Sommelier
What I didn’t realize until this week is when I bought this 2013, Sofia & I tasted this with Roger in his cellar before it received the label shown in this post in 2015.
This was $25 on release and it is beautiful tonight as it was last weekend.
Ripe, juicy; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, purple fruits, blueberries & some dark cherries. Grilled meats, light black pepper, dry galet stones, spice, dry top soil, dry tobacco, used leather, slightly moist volcanic mineral mixed w/ clay, sandalwood, dry & withering dark, red & purple florals, rainfall acidity, a well balanced, nicely structured, beautifully tensioned, balanced, elegant finish that last two-minutes and lands on minerality and florals.
Photos that Sofia & I took in 2015, wood vats, my backside looking at cement tanks, estate vineyard and their facility building. — 18 days ago
Leoville Barton is one of my favorite St. Julien producers and still one of the best values upon release of Left Bank Bordeaux’s. If my memory is correct, I think this was WS’s wine of the year a few years ago.
I haven’t had this since the release at UGC. It was so fresh then. It has definitely put on weight and showing some nice evolution. But, Anthony made his wines for the ages. This will rise 2-3 points with 20 years bottle age.
It is round and lush. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, purple fruits, blueberries, some creamy raspberries & dark cherries. Anise, light graphite, tobacco ash, leather, dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dry river stone, limestone marl, dark spice, dry herbaceous notes, hints of black olive, black licorice, dry stems, mix of dry & candied dark flowers, very nice round acidity and a well; balanced, structured, tensioned and polished finish that last minutes.
Would open this in 2032 and beyond. — 19 days ago
HBTM! 🥳 🎉🎂 🎈
A Christmas present from Sofia.
This is still somewhat taut and dry, meaty tannins. The first time you should open this Grand Vin. Decanted four and a half hours. It has another 20 years of good drinking ahead.
Bramble, dry blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, dry, dark cherries. Dry twig, dry crushed rocks, lead pencil for days, sandstone/limestone, dark, rich, earth with dry leaves, cigar box, ash, leathery, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon sticks and vanillin, slightly, moist, volcanic clay, dry & withering flowers that are dark, red and violets framed in lavender, perfect round acidity, structured, well tensioned, overly balanced to earth and smartly polished finish that lands on earth & spice. 
The 02 should be opened in another 8-10 years and will still drink well in another 20 years properly stored.
Paired with AB Brothers Ribcap, crispy baked potato & cooked carrots.
Photos of, their late summer, early fall vineyards and their iconic storage building/vineyard & stainless tanks.
The 07 Turnbull Napa almost seemed grape juice like after the 82 Les Forts & 02 Latour. — 5 days ago
Have not had 100% Pinot Meunier that was not from Champagne and in bubble form. This is from Napa/Carneros.
Still young and would prefer to have this in 3-5 yrs.
The palate is dark fruits. Not quite Santa Rita Hills extraction but more than most Northern California.
It is still a bit angular. Blackberries, black raspberries, black plum w/ heavy skin, dark cherries, plum and some poached strawberries. Grainy limestone, dry stone, dark top soil, lots dark spice, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg, some pepper, dry tobacco, new leather, grilled meats, dry tumble weed, dry, red, dark flowers with violets, fresh acidity and a balanced, highly structured/tensioned, polished finish that lasts 90 seconds.
Many would call CDP on this blind. — 18 days ago
Rounding up from 91.6.
Allen Brothers Lamb Lollipops and the 05 vintage from Bordeaux. 🤔 😋
The 2005 vintage was magical w/ star producers. Very good with the lesser regions like Caronne.
Pretty sure I paid around $25 for this give or take.
The entry is round, lush & rich. Blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries and poached strawberries. Dark rich earth, moist clay, lead pencil, tobacco/cigar ash, used leather, dry river stone, dark chocolate cooking bar, black licorice, limestone powder, dry herbs, very light baking spices, dark, red, purple withering flowers, round acidity, balanced, highly structured & tensioned finish that lasts a minute.
This could actually use some more time in bottle, 3-5 yrs. — 18 days ago
HBTM! 🥳 🎉🎂 🎈
WOTN!
Still fresh & youthful. Perfect. Great fill. Still peaking.
Bramble, nicely, fresh fruits of; blackberries, creamy, black raspberries, black plum, plum, dark cherries, hints of blueberries, poached to dry strawberries. Lead pencil for days, dry tobacco, used leather, liquid herbaceous notes, volcanic & limestone marl & grey clay, eucalyptus/pine tar, black licorice, dark spice, touch of black pepper, mushroom, light baking spices, dry top soil, dry river stone, dry stem, well done toast, dry & withering; dark, red, some blue florals framed in lavender & violets, perfect acidity and extremely well; balanced, structured, tensioned, balanced, smarty polished finish that last several minutes finish.
Photos of; Latour and their vine close to the D2, entrance to Chatesu Latour and their barrel room. The cleanest cellar I’ve seen and I have seen most of the wine world.
It’s just the left side of the bell curve. Stored correctly it has another 10 plus years of good drinking.
Robert Parker launched his career calling this vintage correctly upon release when others were not. — 5 days ago
I compare the Heitz Napa to the Joseph Phelps Napa in many ways. I believe the Phelps is slightly less vintage dependent than Heitz. But, this 07 like the vintage in Napa, sensational.
This 2007 is peaking. Perfectly ripe & juicy; brambly blackberries, creamy black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries/kirsch, blueberries come on late and poached strawberries on the edges. The tannins are still dark and tarry. Rich, sweet, dark soils, mid & dark berry cola, anise, steeped black tea, dry tobacco, used leather, cedar/sandalwood, clove, nutmeg, some cinnamon & vanillin, moist, grey volcanic clay, dry crushed rocks, limestone, mid spice, hints of grilled meat, some fresh/dry herds, a tad of eucalyptus, stewy/tumble weed, fresh & withering dark, red, blue florals framed in violets, excellent round acidity, the scope of the finishes encompasses; balance for days, nice structure & tensioned, elegant, polished and lasts two minutes.
Photos all taken around their tasting room on Hwy 29 when their tasting was still the last free tasting in Napa. Still not over the family selling to a corporation that has no wine experience. — 18 days ago
93 that leans into 94 and will see another point or two with 10 years in bottle.
Sofia and I used to go to their futures luncheon for many years. This vineyard consistently yields fruit that makes one of their best Cabernet’s.
It’s lush as it enters and falls onto dry, meaty tannins. Blackberries, creamy black raspberries, black plum with skin, dark cherries & purple fruits. Dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, limestone & volcanic minerals, moist clay, dry tobacco, new, raw leather, still very woody, mixed mid & dark berry cola, plenty of baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, dark spices with some heat, some dry herbs, dark melted, chocolate, cocoa powder, caramel notes, bright, fresh & candied florals that are dark, red, blue and framed in violets & lavender, ver nice round acidity with a highly structured, tensioned, well balanced and polished finish that lasts 90 seconds but still lands squarely on wood. — 19 days ago
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
2 1/2 hour decant and still shows semi-resolved, round, meaty tannins. I can only imagine how big this wine was at release.
Silly, silly. Dark chocolate cooking bar, smooth expresso, sweet tarriness, anise-black licorice, mocha, caramel, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, dark, resolved spice, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum & very, dark cherries. Fresh & candied, lavender, violets round acidity, balance, nice tension, structure, well knitted and really well polished lush, finish that lasts 90 seconds.
Yes, there are Sonoma Cabernet producers that stand right in there w/ Napa. This is certainly one. — 3 days ago