romo

9.1

Too young, but the talent shows. — 5 months ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.2

Worried it might be a little natty for my taste at first but the funk blows off quickly to reveal a fragrant & expressive wine—orange peel, orange blossom, fennel pollen, pumpkin and a gorgeous salinity.

It’s a wine that really sings with seafood. Had it with Provençal Cod with olives and fennel.

Her winemaking talent really shines in the texture—particularly the finish. Definitely a lot of skin contact here, but the tannins are elegant and the finish is crisp, salty and refreshing —no graininess or bitterness.

Like Stanley Tucci says to Arianna, “I could bathe in this wine” — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

I was really excited to drink some Clape with some age and this showed really well against younger talent. It was was a bit more nuanced than the younger Clape but was still well endowed with fruit. Lots of life left. — 4 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; consumed over three days. Initially this came across quite polished and pretty straight down the middle for Rioja. On the third day, this became rather fascinating with dark cherries, cumin, leather and spices. On the palate, this was rich and juicy with Asian spices and a super savory finish. This is a newer project from the talent behind Remelluri and if this bottle is representative, count me as a believer! Bottle No. 09253 — 6 years ago

Colin Wright

9.5

Invited this Somm 3 movie star to dinner and it definitely didn’t disappoint. It is Burgundy in California, and like Tom Hardy in Hollywood, it has plenty of talent. Cherries and raspberries with violet and a subtle earth, finely balanced in the mouth. Trying not to finish it before the coq au vin is done, ask @Lyn Farmer for a solid coq au vin story. — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

Very tightly wound right now. I'm not certain how anyone can rate this wine correctly right now but for me this one is a 93/94 right now. Powerful, dense, dark baking chocolate, blackberry cassis with a lot of pepper and a lot of tannin on the finish. 100% tuxedo, but with a very stiff tannic finish. Full bodied wine without a doubt. This one has the makings of a 96/97 in probably 10 years, but I do think that quite a bit of this wine was masked in the tannin which wasn't all that off-putting. For those who like to drink them really young and don't mind the tannic 'iron curtain' shutting down the show, this one is probably a 98 right NOW and it truly is an excellent display of the power of St. Helena and the talent of Melka. Would love to own one of these so that I could see how it develops over the next 15-20 years. — 8 years ago

with Keith and Benjamin

Jim McCusker

9.3

From their first vintage, this is drinking really well. Probably should have cooled it down a bit - slightly above cellar temp and is a bit cloying - but this is exhibiting some terrific aromatics reminiscent of candied raisins, blackberries, and iodine. Full bodied with nice evolution on the palate (although again, cooler temp would probably have made an enormous difference). Balanced, lingering finish. Pretty sure this is one of the few wines David Jelinek made before he was replaced at Epoch. Too bad: he was a terrific talent. — 9 years ago

with Vanessa

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Château Talbot 2023 – Saint-Julien, Grand Cru Classé en 1855, BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
A youthful yet promising Saint-Julien showing early elegance, fine balance, and clear upward trajectory. The blend delivers freshness, precision, and layered fruit while still carrying a few youthful edges that signal excellent aging potential.

Aromas & Flavors
Red currant, black cherry, raspberry compote, graphite, cedar shavings, crushed herbs, light cocoa dust, subtle floral lift.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with fine-grained tannins, lively acidity, polished mid-palate, slightly angular finish that tightens at the end, a clear marker of youth and future integration potential.

Food Pairings
Herb-roasted chicken, duck breast, pork tenderloin, grilled mushrooms, mild aged cheeses (Tomme, young Comté).

Verdict
A high-quality, early-showing Saint-Julien that already flashes elegance and balance, but will benefit significantly from a few years of cellaring to soften edges and broaden complexity.

🍷 Personal Pick
The talent is obvious, can be enjoyed now. I’d happily cellar this and come back when smooths out a bit more and when aromatics stretch their legs. — 5 months ago

C. Cole

9.2

First WS Zinfandel, and it was wonderful! Dark berries and a velvety texture from the first sip, and it continue to open throughout the meal. Such a pleasure to experience Cabral’s talent with another varietal. — 3 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.5

Man this is old school.

