2/5/2024 - stamperb Does not like this wine:

Nose: sweet cassis, rich milk chocolate. Palate: dark raisin, prickly oak, chemical solvent, warming bitterness, sharp tannins, lacked acidity and overall had a mild oxidized vibe; drank much hotter than even its 14.7% would suggest; surprisingly, there was already quite a bit of sediment in my bottle for a wine with only five or so years under its belt. Day two was similar to day one, but on day three the harshness began to mellow (tannins, oak, bitterness); more fruitiness emerges, namely thick ripe raspberry coulis and blackberry jam. Overall, not really my thing, but if I had more, I would definitely hold for a while.

10/22/2022 - Rsokane wrote:

Meh. Fruit bomb. Smells like acetone and hard to pick up much else. On the palate it’s better and has a very good balance. Medium-plus body. But still grippy. Decently long finish. Drank at St. Martin for Sam’s dad’s birthday.

12/25/2018 - Somm David T Likes this wine:

Happy Australian Christmas!

After bringing this Rockford Black Barossa Sparkling Shiraz back from Australia and holding It for nearly two years as was recommended by their Winemaker, it’s finally ready for Christmas breakfast as is traditional in Australia. What a beauty she has turned out to be! Much softer and intergraded than it was in their tasting room.

It’s hard to find Sparkling Shiraz in the US, let alone a good one!!! This one is quite tasty.

It is a beautiful sunny Christmas morning with Nat King Cole singing, “White Christmas” in the background.

The nose reveals; black currants, blackberries, black plum, olallieberries, mix dark berry liqueur notes, whiff of white and black pepper, saddle-wood, wafting vanillin, soft limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, black licorice, steeped fruit tea, light herbaceous notes, dark withering flowers, violets and a shade of lavender.

The body is full & rich. The fruits are beautifully ripe. The structure, tension, length and balance are finding their way but, will still benefit from a few years in the cellar. It also has a sound tannin structure, which is not found in champagnes and most sparkling wines. Black currants, blackberries, black plum, olallieberries black cherry, plum, mix dark berry liqueur notes, sweet tar, whiff of white and black pepper, dark spice with some palate heat, saddle-wood, a leathery quality, wafting vanillin, soft limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, black licorice, steeped fruit tea, light herbaceous notes, dark withering flowers, violets and a shade of lavender. The acidity is round and well executed. The well polished finish is a nice balance of dark fruit & earthiness and is persistent for minutes.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

3/17/2018 - Somm David T Likes this wine:

I’m opening my last bottle of the 03 Larcis Ducasse after recently reading a couple of professional write ups about the wines fruit fading and to drink up. I did not find that to be the case w/ my last bottle. I found the wine to be around it’s peak form with another 5 years plus ahead. On the nose; menthol, eucalyptus, ripe; dark cherries, cherries, blackberries, plum, poached & candied strawberries, notes of blue fruits, black raspberries, cherry cola, touch herbaceous; sage & bay leaf, limestone & rich, moist, black, turned earth, crushed dry rocks, graphite, dry soil/clay with dry & fresh dark florals. The body is medium full. Tannins are 75-80% resolved. The length, structure, tension & balance are right where I’d expect them to be and are quite enjoyable. The palate is very similar to the nose. Menthol, eucalyptus, ripe; dark cherries, cherries, blackberries, plum, poached & candied strawberries, notes of blue fruits, black raspberries, cherry cola, touch herbaceous; sage & bay leaf, limestone & rich, moist, black, turned earth, crushed dry rocks, dry & very grippy, edgy minerals, Montecristo cigar, graphite, dry soil/clay with dry & fresh dark florals. The acidity is lovely and the long finish is well balanced with an even tug of war between fruit & earth with the dry earth dominate on the long set.

6/7/2019 - Somm David T Likes this wine:

I corvined this last weekend and put it back in storage for tonight. I had a very different experience & thoughts on this wine last weekend un-decanted. This is wine comes from a period when I loved Caymus. After 2011 when they started picking later and at higher brix’s, they lost me but, got higher Parker scores and rave words from people that like sweeter Cabernet that drinks young.

Last weekend without a decant, very dominate bright cherries and vanilla.

