David T 
Pierre Paillard
Les Parcelles Bouzy Grand Cru Champagne Blend
Bollinger
Special Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend
Congratulations to TB12 on going to his 14th Conference Championship.
The nose shows; more macerated green & golden apple, pineapple than usual. Touch of apple cider, bruised pear, some dried apricots, nougat, melted, salted caramel, alluvial limestone minerals, chalk, sea spray, roasted white spice, dry yeast, rising bread dough, baguette crust, ginger ale with withering lilies and some spring flowers.
The palate has softer mousse & less lively acidity than previous bottles. Still nice but, it’s giving cause to wonder when this bottle was disgorged. Macerated green & golden apple, yellow peach, pineapple juice. Touch of apple cider, bruised pear, some dried apricots, nougat, melted, salted caramel, alluvial limestone minerals, grey volcanics, gritty chalkiness, sea fossils, saline, roasted white spice, nuts, dry yeast, rising bread dough, baguette crust, ginger ale that has the high notes of root beer, vanillin with withering lilies and some spring flowers. The acidity is ok but, seems off a bit. Change in base wine for this bottling? The finish still rich, elegant, well balanced persisting minutes.
Bottle is off slightly from the many others we’ve enjoyed.
Photos of; the House of Bollinger, branded cave with resting bottles, their Cooper making barrels and one of their Grand Cru vineyards.
1/17/21 — 2 months ago
Vincent Girardin
Cuvée Saint-Vincent Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2010
Vinaigrette salad with dried, dark cherries & caramelized walnuts calls for Pinot Noir. In fact, the wine needs the salad to really sing. Wine speaks deeply to the skin of the caramelized walnuts.
The one thing about Burgundy is you can get pre-ox, barnyard and VA. Here, you get just a touch of soft VA.
The palate is; round, lush darker fruits that are very ruby. Ripe & more extracted; blackberries, stewed black, plum, dark cherries, plum pudding, blueberries, black raspberries, dried cranberries, raspberries & strawberries on the way to fermentation. Moist clay, dry top soil, sludgy limestone, dark chocolate, notes of maple & brown sugar, dry herb, deeply grilled meats, dry & fresh tobacco, leather notes, oak powder, charcoal, forest floor, dark, tree sap, berry cola, blended black & red licorice, dark spices with a touch of heat, tea with sediment with candied, ruby, dark florals; dark, red, purple & blue florals. The acidity is round & beautiful. The finish is solid wire to wire, rich, lush, well knitted & balanced, sexy and persists endlessly.
Vincent Girardin in excellent vintages, like 2010, is one of my go to value producer for reds & blancs.
VA fades as you sip...salad assists as well.
1/15/21
— 2 months ago
Two Hands
Bella's Garden Shiraz 2005
All in at $50.
The nose shows; ruby, floral & candied fruits of; mulberries, gooseberries, ollallieberries, boysenberries blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, black cherries with raspberries hovering across the top. Grilled, savory meats, black pepper, dark spice, dark cola, dark chocolate, anise to black licorice, dark expresso grounds, sweet tarriness, older tobacco, very used leather, limestone minerals, crushed rocks, incense, ambers, dry tree sap, dry herbs-sage, bat leaf, eucalyptus notes, moist, forest floor, moist, grey clay with withering, fresh & candied florals that are; purple, dark, blue and red set in pronounced lavender & violets woven in.
The body is; full, lush, rich, round, juicy & velvety. It glides across the palate in total gorgeous elegance. The structure, tension, balance & length are at their high point with another 5-8 years of solid drinking with a few years beyond if you enjoy that later stage. I am one who doesn’t protest that part of the life cycle. The tannins are round, pulpy and are still meaty. Fruits are; ruby, touch jammy, floral & candied fruits of; mulberries, gooseberries, boysenberries, ollallieberries, blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, black cherries, blueberries with raspberries hovering across the top. Grilled, savory meats, black pepper, notes of Worcestershire sauce, dark combo of Indian & some Asian spices that bring heat, dark cola, dark chocolate, caramel, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, anise to black licorice, dark expresso grounds, sweet tarriness, older tobacco, oak barrel shaving dust, somewhat card toast, very used leather, limestone minerals, crushed rocks, incense, ambers, dry tree sap, dry herbs-sage, bay leaf, eucalyptus notes, moist, forest floor, moist, muddy, grey clay with withering, fresh & candied florals that are; purple, dark, blue and red set in pronounced lavender & violets woven in. The acidity is round & excellent. The finish is stunningly well knitted, balanced fruit & earth, elegant, gorgeous, that loads lush & juicy and falls on to deep spices persisting for days.
