Michelle Sakowicz

8.9

Light, bubbly and refreshing. Good stuff me option with more melon, lightly sweetened and smooth bubbly — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Birthed the year we were married and one of the more stunning producers we learned to embraced.

Love you endlessly Sofia! ❤️

Just picked when we were married & likely still in tank.

I can’t tell you enough how much you need to find a well aged & stored bottle. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

#Remembrance #Love 6/25.

Sofia loved Penguins. We played w/ them in Dubai and she also skied indoor while I had a spot of Champagne and watched from a very big window. Only in Dubai. They have to build things of that nature…cus w/o them…just a bunch of sand. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Many of you that see my posts know I don’t open a Napa Cabernet this young. However, this was selling at my Costco for $69.99. K&L Wine Merchants $99.99. Delectable at $115. So, I had to buy a four. I coravined this bottle for a Somm friend last weekend who likes his Napa reds young. 🤷‍♂️

While this has seen a bit of bottle evolution, it still needs another 6-8 yrs before I open another and has the potential to pick up another point or two then.

Nose shows; brambly blackberries, stewy black plum, black raspberries, darkest cherries, boysenberries and strawberries off the glass edges. Dry tobacco, leather, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon notes, vanilla, anise, dark, rich, turned earth and withering, dark, slightly candied flowers.

The palate expresses some evolution. It is rich, ripe; brambly blackberries, stewy black plum, black raspberries, darkest cherries, boysenberries, hints of blueberries and strawberries off the glass edges. Tarry, dry medium plus tannins. Dry tobacco, leather, dark spice with a touch of heat, mixed darker berry cola, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon notes, vanilla, black tea, anise, mixed fresh & drier herbs, dark, rich, turned earth, barrel shavings/dust, a hint of black pepper, moist, grey clay, dry top soil, dry river stone and withering, dark, red, slightly candied flowers with violets, very round, phat acidity with a well; balanced, big structured, tensioned, lush, elegant and nicely layered & polished finish that lasts a full 90 seconds. Still kind of in its primary stage.

This is made by Chris Carpenter who also makes; Lokoya, Cardinale, La Jota, Hickinbotham (Australia) made at Yangarra. Sofia & I tasted at Yangarra and after tasted his Hickinbotham with him in 2017.

Photos of; staff picking on Mount Veeder, Chris Carpenter in the cellar and scenic shot of Mount Veeder. — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I bought this as Sofia & I visited the property in September of 2015 when this was being birthed. I meant to enjoy it on her birthday a while back but ended up in the ER from food poisoning I had at a restaurant. Ugly for a week.

Franciacorta is Italy’s sparkling region much like Champagne is to France. It is very near to the Italian summer hot spot, Lake Garda.

The body on this is beautiful, rich, almost fluffy with tiny beads. Starts with lemon chiffons, green apple, grapefruit, yellow melons, some lime notes, white cream, dry herbs, white spice, slightly moist, powdery to crushed chalkiness, saline, yellow & white flowers, perfect acidity and a well made, knitted, beautiful balanced & tensioned, elegant finished that lasts two-minute that falls on minerality.

Annamaria Clementi Reserve is tribute to the founder, Maurizio Zanella’s mother and made in only the very best of years.

It is a blend of; 82% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Nero & 3% Pinot Bianco. 6 months is small oak casks, 63 mg of sulfur dioxide per L. Zero dosage and 13% alcohol.

Happy belated birthday honey! — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

#Remembrance #Love 6/25

Sofia’s favorite producer of Pinot Noir.

Her picking the Merlot at Chateau Mouton Rothschild in 2012. If your 12 Mouton Rothschild is better than expected, you’ll know why.

My favorite picture of Sofia. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Amazing pair w/ my Braised Short Ribs. Savory meets savory fruits.

Photos of; Pierre, staff and Sofia & I in La Landonne Vineyard, the process of Short Ribs.

The one mineral you see in this vineyard with some prevalence that I’ve not seen in others is quartz. — 2 years ago

Jose Lorenzo

9.9

Damn near perfection. Stone fruit, acidity throughout, lingering elegance. I’ve never cheated on Sofia but drinking this makes me feel like I am. Cheers boys and girls. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

#Remembrance #Love 6/25

One of our special stops in Maipo, Chile.

The day we visited, they had just received & were using their basic bottle labeling machine. They were elated to no longer have to do it by hand. 2018.

49% Carmenere, 42.5% Cabernet & 8.5% Syrah.

Picture of Sofia in Nefertiti’s Tomb. The top of Sofia’s bucket list.

The fruits are ripe and dryish; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with big skin, plum pudding, darkest cherries & strawberries hues, creamy raspberries. Dark chocolate w/ fudge frosting, caramel, mocha, deep, dark spices w/ some palate heat, moist, forest floor with dry leaves, clove, nutmeg, soft cinnamon stick, vanillin, black tea, black licorice, dry river stone, moist, grey, volcanic clay, limestone & dry crushed rock minerals, dry top soil, some black pepper, dry tobacco & chewy leather, oak wood shavings, dry, withering & candied flowers, excellent, round acidity with a ruby, fresh, round, well; tensioned, balanced, knitted, smartly polished finish that lasts minutes.

Still has 10-15 years of good life ahead.

It was Bordeaux that first embraced Carmenere and the only Chateau that I know that still blends it is Clerc Milon…only about 2-3%. Chile champions Carmenere now.

Photos; Sofia & I tasted on top of that structured & their barrel room. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

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. — 2 years ago