Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Many years ago, I brought this 375ml back in my suitcase from our trip to Rioja. Next to our Guggenheim designed hotel. #remembrance #Sofia — 10 hours ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.9

I honestly don’t know how I came into possession of this 375ml Grand Cru from Cramant. It works for a weekday 1/2 bottle.

100% Chardonnay.

It drinks easy but not eventful. Lemon, lime zest, white peach, tropical melons, tangerine, caramel notes, foamy cream, crisp limestone crumbles, white spice, sea spray-fossils, nice chalkiness, yeasty bread dough, yellow lilies, jasmine, white, spring flowers, zesty acidy and a ripe, rich, balanced finish that lasts 45 seconds and lands on crisp minerality. — 2 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

This pours a darker yellow.

Part of this has spent time in oak.

Nice mousse but leaner in style as it fades a bit on the long set.

Starts with slightly macerated stone fruits-peach, nectarines & a touch of apricots, tropicals-pineapple, cantaloupe, bruised pear-apple, zested lime-lemon, blood orange, ginger to ginger ale, malt, light caramel notes, light vanillin, cream, some nice yeast, bread dough, baguette crust, limestone intermixed with volcanics, sea fossils, saline, yellow slightly wilting lilies, spring bouquet, excellent crisp acidity and well knitted, balanced, structured, elegant finish finish that lands on crumbled minerality.

This cuvée is a blend of equal parts of three varieties; Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay. Disgorged 7/23.

Pointing again, this is labeled an Extra Brut, yet it’s only 2g dosage, making it a Nature. Not sure how these producers get away without sticking to French Wine Laws.

Photos of, House of Egly-Ouriet, their Chardonnay & Pinot vineyards at harvest & Owner and Winemaker Francis Egly. — 6 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

This obscure beauty was at my Costco for $33.99. High QPR. So in my quest to try as many 22s, I bought it on impulse.

The body has nice viscosity. It’s a little waxy, green apple, lime, lemon, tropicals, very ripe pineapple juice, yellow stone fruits, heather, honey notes, caramel, marmalade, cheese rind, saline, sea fossils, limestone mixed with grey volcanic minerals, ginger notes, yellow & spring white flowers, round acidity with beautiful balance-structure with a well polished lush, elegant finish that lasts a full minute.

As values go in Burgundy these days, worthwhile. I’ll grab a few more. — 8 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

2006 the vintage that came in just good.

This has a very creamy mousse. Macerated Meyer lemons, overripe pineapple juice, very ripe yellow stone fruit, tropical melon, orange citrus blend, strawberries, cream, vanilla, unstated herbal quality, chalk powder, sea spray, bread dough, yellow lilies, jasmine, soft acidity, nice balance with an elegant rich finish that lasts a minute and lands on chalkiness with limestone.

Last Bottle experiment I would not buy again. — 12 hours ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

These just get so much better with this kind of age.

It had grand evolution & integration.

Elegant & ripe on entry. Dark cherries, plum, blackberry, baked strawberries, raspberry & hints of blueberries. Muddy clays, dry herbs, powdered dry earth times, light; caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanillin, withering dark, red flowers, some violets, well balanced, elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds.

#Nepenthe in Big Sur — 5 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

For me, there are a lot stories associated with this little brother to Leoville Las Cases. Made by the same technical team, but certainly a different terroir.

Older vintages that were brought in by Clyde Beffa at K&L Wine Merchants kept me from opening my more expensive-younger Bordeaux in my collection. Starting w/ the 97 vintage well after its original release, I believe they sold through two lots of 5,000 cases over different years. A vintage crushed by critics. But with some long time cellar, value & quality. Magic!

This has always shown me QPR and to be a great fatty steak wine- Ribeye or Ribcap.

The 2007 Bordeaux vintage, critically not well reviewed. With basically 16 yrs plus in bottle, more special.

This has really come around and still ascending. Ripe, elegant, lush; dark currents, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherry skin, black plum skin, poached strawberries, black, rich, turned earth with dry leaves, moist & dry clays, graphite, tobacco w/ ash, slightly used leather, dry river stone, limestone minerals, dry top soil, pepper, some sweet tarriness, mix of fresh & dry herbs, mid, dark spices, clove, nutmeg, some cinnamon & understated vanillin, dry, withering, dark & red florals, nice acidity with good tension, structure, finally balanced & elegant finish that lands squarely on soften earthiness, some spice and lasts two-minutes.

This still has 15 years plus of life ahead.

Paired with Costco Prime Ribcaps. — 8 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

I picked up this 375ml from the wine list at #Nepenthe last Monday. I have a bit of thing for White Burgundy & this producer in general. Another 22 in my ongoing quest to try as many of them as I can.

It has nice viscosity, but not quite that of most Chassagne-Montrachet’s I’ve had. Ripe, lemons, lime, green apple, white peach, tropicals-honey dew, cream, pineapple flesh, light saline, sea fossils, white spice-ginger, soft herbal notes, crumbled, dry chalk, limestone, very understated vanillin & caramel notes, yellow flowers, jasmine, spring flowers, nice round acidity, very well balanced, beautifully knitted, elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds and lands on soft minerality & spice.

This Domaine was founded by Hubert in 1949 w/ 2.5 Hectares and has grown to 35 Hectares. If you know anything about Burgundy, 35 is a lot.

Photos of; Domaine de Montille, the son who took over for his father-Hubert, Etienne de Montille, barrel room. — 2 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

From 375ml.

A very good Rhone producer visited in 2015.

At pop & pour, the fruits almost had a mid berry bubble gum character. That toned down almost immediately. Fruits are ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, baked plums, raspberries, dark cherries, juicy strawberries, chocolate bar to fudge, grilled, smoked meats, black pepper, dark spice, nutmeg, clove, iron pan, black tea, a touch of rubber toy, slight tarriness, dry herbs, roasted chestnuts, tobacco leaf, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, hints of mint, dark, red flowers, violet’s, nice acidity with a well balanced-structured, stiffly tensioned with a lush finish that lasts 90 seconds and lands on earthiness & spice.

Plenty of life left in this 2012, even in 375ml. — 6 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

First up, this is made by Master Sommelier-Raj Parr & his business partner Sashi Moorman. I studied for my Sommeliers test one day with Raj.

Second, this is one of few Santa Rita Hills I like. Most are over extracted for me. IMHO, many drink like Cabernet-Pinot blends. This is not. It is more Burgundian in style.

The 2018 is starting to come around. It shows some nice evolution & integration.

Lush & ripe entry of; blackberries, dark cherries, both plums, strawberries, black raspberries, raspberries, cranberries, dry herbs are bountiful, mid, dark spice, a touch of smoke, grilled meats, moist clay, limestone, dry top soil, some menthol, eucalyptus w/ bark, mid berry cola, red, dark, blue & purple florals for days, excellent round acidity, nice; tension, structure, balance & elegant finish that lands on spice & softened earth that lasts nearly two-minutes. — 8 days ago