Photos of our April 2017 visit; the walk up to Two Hands, waterfall in their courtyard in the back, utility building & their stand up tasting bar right as you walk in.
Stunning example of what Australian Shiraz can be with the right patience.
1/9/21 — 2 months ago
MOD
MOD Selection Reserve Champagne
This is a cheers we’ve been waiting four years on. Well worth the wait. Congratulations, President Biden.
First time having this cuvée. Thank you to Christina for opening.
The nose says it leans reductive. Rich, creamy; slightly sour lemons, lemon meringue, overripe stone fruits & pineapple, busied pear & golden apple, notes of apple cider, ginger ale laced with cream soda, sea spray to fossils, volcanics minerals, fine chalkiness, yeast, bread dough to baguette crust, graham crackers, nougat with withering yellow lilies/spring flowers.
The palate is rich, full & juicy. Light on its feet with beautiful mousse. Rich, creamy; slightly sour lemons, lemon meringue, overripe stone fruits & pineapple, busied pear & golden apple, notes of apple cider, ginger ale laced with cream soda, vanillin, sea spray to fossils, light white spice with perfect, heat, gentle volcanics minerals, limestone, fine chalkiness, yeast, bread dough to baguette crust, graham crackers, nougat with withering yellow lilies/spring flowers. Excellent, lively acidity. The finish glides beautifully across the palate with moosee mousse, richness, balance, elegant and persists gently for minutes.
1/20/21 — a month ago
Marqués de Murrieta
Finca Ygay Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2010
The better steak wine over the 2009 Ormes de Pez but, not the more beautiful, elegant wine.
The 2010 Rioja marries the Wagyu Ribcap while showing its Ranchero characteristics.
The palate shows tumble-weed, tannin fruits that are; brambly, ripe, slightly candied; blackberriesblack raspberries, dry, dark cherries with skin, ruby, black plums, very w/ ripe strawberries. Tumbleweed, straw, dark spice, tough leather, clove, sage, dry clay & top soil, crushed rocks, black pepper, dark, berry cola, mint, oak barrel powder, used charcoal with candied florals that are fresh & withering; dark, red, purple & blue. The acidity is top flight. The long finish is well balanced fruit & earth, persisting nicely falling onto earth & dark spices.
Photos of; Margues de Murrieta & vines, large oak vats and their wine shop.
1/15/21 — 2 months ago
Felton Road
Block 2 Central Otago Chardonnay 2015
First, Central Otago is Gods country. Especially, in April. As well, amazing soil structure & climate for Chardonnay & Pinot Noir.
Then, if you like good White Burgundy that is clean, round with good viscosity and acidity for days, this is for you. If you fit that criteria & haven’t had a good Felton Road Chardonnay, you should.
You could put this in anyone’s hand, including some Master Sommeliers blind, they would call Burgundy. I would as well.
Felton Road was the highlight of our 2017 visit to Central Otago. Rippon was a close second. Jo Mills at Rippon has more passion for wine and making them completely biodynamic than anyone I’ve met & we have met a shit-ton of producers around the world.
The nose shows; mashed, sour lemons, lime zest & candy, just ripe pineapple, grapefruit with pith, touch of white stone fruits, butterscotch notes, beautiful chalkiness, some smokiness, saline, grey volcanics, vanillin, just a touch of maple with caramel, soft side of white spice, honey to marmalade quality, graham cracker with white & yellow florals.
The palate/ body is round, medium full, gorgeously sexy with excellent viscosity. Wire to wire steady & brilliant. Mashed, sour lemons, lime zest & candy, just ripe pineapple, grapefruit with pith, touch of white stone fruits, beautiful chalkiness, saline, grey, powdery, volcanics, limestone, vanillin, just a touch of maple with caramel, butterscotch, mint, eucalyptus, touch of fresh herbs, soft side of white spice, honey to marmalade quality, graham cracker with white & yellow florals & jasmine. The acidity is stunning & like a summer shower. The finish is; gentle, elegant, so well knitted & balanced and persistent for days.
