Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The first thing I would say about the bottle is if served blind, most…including me would not gravitate to St.Emilion. Some might go Napa Cabernet here it is so ripe. I think it rides the fence of 65% Napa Cabernet & 35% Pauillac.

The second thing I would say it definitely shows the beauty of the 2009 vintage. This will be even more amazing in 8-10 yrs.

This is as ripe of a Bordeaux that I’ve had since the 2003 vintage. Maybe, more so at least here.

M+ velvety yet chunky tannins. Ripe, lush, ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, black cherries, blueberries, boysenberries, strawberries, sweet tarriness, black licorice, baking spices, dry tobacco, lead pencil shavings. Leather, dark cola, dark chocolate baking bar, dry top soils, limestone, dark rich earth, river stone pebbles, touch of black pepper, oak barrel shavings, dry tea leaves, hint of mint, mix of fresh, candied & withering; dark, red, blue flowers framed in liquid violets & lavender, round acidity with balance, nice structure & tension, lush elegance for days and lands on fruits & earthiness lasting two-minutes.

These are not easy notes on a turbulent EK226. — 9 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Alsace rides the fence of German & New World Rieslings.

Good with my spicy Asian Lettuce Wraps. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This small Calistoga producer falls largely under the radar. I am thankful. The 12 vintage brings such fruit. However, this 12 Sisters rides the fence of 12 & 13. Shows dark currents, concreted mouthfeel in addition to its ripe, rich opulence.

The nose ascends with rich dark, purple, blue fruits, dark spice, violets framed in lavender for days.

The palate is ripe, ruby, lush, concentrated fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, boysenberries, very dark cherries, creamy raspberries, in & out strawberries & blueberries. Big, heated, dark spice-box, round, meaty, sweet tannins cigar ash, led pencil, tarriness, anise, moist, fresh tobacco, black licorice & cola, dark, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanilla, rich soil w/ dry leaves, dry, crush rocks/limestone, dry herbs-bay leaves, sage, parsley, notes of eucalyptus bark shavings, tree bark w/ hints of sap, touch of black sandalwood to barrel shavings, pepper, moist, volcanic clay, fresh & withering; dark, purple, red, blue floral bouquet framed in violets & lavender, excellent acidity with a lush, rich, big, round & meaty structure, still shows great tension, well balanced with endless polish & finish. 10 years of life ahead…properly stored. Wine post 4,600.

Such a deal at the Benchmark Bin Sale. @Paul T- Huntington Beach if you find any of this, just tell me about em, don’t buy em. 😂🤥 — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I may sound like a broken record but these cuvées from Williams Selyem don’t really produce magic until they have 10 years+ in bottle. Tonight this 2009 Sonoma Coast is magic w/ the grilled marinaded “Bulgogi Pork.”

The cork like a new bottling. Nothing running down the sides.

The wine glides magnificently onto the palate. It has another 7-10 yrs stored well.

It is wine candy w/o the heavy candy. Ripe & glorious. It rides the fence of good red burgundy & Ca Pinot.

The fruits are perfectly ripe; dark cherries, black raspberries, blackberries, cooked strawberries, plum w/ subtle blueberries. Mid Asian/Indian spices w/just a touch of of heat, mild baking spices led w/ clove, nutmeg, cinnamon that is near stick, vanillin, very lightly grilled meats, mid dry tobacco, steeped tea, dry herbs, very used leather, dry brush/twigs, far crushed rocks, crumpled limestone, red roses, dark/red just candied flowers framed in violets, grand acidity, balance, well knitted, nicely tensioned/structured elegant finish that goes on and on and lasts minutes falling on dry minerals & spices. — 2 months ago

Brian Hearty

8.9

2018. Bright cherry. Simple but nice acidity to go with some great smoked meat by my coworker Jeff! — 8 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

One of the few CA Chardonnay I enjoy. You can spend more on one, but for under $40, this works really well.

Arnot-Robert’s rides the fence of CA Chardonnay & White Burgundy nicely. Has a bit of Ca Chardonnay backbone with the creamy body of White Burgundy.

Nose does not show much at first. Green apple, pear, lemon, lime. White peach, caramel notes, cardamom, paraffin, cream, yellow & spring flowers.

The body is creamy with nice viscosity. Green apple, pear, lemon, lime. White peach, caramel notes, cardamom, paraffin, cream, very light honey notes, sea spray, light chalkiness, yellow & spring flowers. Excellent round acidity, beautiful, soft structure, well balanced and a pleasant finish.

A couple more years in bottle add a point or two & more complexity. .

A little history from their website. Watson Ranch Vineyard is perched on a steep hillside overlooking the San Pablo Bay at the southernmost end of the Napa Valley. The ranch was named after early Napa attorney, Augustus Watson, who owned the property in the early 1900s. The adjacent property is an abandoned limestone quarry which historically employed over 300 people, mining material to make portland cement used to rebuild San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake. — 2 years ago

Vino Joe

9.7

Stunning expression of Pinot. Layers of complexity. Strawberry and ripe fruit. Wonderful lengthy finish. Top notch. — 4 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

@delectable This is their Barolo Cannubi, not the 1752.

Another producer visit I enjoyed. They opened many older library vintages that day for us.

This example rides the fence of older & more modern styles of Barolo.

Mid exaction & tannins. Shows some restrained brawn, roundness and elegance for such a young Barolo.

WS Grand Tour Las Vegas 2025. — 5 months ago

Randy Fuller

9.2

This wine has barely any color at all, just a very faint yellow-green tint. The nose is nice. There is a slight trace of petrol, which I always love to find in a Riesling. More dominant is a lanolin note which joins a light floral aroma. The palate straddles the fence between dry and sweet, offering up some tasty stone fruit and a savory side marked by gentle spices and a workable acidity. I would like a drier wine better, but I drank this quaff gladly and poured another. — a year ago

Jessica Knickerbocker

9.2

I really like this! My hubby is on the fence about it. Since this is my account, I give it a 9.2 (hubby says 8.9). Strong, dark, and… delicious. — 3 years ago