Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This was still a bit of a baby. Much more life than expected based on a number of other 2012’s I’ve had.

The color is still very dark.

Showed nice evolution & integration. Nicely ripe, blackberries, black raspberries, both plums but more black, layered baking spices, moist tobacco, soft leather, elegantly soft earthiness, beautiful, round, dark spices, beautiful dark & red flowers with lavender and violets, excellent, round acidity, extremely well balanced, very elegant finish with great length.

Easily has another 10-15 yrs of good drinking left w/ proper storage. Think it will show another point in another 5yrs. — 13 hours ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

A few things first.

This Jasper Hill Farms Harbison is the creamiest, gooey delight out there, once you let it warm up. I take it out a 1/2 hour before serving. It is wrapped in spruce cambium, which is the inner bark layer of a spruce tree. Gives it a interesting characteristic. Always a great pair with WB and or Blanc de Blanc Champagne.

PYCM is simply one of the better & consistent white burgundy producers. They’re close to town and not far from Olivier Leflaive. Right around the corner basically.

2020-23 has been a good run in white burgundy. Maybe, 24 too. Not sure yet. I haven’t had a big enough sample size yet. The ones I have had, very good.

The nose reveals; Meyer lemon, green apple, lime zest, tropical melons, white stone fruits, honeycomb, frothy cream, light caramel, some herbaceous notes, paraffin, sea fossils, saline, grey volcanics, dry limestone, chalky powder, yellow & white lilies that remind me of funeral arrangements.

The palate is round to thick, vicious & waxy. The flavors mirror the nose. Meyer lemon, green apple, lime zest, tropical melons, white stone fruits, honeycomb, frothy cream, butterscotch, caramel, some herbaceous notes, white spice that palate burro’s w/ pleasant heat, paraffin, sea fossils, saline, grey volcanic fine bits, dry limestone, chalky powder, with tiny bits, yellow & white lilies that remind me of funeral arrangements, rainfall acidity with a round, lush, well balanced finish w/ good length/tension and lasts two-minutes long setting on earth-volcanics & spice. — 3 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Cheers to successful 🚀 launches! 🥂

Nice 70% Pinot Noir & 30% Chardonnay Champagne that sees a fair amount of neutral wood.

Previous notes will still hold. — 10 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I recently had a conversation with a few Joseph Phelps Ambassador’s at Pebble Beach Food & Wine in April. I said, I had every vintage of Insignia back to 2006 in storage. They said, “you should really drink up the 2006.” So, I coravined an 06 last weekend, a taste. I agreed then. But tonight not the case, it shows it still has a fair amount of life. Another 5-8 yrs and perhaps plus.

My Ribcap, a definition of Medium Rare Plus.

The nose reveals floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, softly layered baking spices, very underrated graphite, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola.

The palate shows well resolved, rounded, velvety M+ tannins. Nicely ripe fruits that are floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel river, softly layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanillin, warm caramel, dark Asian spices with palate burrowing heat, dry tobacco/ leather, cedar, grilled meats, very underrated graphite, sweet tarriness, black licorice, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola, candied to withering; dark, red, blue florals wrapped in liquid violets, epic rainfall acidity, well balanced-structured-toned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls on earth & heated spice.

95-96 peaking. — 3 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Haven’t had a 2000 Napa is some time. Many would say a disappointing vintage. They would be mostly correct. But here is one 24 yrs later in bottle that shined a bit.

It showed excellent integration and evolution. Holding up exceptionally well. Really enjoyed its smooth dark spice on its long finish.

I think $29 on one of the more recent Last Bottle Marathons. — 9 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

This was a check-in to see how ready my 2000 Montrose’s are doing. A good check.

This is absolutely a close relative of the 2nd Growth Montrose. The thing that experience has taught me is, Montrose is a long in the tooth producer. As well, the 2000 Bordeaux vintage mimics that completely.

I would say the 2000 Montrose is finally ready with a longish decant.

This is completely classic Bordeaux and Saint-Estèphe.

The nose shows ripe, lush, nearly candied fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, back/stewed dark cherries, strawberries & raspberry hues. Both dark & milk chocolate to pudding, dry twig/soils, dark rich soils, dry river stone, dark & mid berry cola, anise to black licorice, softly layered baking spices, limestone/sandstone, black tea, used leather & tobacco, black olive tapenade, light cedar, semi-used charcoal, dark, red fresh & slightly withering flowers.

