned earth, dry crushed rocks with candied, fresh & withering, red, dark flowers.

The body is creamy, lush and full. The structure, tension, length and balance are knitting themselves together nicely. The tannins are round, dark and only 45-50% resolved. She’s an elegant beauty that will deliver so much more at 25 years and later. Rich, dark currants, creamy fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, hints of cooked rhubarb, black plum with heavy skin & strawberries on the glass edges as it opens. Anise, Indian & Asian spices, soft leather, cigar box with ash, dark & milk chocolate, caramel, coco powder, some black licorice, steeped fruit tea, limestone minerals, dry, river stone, moist clay, dark, rich, turned earth, dry top soil, dry crushed rocks with candied, fresh & withering, red, dark flowers & violets on the long set. The acidity is round and beautiful. The creamy, elegant finish is balanced fruit & earth and persists nicely for minutes.

Photos of; Chateau Pichon Lalande,
General Manager-Nicolas Glumineau, Pichon Lalande’s tasting room and their Estate vineyard at twilight and is adjacent to Chateau Latour. — 5 years ago

Joe Gillies

9.3

Wow totally surprised by this wine. As a random purchase at $40, this definitely out kicked the coverage. The aromas are so inviting....perfumed floral, mint, and earth.
BlackBerry, black cherry, pomegranate, and crushed rocks on the palate.
Decanted for 60 minutes.
This is still very young and has a decade or so to go. If this was a St. Emillion it would be easily twice the price point. — 6 years ago

Daniel M

9.1

WoW ! One of the best Sancerre I’ve had. Superb nose of lemon, cat piss, mineral things like crushed rocks, dry herbs. The palate is a model of balance : sheer acidity and a lovely texture with white flowers. Long finish with a touch of salt in the end. Very good! I’d like all my Sancerre to be like this one — 6 years ago

Matt

9.6

Embodies elegance and finesse without sacrificing power. Sexy nose, strawberry confiture, spices plums, ceylon, pepper, hot rocks and gravel, red flowers and savory herbs, worn leather. So silky, sleek tannins, fresh yet soft acid. Just singing right now and clearly has life ahead of it. — 7 years ago

Annika van Leynseele

9.0

Chateauneuf-du-Pape-esque. Low acidity and tannins. Berries, spices. Yum! — 7 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

2009, when Caymus still made wine in their traditional style. Starting with their 12 vintage, they started to let their fruit hang on the vine much longer...just before the grapes begin a shriveled phase. This raises the sugar levels(Brixs) and produces a much sweeter grape/wine. Too sweet for me. This 09 is beginning to see nice evolution but has many years ahead of it before it hits it's peak. The tannins are still very present but beginning to lose their teeth. It's classic in their old style. Dark cassis; of dry and juicy blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, blueberries, olallieberries, Asian spices, touch of herbs, lots of baking spices; cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, caramel, vanilla, black tea, black licorice, dry dark florals, dry crushed volcanic rocks, dark turned soil, stems, leathery, tobacco, nice acidity, strong structure & length, good balance & length. The finish is dry & juicy fruit with loads of spice and baking spices, it sticks on your palate, is round, full bodied and lasts over a minute. Two hours in the decanter and it's still improving. — 7 years ago

Ross Fulton

9.0

A real cotton-lickin' kiss of sultry temptresses — 8 years ago

Corey Zamora, CSW

9.1

Bright beautiful acidity, wet rocks, intense fruit. #texsom — 9 years ago

Dave Loretta

9.5

Broiled chicken and mashers paired brilliantly with this "Rocks" vineyard Syrah — 9 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Masterclass in San Francisco with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite.

Saskia told me they are buying an existing property or starting one in China.

The nose reveals; ripe and slight stewed fruits. Blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, dark plum skin, dry cranberries & poached strawberries. Dark, dry soils, limestone minerals, touch of bandaid=VA, saddle-wood, steeped black tea, dry river stone, dark rich & dry soils, crushed rocks, dry underbrush, cherry cola with dry and fresh dark and red flowers.

The body is full and thick. This wine is just coming out of its infant stage and just starting to stretch it arms & legs. The tannins are firm, rounded and powdery. The structure, tension, length and balance show the beauty of the vintage but, the drinking window on their 2000 is somewhere between 2035-2080. Blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, dark plum skin, dry cranberries & poached strawberries. Dark, dry soils, limestone minerals, touch of bandaid, saddle-wood, steeped black tea, dry river stone, dark rich & dry soils, lots of graphite, crushed rocks, limestone, dry crushed rocks, gritty volcanic minerals, dry herbs, dry underbrush, cherry cola with dry and fresh dark and red flowers. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is very good now but, if you don’t cellar it 35 years from birth, you are cheating yourself out of something truly special. Its well balanced, rich, ripe and persists for days. 95 now with more to come in 16-25 plus years.

All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.

Photos of; the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, tasting set up, Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite presenting and another view of the city of San Francisco/Bay and the Golden Gate Bride in the background.
— 5 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

This wine is made by Dan Standish who started his career by traveling all over the world learning the skill of winemaking. He returned to Australia to make wine at Torbreck. After making Torbreck, he starting his own project. This wine is produced from a vineyard with 100 year old vines with a yield of only a 1/2 ton on fruit per acre. In comparison to quality Napa producers, their yields are 2-3 tons per acre. Dan is absolutely one of the very best producers in Barossa.