Needs at least an hour to open even at 12 years.

Nose is pure cherry. Cherry cough syrup. Spice. Intoxicating.

Palate is gorgeous elegant cherry spice. Perfect texture. A hint of bitterness to round it all out.

Amazing finish.

Wow. Great burgundy.

Talent can be great for a day. As this is. Greatness requires persistence. — 4 years ago

Natassia

8.9

I shall be the first to rate the 2016 vintage.. I find this Chardonnay to be almost perfect. I am usually not a fan of chards but Trefethen has the talent to make it palatable for every drinker. It has a marshmallow touch to it, light golden color, apricot on the nose and slightly lemony on the back of the tongue and tingly at the very top. — 6 years ago

with nachobiz

Zoe Neuschatz

10

At talent connect — 8 years ago

Clare Kydd

9.1

The aroma has a woody complexity with a hint of strong berries. Fantastic wine along side of mushroom risotto. Being brought up from Marlborough, this wine highly shows the true talent and sophistication of the natural beauties of the region. — 8 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.4

Luminous medium-dark red. The captivating nose combines sour red cherry, violet, coconut, tobacco, minerals and a hint of white pepper. Densely packed and youthful but very fresh and lively; this already boasts a silky texture and considerable early appeal owing to its noteworthy sweetness of fruit. Subtle notes of red berries, herbs, graphite and flowers carry through into the rising, very long, vibrant finish. A knockout Brunello that further confirms winemaker Cecilia Leoneschi’s talent at making exceptionally good, very classic Brunellos. I can think of very few wines in all of Italy that have improved more than Castiglion del Bosco’s over the last decade. Well done. (Ian D'Agata, Vinous, April 2018) — 8 years ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Opened the day before with half the bottle remaining. The 2007 CdR Villages pours a deep purple color with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated dark brambles, red and purple flowers, open pasture land, olives, some black pepper, leather and organic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+. This is an impressive wine despite the rather modest designation, especially when you consider it’s nearly 18 years old! Then again, the talent behind this wine should yield a solid wine (Pegau & Cailloux). Drink now though it could easily see its 25th birthday if you must hold one longer. — a year ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.6

Nice 👍🏼
Dark Web info

Château La Louvière has many fascinating facets. The sumptuous architecture of the château building dates from the late 18th century, but winegrowing here goes back more than 700 years. The first vines were planted circa 1310, although modern winemaking dates from the 17th century and was handed down by able monks from the Carthusian monastery in Bordeaux, who had acquired considerable talent as viticulturists and winemakers. The people who produce the wine in the 21st century have inherited these time-honoured methods, adding just the right amount of innovation and modernity to make the utmost of the outstanding terroir. La Louvière's red wine has a dark colour and an elegant bouquet with delicate hints of oak...

— 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.5

A complete smoke show and unanimously the star of the flight. It’s no wonder the demand for these wines have skyrocketed. They are singular expressions with unmatched purity and character. The visual, nose and palate effortlessly command attention. Aromas and flavors unique from anything else in the Southern Rhône. The experience is a bit like going to a Billie Eilish concert with only basic knowledge of her music or persona, only to leave in awe because you just witnessed a once in a generation talent doing something undeniably special. Like Billie, a wine of character, authenticity and showmanship. — 4 years ago

Mike Beltran

9.1

After 90 minutes this blossoms into a wonderful medium bodied aged Zinfandel from a legend of Sonoma wine making. Joe loved wine and was a perfectionist in his wine making. 42years later this shows his talent and skill. A delight to drink and savor. — 8 years ago

with Joe

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

Stunning nose. Light color for a 15. Big big cherries. Licorice, sweet yet earthy. On point. Wafting. Almost a citrus element as well. Gorgeous. Sappy, sweet with an overflow of pure bursting berry/cherry fruit and lithe tannins. Ethereal. What a talent this guy is. — 8 years ago

Mike Davila

9.5

No detailed notes but this was in a nice place flavor/finish wise. Drinking nicely but still can easily make it at least another 3-5 years, possibly longer. Certainly one of my favorite winemakers John is both a nice guy and showcases his talent excelling with the Rhône varieties as a trailblazer. Bravo! — 8 years ago