The palate shows nicely resolved M+ rounded, tarry tannins. It has freshness and bright fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, back/stewed dark cherries, strawberries & raspberry hues. Both dark & milk chocolate to pudding, dry twig/soils, dark rich soils, dry river stone, dark spice w/ palate heat, dark & mid berry cola, anise to black licorice, softly layered baking spices-nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & very light vanillin, limestone/sandstone, moist clay, crushed dry rocks, grey volcanics, black tea, used leather & tobacco, black olive tapenade, light cedar, dark, red fresh & slightly withering flowers, beautiful acidity, it is nicely toned, good structure/tension with a well balanced, elegant & polish finish for days that lasts two-minutes and lands on dry earth & spice.

91-92.

Still has 5-10 yr of life ahead depending on your storage. — 10 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This has improved nicely since I last had it in 2020. Blossomed. 2005 such an amazing vintage. I understand why the Bordelaise said they underpriced the vintage. This was $25 or less on release.

The nose is; dark chocolate cake to pudding, black currants, blackberries, dark cherries to liqueur, both plums, black raspberries & strawberry edges, core of tarriness, herbaceous notes, lightly and beautifully layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, mocha powder, caramel, moist volcanic clays, steeped black fruit tea, charcoal, candied graphite, moist understated tobacco, dry top soil, dry river stone, candied to just withering; dark, red flowers with liquid violets.

The palate shows; well softened & rounded M-m+ tannins. It is thick, lush, plush heaven. black currants, blackberries, dark cherries to liqueur, both plums, black raspberries & strawberry edges, dark chocolate cake to pudding, a core of tarriness, herbaceous notes, lightly and beautifully layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, mocha powder, caramel, moist volcanic clays, steeped black fruit tea, charcoal, candied graphite, moist, understated tobacco, dry top soil, dry river stone, dark mid spice, candied, dark, red florals with brilliant liquid violets, excellent, rainfall acidity, balance and elegance for days with a long, lengthy finish that lasts minutes and lands on earth & spice.

93-94. Beautiful wine and extreme value.

Still has 7-10 yrs ahead w/ proper storage. Peaking. — 3 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.9

While this showed nice dark mid berry fruits and very beautiful bright florals on the nose, it just didn’t check all the other boxes I want a red burgundy. Just an ok experience. — 9 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Made for duck. Delicious.

Yvon Metras is a 5th honorary member of “The (original) Gang of Four.”

This has glorious fruit entry. Berries, berries, berries, followed by earth and a granitic finish. Well balanced & wisely polished. — 9 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

This was an experiment started in early 2008. To see if Costco/Kirkland could bottle a good 2005 Margaux yrs later. The answer, yes.

This is better than some not as grand Margaux vintages. Better than Lascombes and a few others. 🤷‍♂️ Think this was $18.99 or so.

I met the Costco buyer at the time in Bordeaux at En Primeur in 2014. She had worked her way up from idle to the buyer for one of the largest wine seller’s in America. Costco’s number one position was recently was overtaken by Total Wine. Her path an amazing success story.

If you were poured this blind now, you would called higher. Especially, with a good steak.

The nose is classic Bordeaux. Dark currants, brambly, blackberries/ black raspberries, ripe; dark cherries, strawberries, plum, cherries, anise to black licorice, mid berry cola, graphite, used leather, moist to dry tobacco, steeped tea, dry limestone powder, sandstone, moist clay, touch of bay leaf, hint of pepper-grilled meats, dark, rich earth w/ dry leaves, bright to candied; red, dark florals framed in liquid violets.

The palate is; rich, ripe, kinda candied fruits that are; dark currants, brambly, blackberries/ black raspberries, ripe; dark cherries, raspberries m, strawberries, plum to plum pudding, cherries, anise to black licorice, mid berry cola, dark chocolate baking bar, baking spices-nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, graphite, charcoal, used leather, moist to dry tobacco/ cigar box w/ ash, steeped tea, dry limestone powder, sandstone, dry river stone, moist, grey volcanic dark spices w/ palate heat, clay, touch of bay leaf, hint of pepper-grilled meats, dark, rich earth w/ dry leaves, gorgeously bright to candied; red, dark florals, lavender framed in liquid violets, rainfall acidity, well knitted/balance, mid toned/structured with an elegant/polished finish that last minutes and lands on graphite, spice and earthiness.

Moved between 92-93 with the steak.

Has another 7-10 yrs of road ahead.

An example of don’t judge a book by its cover. — 17 days ago