Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

🎤 Hello…(tap, tap)…is thing still working?

I think we are back to one day from two in seeing posts. But, now 7 varietal/region tabs are completely blank unless I engage one or more of dollar signs symbols at the top of each tab every time I wish to go back & look at them. I think Neo must be in the machine city fighting Agent Smith and is close to shutting down this Matrix.

Finally got in some of my 375 Champagnes. Found some 375ml EB’s. Look forward to those. The VC last weekend was not something I normally do.

However, I do like Gimonnet’s craft. Enjoy the SC’s more, but this will do.

Nice, ripe, bruised green apple/pear, lemon/lime pulp with zest, grapefruit w/ pith, touch of tropical melons, kiwi and white stone fruits, ginger-ale quince, nougat, pronounced white spice, gritty chalk/limestone, yeasty bread dough, almond cake, yellow lilies, white flowers, lively, crisp acidity, well balanced, nicely tensioned, good length and elegant finish that lasts nearly 90 seconds and falls on spice & minerals on the long set. — 5 months ago

Adam Beasley

9.2

Big old farty nose of egg salad, raspberries, and sour beer. Funk city in all the best ways. Low tannin, high acid, and delicate. Not for everyone, but a unique experience. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I have been staring down this bottle for awhile...guess tonight is the night.

Bright, candied red florals leap out of the glass followed quickly by sweet & sour cherries. Smooth, medium spice, cinnamon stick, cola, ripe, elegant, blackberries, poached to candied strawberries, stewy black plum, creamed black raspberries, pomegranate, haunting blueberries fruits, steeped fruit tea, truffle dark chocolate, tobacco notes with ash, dark, rich, moist earth, understated incense, beautifully layered, dark spices, almost black pepper, limestone alluvial earthiness, dry stems & stones with the most amazingly, bright, fragrant; dark, red, blue, purple floral wrapped in violets.

The body is round, gorgeously sexy and elegantly full. It sings on the palate. This is a good time to try a bottle if you have others as this wine will continue to improve over the next 15 years. If you love a well textured wine, this is one for you. The structure, tension, length and balance have just started down the yellow brick road to the Emerald City. Candied red florals leap out of the glass followed quickly by sweet & sour cherries. Smooth, medium spice, big cinnamon stick, cola, ripe, elegant, blackberries, poached to candied strawberries, stewy black plum, creamed black raspberries, raspberries, cranberries, pomegranate, haunting blueberries fruits, steeped fruit tea, tobacco notes with ash, dark, rich, moist earth, understated incense, beautifully layered, deep penetrating dark spices with pronounced palate heat, lightly grilled meats, hints of smokiness, almost black pepper, limestone alluvial earthiness, dry stems & stones with the most amazingly, bright, fragrant; dark, red, blue, purple floral wrapped in violets & understated lavender. The acidity is spot on. The finish is complex, well balanced, ruby polished that falls into spice, florals for days and persists endlessly on your palate and in your head long after the night is over. Gorgeous wine!!!

I am all about pairing food & wine & confident there are foods that would enhance this wine; Duck, Pork Loin w/ fruit or lightly seasoned roasted chicken etc. but, I would be a purest with this bottling. It’s simply that beautiful & gorgeous on its own.

Photos of; Domaine Faiveley, their barrel aging room, Erwan Faiveley and immaculately manicured Nuits St. Georges vineyard.

Producer notes: Domaine Faiveley is one of the biggest Domaines at 115 hectares in Burgundy and some would say, one of the best. Domaine Faiveley grapes are destemmed and fermented in new wooden vats for the finer wines and in conical stainless steel tanks for the lesser cuvées
— 7 years ago

James Forsyth

8.9

Ippudo ramen in the East Village, NYC, used to be impossible to get into. Now there are several that have popped up throughout the city and beyond. The ramen is still utterly delicious. Rich, fatty, salty broth. Al dente noodles. Mid level heat and a perfect soft boiled egg.

All washed down with this classic, clean, refreshing Japanese beer. All in all, simple and delicious. — 8 years ago

with Cara, Antonia and 1 other

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

10

Such balance, perfection and freshness right in my backyard. I am pinching myself- so lucky! Alisha makes low alcohol, real ale in Redwood City and I can drop by for a pint whenever I want! — 9 years ago

Jenks

9.5

Big chocolate, cinnamon, secondary vanilla, thick, silky, light carbonation, chili pepper lingers on the finish. Such a complex and satisfying dessert beer. I’ve had most of the other notable Mexican stouts from the likes of Westbrook, Cigar City, etc, Perennial leads the category. STL! — 5 years ago

