Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The aromatics are beautiful. The soft, mid dark spices are delicate, swooning and inviting. Slightly candied plum to pudding , blackberries, black cherries, baked strawberries, black raspberries, hint of charcoal, some of the most beautiful baking spices-gentle cinnamon, soft clove, dash of nutmeg, hint of vanillin, forest floor w/ some dry leaves, wafting, understated, dry herbs-sage, mocha powder, some caramel notes, slightly candied to withering; dark flowers, red roses framed in soft lavender & violets.

Beautifully lush entry with some powdery M dry yet velvety tannins. Slightly candied plum to pudding, blackberries, black cherries, baked strawberries, black raspberries, hint of charcoal, some of the most beautiful baking spices-gentle cinnamon, soft clove, dash of nutmeg, hint of vanillin, perhaps the most beautiful, delicately layered spices I’ve had in a red burgundy, dark chocolate baking bar to cake, moist clay with grey volcanic minerals, limestone powder, forest floor w/ some dry leaves, wafting, understated, dry herbs-sage, mocha powder, some caramel notes, slightly candied to withering; dark flowers, red roses framed in soft lavender & violets, round acidity, balance for days, gently structured/tensioned, elegantly polished finish that lasts minutes and lands on micro grained spices.

Hard not to give this a 93 but it is not quite there yet but will get there in another 3-5 yrs with a total 15 yrs plus of good drinking.

@AmbassadorHotel Split, Croatia. — a day ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.6

So, this happened on the way from Dubrovnik to Kator. Finally got to the hotel. Time for a glass on rooftop before venturing out.

Lemon-lime, pineapple, mango whipped cream, volcanics. Just not a lot of depth. But after the travel experience, I’ll take it. — 6 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Back @BalancesRestaurant - Lucerne. Yes, it is that good.

A little backstory on this 2nd wine of Clerc Milon. This was made by my friend Jean Danjoy. He was the Asst. Winemaker at Opus One for 10 years before making the decision to go back to Bordeaux to redesign the winemaking facilities at Clerc and making his first vintage, 2009. A grand Bordeaux vintage to make his first Clerc Milon. He now overseas all the Rothschild properties, including Mouton. He is uber talented and perhaps the nicest human being I have met. He is also the one that showed Sofia & I how to taste & judge vineyard fruit for harvest in 2012.

Jean decided to make this second wine primarily for restaurant lists.

The nose shows brilliant red & dark florals. Dark cherries, poached strawberries, blackberries, black currant core, black raspberries, pomegranate, oak barrel powder, some anise, black tea, gentle baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, caramel notes & dark chocolate, dark, rich, subtle earth, dark withering flowers.

You could make a case for rounding this up to 93.

The fruits are ripe…special. Even glorious. Very soft and rounded M-M+ tannins. Dark cherries, poached strawberries, blackberries, black currant core, black raspberries, pomegranate, oak barrel powder, some anise, black tea, cola, beautiful, round dark spice that long sets w/ the most gentle palate heat, gentle baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, caramel notes & dark chocolate, dark, rich, subtle earth, some fresh & dry tobacco, soft leather, very soft graphite, dark withering flowers. Excellent rainfall acidity with a well balanced, softly structured, elegant finish that last 80 seconds and lands on gentle dark spice, loamy earth and fruit.

Great pair with the Venison. — 8 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

So good for my palate to be back in France.

Tart Granny-Smith green apples, Meyer lemons, lime, underripe pineapple flesh, kiwi, underripe green melon, light caramel notes, some honey, paraffin, limestone with volcanic minerals, sea fossils, saline, tiny chalk bits, toast, hints of mint & dry herbs, Spring white flowers, jasmine, excellent acidity, well balanced, just firm structure/tensioned, elegant & nicely polished finish that lasts 90 seconds and long sets on minerals.

@AmbassorHotel-Split, Croatia serenaded with standards music on the coast. — 2 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.4

@delectable this is Storia di Pietra Vranac from Montenegro.

Very grapey and fruit forward. No depth at all. — 4 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.8

@Delectable this is their Chardonnay.

Still watching the world spin in Old Town Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Not Californian & not White Burgundy. Croatia style but not bad. — 6 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Time for something from France.

I’ve generally not been a huge fan of Taittingers N/V, but after a series of Croatian wines, it seems much better. Just goes to the saying, everything’s relative! .

@AmbassorHotel-Split, Croatia. — 2 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.7

Welcome to Split, Croatia sparkling on the patio of the hotel for breakfast.

It is too sweet for me, but many would find it pleasing. Too much of this kind of sweetness level will give you a headache later. Lemon meringue, some lime pulp-zest, grapefruit w/ sugar, pineapple juice, whipped cream, some volcanics, light yeasty notes, highly polished finish that lasts 90 seconds and lands on white spice.

I am fairly confident this kind of sweet sparkling wine is what turns off many earlier consumers of sparkling to sparkling wines and therefore good champagnes by default. It is later when someone gives them a very good example of sparkling wine/champagne that turns them back around. Over my wine experience, I’ve had me people tell me that sparkling makes them not feel well later or gives them a headache. Believe this is an example of why. — 3 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.7

@delectable this is their Sparkling Extra Brut.

If you ever get to the Croatian Coast, hope your weather is as perfect as it was today! Cheers! 🥂

Lemon-lime driven, white spice, volcanics but not a lot of depth. — 6 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Significantly better than the 2008 Lynch-Bages I had the other night.

Domaine De Chevalier is one of the more underrated or under appreciated Bordeaux producers.

The nose shows; beautiful dry, red flowers, black currants, brambly blackberries, ripe; dark cherries & strawberries, black plum, hints of raspberries, anise, dry herbs, mid baking spices, loamy earthiness, dark spice, dry tobacco/leather, graphite, barrel toast, bright red flowers and liquid violets.

M+ dark meaty tannins. Ripe, juicy, gorgeous fruits; black currants, brambly blackberries, dark cherries & strawberries, black plum, hints of raspberries, red licorice, red to mid berry cola, touch of black licorice, anise, dry herbs, mid baking spices-light clove/nutmeg, cinnamon & light vanillin, dark spices with a little palate heat, loamy earthiness, dark spice w/ some palate heat, dry tobacco/leather, graphite, charcoal, pebbles, some soft mushroom, barrel toast, bright red flowers and liquid violets. Really nice rainfall acidity, well tensioned/structured still w/ age, nicely balanced with an elegant, smartly polished finish that lasts minutes and long sets on spice & earth.

15 yrs of good drinking ahead.

@BalancesRestaurant - Lucerne. Balance Restaurant is one of the very best meals I’ve had out in a very longtime. — 9 days ago