Important to decant & let warm to just below room temp. 62-65 degrees.
The perfect pair is Jasper Hill Farms new Harbison Prosecco washed soft white cheese. Creamy on steroids.
Photos of our 2017 visit to Felton Road, the long view front the property, their front gate, outdoor concrete tanks and our property walk & talk with Owner Nigel Greening.
1/15/21 — 2 months ago
Kalinda
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
This is K&L Wine Merchants private label wine. Named after family, Kay & Linda.
It is always a mystery who’s juice they bottled or who they bought fruit to and made the wine. Regardless, it always over delivers at $21.99.
Might have waited a couple years too long to get its best. Need to let it settle on palate before sharing more thoughts. Starting a little lean on the palate but, what a floral nose. We’ll see what a longer decant and palate coating brings.
As I mentioned, the nose is singing with ruby, candied florals that are; dark, red, purple & blue. The fruits are a little stewed; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, poached strawberries and blueberries that hover. Mid, soft, dark spice, light baking spices of; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, mid berry cola, black & red licorice, caramel, dark chocolate, mocha, steeped fruit tea, dark, rich, moist soil with dry leaves, older tobacco, soft leather, saddle-wood, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry, river stones, shades of dry herbs, ambers, touch of savory meats & black pepper, & tomatoes with leaf.
The nose is more captivating than the body. It’s complex but at the same time flatter. The palate shows; ripe, stewed & candied fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, poached strawberries, pomegranate and blueberries on the backend. Mid, soft, dark spice with just the right amount of heat, cherry kirsch, light baking spices of; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, mid berry cola, black & red licorice, caramel, dark chocolate, mocha, steeped fruit tea, dark, rich, moist soil with dry leaves, older tobacco, soft leather, saddle-wood, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry, river stones, moist to dry clay, shades of dry herbs, ambers, touch of savory meats & black pepper, & tomatoes with leaf. The acidity is a cool Colorado stream. The finish is; well knitted, balanced fruit & earth elegant, lush, despite its complexity, a little hallow yet persisting minutes, falling onto dry soils & spice.
As I stated, still enjoyable but, at its peak two years ago from my secondary storage. However, the longer I sip it, it pushes 9.0 on the long set. Time to start drinking a number of wines I’ve stepped over for bigger experiences & more notable producers.
Photos of, the K&L store in SF, tasting bar & two different photos of K&L Bordeaux Dinners we’ve attended with Owner Clyde Beffa Jr. — 2 months ago
Château Ormes de Pez
Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2009
My first bottle opening of a 2009 Bordeaux. We’ve tasted a number of 2009’s, this is the first one we’ve opened. Showing the glory of 2009, even in a lesser bottling. I’ll say it again, for the value buyer of Bordeaux’s, buy good producers second, third or other wines. 2009, perhaps, the best Bordeaux vintage since 1982.
Good first look to judge better more expensive, quality producers of 2009 Bordeaux wines for when to best open your first. I would say those need another 8-10 years more in bottle to have them fully shine to buying expectations.
Family member from the Jean-Michel Cazes family that brings us Lynch Bages.
The 2009 shows better on its own than with our Wagyu Ribcap.
It simply shows the elegant beauty of the vintage. It brings similarities to 1982.
It shows velvet tannins with ripe, ruby fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, poached strawberries & raspberries. Bay leaf, wet clay, dark spice with heat, limestone, dry, crushed rocks, nutmeg, clove, soft cinnamon & understated vanillin, black licorice, dry twig, spearmint, tough leather, dry tobacco, graphite, oak barrel shavings with fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, purple florals. Acidity for days. Straight up; lush, well knitted and balanced finish that persists nicely for minutes.
Photos of; Chateau Ormes de Pez, Saint-Estephe vineyard, inside the Chateau-breakfast room and their barrel room.
1/15/21 — 2 months ago
Billecart-Salmon
Brut Rosé Champagne Blend
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
This is a cheers we’ve been waiting four years on. Well worth the wait. Congratulations, President Biden.
Sure appreciate the new tone.
Previous notes will stand.
This will be my last post on Delectable. If you’d like to know why, ask Delectable above their practices & platform bugs. If you enjoy reading my notes, you can find them on CellarTracker under Somm David T. Its been a pleasure interacting with all of the Delectable community. — a month ago