On the nose, mulberries, olallieberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, lavender and violets.

The body is full, rich, ruby, lush and very inky. The texture is elegantly sexy. The 06 is still youthful & fresh. It still needs more time but, it’s delicious tonight. The length, tension, structure and balance are just coming into it own. mulberries, Olallieberries, Boysenberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, raisins, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, purple flowers, lavender and violets. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is long, thick, ruby, lush, elegant, well balanced with deep heat penetrating dark spices that rise off the palate and lasts several minutes. The 06 is still 5 years from it peak.

Photos of; The Standish Cellar Door, Owner/Winemaker Dan Standish, beautiful Barossa Vineyards and the old tasting room — 6 years ago

Justin Hart

9.4

Ah, the Rocks at Milton-Freewater produce such remarkable and distinctive fruit. Morgan Lee’s take on the Stoney Vine Syrah is outstanding. Earthy, gamey, succulent, dark and full stone fruit (plum) that just keeps going. This is good for another 5 years I think. — 6 years ago

with Cherish and Jen

Jonathan Wall

9.2

Rocks! More fruity and less savage than the '14.... in a good clean way... but still with a touch of "barn" to remind you where you are. — 7 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

From either the 3rd largest co-op in the world or in Europe. I think it's in Europe. Produttori is located in the heart of the tiny town of Barbaresco just to the right of the tower shown in the photo and up the street from Gaja. Also, one of the best Michelin stared restaurants for lunch we've ever had. As well, the best restaurant service we have experienced and it wasn't that pricey. For such large a co-op, they produce some outstanding value wines and some straight up excellent wines. This 09 is quite nice and one of their entry level value wines. A nice pair with my skillet lasagna. The wine shows more sour than sweet dark cherries, black raspberries, dry dark plums, touch of pouched strawberries, black cherry cola, dry dark florals bouquet, a light delicate herbaceous quality, dark soils with dry powdery crushed rocks with nice acidity. The balance of fruit & earth is improving as is the finish. It still needs at least 3-5 more years in bottle. Very nice wine under $30. A 9.0 on it's own with the skillet lasagna, 9.1-9.2. — 7 years ago

Marshal White

9.0

Pure, intense, long. Tastes like rocks and a cool summer breeze, tense with the threat of lightning. — 8 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Lemon curd, sweet & ripe, honey, wet rocks, chalk, very fresh with good length and acid. — 9 years ago

Cat Gomes

8.9

A nice and simple dry wine! — 9 years ago

Bob McClenahan

10

One of my favorite whites. Plus it's a bargain. — 10 years ago

Sarah O'Kelley

8.9

Always a pleasure rocks, flowers, peaches 😋 — 5 years ago

Berg

9.2

Too young but wanted to try one. No doubt it's Walla Walla rocks, meaty, bloody funk, enjoyed it. — 6 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Deep and concentrated, lots of minerals, lime zest, citrus, spices, crushed rocks. Loire Sauvignon Blanc at its finest. — 6 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This is the 08 Insignia out of magnum. This drinking beautifully.

On the nose, ripe, ruby, lush fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries, cherries & creamy raspberries. Black licorice, vanilla, some fig, sweet soils, light baking spices with fresh red and very dark flowers.

On the palate, the body is near full. The tannins are beautifully rounded. It guides across the palate. So fresh and beautiful! blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries, cherries & creamy raspberries. Black licorice, vanilla, some fig, sweet soils, light baking spices, river stone, crushed rocks, cedar, with fresh red and very dark flowers. Beautiful round acidity and an elegantly polished finish. — 6 years ago

Heather Danskin

9.3

Delicious! Fruity but not sweet. Could drink this everyday. — 6 years ago

ES

9.0

This wine rocks, balanced, well made, bright fruit, fantastic acidity, wonderful QPR — 7 years ago

Y Kwon

9.3

Nice acidity. Sweet apples, honey and pears. Maybe some wet rocks. Initially poured effervescent bubbles like a fine champagne. — 7 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.3

2010 vintage. Medium lemon green hue. Medium plus concentration of green lemons, citrus fruit, steely minerals. Complex. Ok the palette, rocks. High tense acidity, creamy medium body texture, full concentration of flavour and long finish. Superb. Drink now until 2027. — 7 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Blue fruit heaven. Near perfect; tannins, acidity, evolution. Rich moist earth, stones, dry crush rocks, violets, spice/box, leather and tobacco leaf and black tea. Out of magnum. — 7 years ago

Ian Blessing

9.5

Spectacular as always. Started off with typical Cayuse funk that integrated pretty quickly into a kaleidoscope of rich, sweet fruit while never being cloying. Framboise, fresh raspberry, blueberry, tons of violet, and a finish that's carried by crushed black rocks. Cayuse amazes me with its intense flavors that somehow never seem overextracted or heavy. It's the domestic version of an iron fist in a velvet glove. — 8 years ago

Shae Kinsman

9.7

Oh. My. Such focus and precision. Flinty, minerally nose - wet rocks and citrus rind. Amazing concentration on the palate. A mere pup, but so bloody thrilling. Can't wait to watch it age and fill out. Love, love, love! — 9 years ago

Jesse Mallgren

9.3

Brick orange color, Cedar, old leather, minerals, Lincoln logs, dusty rocks, tart cherry, orange zest, green blueberries, vanilla, Thai market, refreshing acid, anise, fruit opened up after 30 minutes, — 10 years ago