David Kline

9.6

Topaz with heavenly streamers stretching for perfection. Creamy head of structured perfection in terms of density and longevity. Perfect sheet of fog lacing falls like a slo-mo curtain to reveal layer two of mountain snows reflecting moonlight. Nose of bananas foster in all its blazing brandy and it’s caramelized olfactory topography; a malt image in sensory sepia to match the mountainscape. Nutmeg, cola and pecan dessert vies with baklava. The palate is a revelation in balance. The expected Belgian malt emerges in contrast to a dappled vanilla and Connecticut tobacco, pecan shell dryness, and chicory coffee before returning to a root tonic sweetness, and cardamom. #kwak #belgianspecialbeers #belgianale #belgianbeer #pauwelkwak #pauwelkwakbrewery #beer #bier #birra #biere #ale #ceveza #cerveja #belgium #belgian — 6 years ago

with Courtney

David Kline

9.0

Powering through the last of the oak beers on the way to wine immersion. On a positive note, the baby now has a room! Anyway, last year’s Good Gourd! Looks like dark tea or a hot cider, nice eruption of bubbling magic. Orange tinged; good start! Super spiced cinnamon apple, caramel, vanilla, nutmeg, and oddly smelling of a California wine. Sierra foothills mascarpone notes and also a hot buttered rum smell. Cinnamon tea, clove studded orange, whiskey-lemon-honey tea, toasted coconut, sweet tobacco, brown sugar, dates, fruitcake candied notes with a nod to its density. A cream soda finish with raisinets. #cigarcitybrewing #cigarcitygoodgourd #goodgourd #imperialale #ale #beer #bier #biere #birra #imperialpumpkinale #pumpkinale #pumpkinbeer #ccb #halloweenbeer — 7 years ago

with Courtney

James Ellis

8.9

Sweet home Amarillo hops — 7 years ago

Dawn E.

9.1

Delicious as before and I believe even better than five months previous! I think this is a super Cabernet to open now...I have come to realize that the oldest wine I possess is a 2012 and I am committed to not opening wines prematurely @David T 😉!!..so wish me perseverance 🤔..this could mean that Costco and John's Grocery in Iowa City will become fast friends of mine

Additionally...I want to send out an additional Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone..be safe and Enjoy! Thanksgiving this year falls on my rotation to work...I will be @ work assisting people to breathe! — 8 years ago

A. R.

9.0

Along with Allagash Wit, amongst the best US Belgian-style wit beers. Great summer beer, very orangey with a bit of funk. Not sure the puppy agrees. — 9 years ago

Dakota Hewlett

9.2

Straight outta beer city! — 9 years ago

Berg

9.1

The witbier, not pilsner, but once again delectables beer knowledge falls short :) — 10 years ago

with Jason

ESF

8.9

Beach beer — 5 years ago

David Kline

9.4

Black with burnt umber highlights. Low and creamy head springs with bubbles combining to undercut its great form. Fireworks lacing slow falls to leopard spots. Espresso and baker’s chocolate nose boasts licorice and chicory, campfire notes and vanilla. Palate shows none of the sweet elements of the nose initially. Instead, pipe tobacco and unsweetened bitter chocolate, the chicory and burnt toast prevail; a burnt tips taste lingering. Baked pecan, dark caramel, black pepper, and ethiopean coffee, with black chewing tobacco and vanilla bean complete the circuit. Power and restraint, in this lovely offering. This really did set the standard. #samuelsmiths #samuelsmitholdbrewery #tadcaster #NYorks #imperialstout #stout #englishstout #beer #classicbeer #bier #biere #birra #cerveza #cerveja #britbeer #britannia #ukberr #ukstout #britishbeer #britishstout — 6 years ago

with Courtney

Trixie

9.1

A beautiful seasonal beer from Brossard, Quebec (Canada).

We visited Quebec City 5 years ago and were impressed by their culture, food and drink.

Red lager brewed with spices. Flavours of gingerbread, candied fruit, vanilla, oak and balsam.

The little rocker figurine is my favourite J-Rocker Hideto 🎸 Matsumoto (or hide - pronounced hee-day) from the band [X-Japan].

He was a Christmas gift from our youngest daughter. 🥰

•10.5% ABV• January 3, 2019. — 6 years ago

Paul H

8.9

Mid nineties in Havana calls for a cold beer. Rather tasty and hit the spot. Want to cheers all the wonderful people we met and wish them the best. We were lucky to make it to this beautiful city the week before the new sanctions went into effect. Hopefully it will be short so the good people of Cuba don’t suffer too much. — 7 years ago

Todd Caniglia

9.0

City Beer now has Sake — 9 years ago

with Joy

Aaron Tan

9.0

Hmmm. Interesting. Not my kind of drink, but it offers complexity. Great with fried chicken 😋 B&S write-up:

This oddity of a kriek beer is rare indeed, for not only is it from one of Flanders’ original lambic breweries, it’s also made from a near-extinct sour cherry from the town of Schaerbeek. Historically nicknamed the “city of donkeys”, as donkey-drawn carts used to transport this rare Belgian varietal of sour Morello cherries, the prized fruit contains a level of depth, power and concentrated tartness which is about as close to an expression of terroir as you can find in beer.

Here, 25% old lambic beer is blended with 75% young lambic beer (made with whole handpicked Schaerbeekse cherries), before conditioning in bottle. It’s a rather straightforward process but proves to be genius – bold notes of dark berries, cherries, citrus, earth and almonds are just the beginning with this captivating offering – pour it into a big wine glass for a special taste of oude school authenticity. — 9 years ago

Chris

9.3

Local San Diego beer for Christmas Eve. Chocolate, coffee, good. — 10 years ago