Somm David T 
Vietti
Brunate Barolo Nebbiolo 2020
Enjoyed this quite a bit. It appears that the new generation of Barolo Winemakers are creating softer, less extracted Barolo’s with less new wood.
Old style’s are; big, bold, well extracted and see lots of time in new oak. Examples that need 10 plus years in bottle to calm and enjoy.
Generally, many of today’s younger consumers of wine lack the interest of collecting and long cellaring wine.
Half of the examples poured this night & recent new Barolo vintages demonstrate a generation of Winemakers understanding the new consumer wine market.
WS Grand Tour Las Vegas 2025. — 23 days ago
Viña Montes
Purple Angel Carménère 2021
Respectable Chilean producer. Pleasant. 92% Carménère and 8% Petit Verdot.
WS Grand Tour Las Vegas 2025. — 24 days ago
Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga
Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend 2005
This was bloody marvelous last night at dinner.
18 years in bottle and it was singing. Perfect condition & around the top of its bell curve.
I have had now many older vintages of Felsina and have yet to be disappointed by any of them. One of the very best & consistent producers in Chianti.
Think I recently (6 months ago) paid $35 for this 05. Extremely great value. — 21 days ago
Marchesi di Barolo
Cannubi Barolo Nebbiolo 2019
This is a well made very classical style. It is well extracted, bold, round some nice integration and elegance.
Like to try this in another 7-8 plus years.
WS Grand Tour Las Vegas 2025. — 23 days ago
Very nice indeed!
Hall Wines
Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
This 18 showed some nice evolution. Starting to round out and show its elegance.
I have generally been impressed with the quality of wines from Hall. Especially, given the number of bottling’s they produce.
WS Grand Tour Las Vegas 2025. — 23 days ago
Bodegas Muga
Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2020
Another good visit I’ve had. It is adjacent to Lopez de Heredia. You can walk between in about a minute.
This is a good strand producer in Tempranillo from Rioja. Consistent good to very good quality yr in yr out.
The 2020 shows good quality but like always needs 8-10 years in bottle to show its beauty and elegance.
WS Grand Tour Las Vegas 2025 — 23 days ago
Bodegas El Nido
El Nido Jumilla Cabernet Sauvignon Monastrell 2021
Chris Ringland is their Wine Consultant. Chris is landing there this week to blend the new vintage.
I like this bottling for its quality & price point. Although the ABV is rising (15.5%), it really doesn’t show it.
The 21 is well made but needs another 7-8 yrs in bottle to reveal its better self.
WS Grand Tour Las Vegas 2025 — 23 days ago
Damilano
Cannubi Barolo Nebbiolo 2020
@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. — 23 days ago
Château Lascombes
Margaux Merlot Blend 2022
This producer ebbs and flows in the vintages. 2022 not a great year for them. Approachable now to a degree.
A Bordeaux to drink sooner while you wait on other more long in the tooth.
Surprisingly, the only Chateau in the event.
WS Grand Tour Las Vegas 2025. — 24 days ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
When Caymus was Caymus!!!
It is good to remember the style of wine Chuck used to make. His wine from 2011 backwards. The wine I used to collect. I refer to this now as Caymus Classic. I have requested they make this style again every time I see a Caymus representative. Just 500 cases by simply picking earlier at lower brix and applying past winemaking. They under estimate how fast those cases would sellout.
I get they made a business decision to make a sweeter wine that will drink easier young. They get better critic scores and sell to a larger customer base. A customer base that generally drinks it like supermarket buyers…within the first two weeks of purchase.
Of course, 1997 was an epic vintage in Napa and this 97 bought weeks ago has been well stored and in perfect condition. I miss this wine as it has so much more character than their 2012 vintage & forward. So do many former Caymus collectors.
The nose reveals, bright, ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries that are just starting to reveal some liqueur notes, raspberries, strawberries & plum. Sandalwood, old, dry tobacco, baking soda, mid berry cola/licorice, some light graphite, dark spice, dry stems, decayed red flowers, red roses and violets.
The palate is exquisite. It is all beauty with nothing bitty or angular. Ripe, juicy, lush; blackberries, cassis, black raspberries, dark cherries with hints of some liqueur notes, raspberries, strawberries, mulberries as it unfurls & plum. Sandalwood, old, dry tobacco with ash, baking soda, mid berry cola/licorice, some light graphite, perfect dark spice with some tongue heat, mocha, dark chocolate baking bar, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg & hints of vanillin, dry herbs, baking soda, dry limestone powder, top soil with pebbles, slightly moist volcanic clay, dry stems, decayed red flowers, red roses and violets, excellent, rainfall acidity and an elegant, balanced, nicely tensioned & structured, polished finish that last two-minutes and lands on spice & gentle earthy tones. I miss their distinct spice. Glorious!!!
This bottle is somewhere on the other side of the bell curve and still singing. Still very sound. It won’t improve and recommend if you own, drink them sooner than later but certainly not a rush.
88% Cabernet, 10% Merlot & 2% Cabernet Franc. 25.95% Paladins, Skruggs, Wright-St. Helena. 52.15% Caymus Estate, Glos, Usibelli-Rutherford, 15.84% Sciambra-Atlas Peak, 6.06% Tambor Vineyards-Mt. Veeder.
Photos of: Caymus tasting room, tasting room courtyard, owner Chuck Wagner and vineyard. — 8 hours ago