Tonight, the nose reveals; dark, slightly syrupy currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, creamy, black raspberries, blueberries, black plum with lots of skin dominate, baked strawberries, black licorice, vanilla, some clove and a touch nutmeg, underbrush, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, volcanic minerals, black tea, touch of black coffee expresso, liqueur/dark berry cola, used leather, hints of graphite with ruby, fresh, dark, fresh, dark, red, blue florals with violets.

The body is full, sexy, gorgeous and voluptuous. The structure, tension, length and balance are at the start of its high point with another 7-10 years of good drinking ahead. Dark, slightly syrupy currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, creamy, black raspberries, blueberries, black plum with lots of skin dominating, baked strawberries, black licorice to deep anise, vanilla, some clove and a touch nutmeg, caramel, mocha, dark chocolate, dark spices with just a touch of palate heat, underbrush, used leather, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, volcanic minerals, black tea, touch of black coffee expresso, liqueur/dark berry cola, used leather, hints of graphite with ruby, fresh, dark, fresh, dark, red, blue florals with violets. The acidity is like a needed waterfall shower. The long finish is, deep, dark, well balanced, elegant, ruby, ripe, polished and persists endlessly.

It’s been awhile since I’ve had an older Caymus and I’ve missed it. This is a very good example of why I used to adore Caymus.

4/16/2019 - Somm David T wrote:

Got the Emirates attendant to save my palate and grab me a glass of 09 Dom out of 1st Class.

The Emirates experience is very good overall. The car service pick up is excellent. The comfort in Business Class is quite spacious and comfortable. Service is good. The food was hit or miss depending on what you ordered. Overall, it could be better. Where they really missed; there were no hot towels before meals, wi-fi horrific and the Business Class wine list needs to be much better.

Green apple, slightly bruised Bosc pear, lime candy, light color citrus blend, pineapple, ginger soda, baguette crust, beautiful firm pronounced chalkiness, penetrating grey volcanic minerals, well done acidity and an elegant, rich, well balanced finish that goes on & on.

3/2/2019 - Somm David T Likes this wine:

Dessert last night was a layered, guava, mango, raspberry, passion fruit cheesecake. I did a dual pair with 14 Kobalt Sauvignon Blanc and this 83 Rieussec Sauternes. The 83 won hands down.

The older they are, the darker they get. I’ve seen one nearly black, a 1928 D'yquem a number of years back. A good producer/vintage of Sauternes will out live almost anyone’s life span properly stored. This 35 year old 375ml was no exception to that rule.

The nose reveals; brown sugar, molasses, dried; pineapple, apricots, peaches, nectarines, orange citrus, touch of light colored citrus’s, marmalade, mixed nuts with skin, toffee, caramel, tea notes, soft limestone minerals, gravel with pebbles and dark withering flowers/lilies.

The body is full, rich and gorgeous. The palate is nicely integrated and complex. The fruits are a combination of candies and dried. Brown sugar, raw sugar cane, molasses, dried; pineapple, apricots, peaches, nectarines, mango, prunes & dates. Candied, lemon, lime & grapefruit. Orange citrus, marmalade, honeycomb, mixed nuts with skin, toffee, caramel, Lipton tea notes, soft limestone minerals, gravel with pebbles and dark withering flowers, yellow & orange lilies. The acidity is like a rain shower and the elegant, rich, well balanced and polished finish lingers on your palate and dances mentally in your brain. There is also granulated sugar on the palate. Huge RS!

Producer notes...Rieussec is aged in an average of 50% new, French oak barrels for 18 to 24 months, depending on the character of the vintage. Chateau Rieussec is owned by the Lafite side of the Rothschild family and all their used oak barrels come from Chateau Lafite.

1/20/2019 - Somm David T Likes this wine:

The nose reveals, ruby, ripe, fresh fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, dark plum, loads of purple fruits, black raspberries, black licorice, sweet tarriness, limestone & volcanic minerals, vanilla, caramel, light pepper notes, crush rocks, leather, saddle-wood, whiffs of mint and fresh dark and purple florals.

The body is medium, rich and ruby round. Tannins are round, soft with just a touch of dust. Ruby, ripe, fresh fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, dark plum, cherries, loads of purple fruits, black raspberries, black licorice, more understated sweet tarriness than the nose, limestone & volcanic minerals, vanilla, caramel, light pepper notes, crush rocks, leather, saddle-wood, whiffs of mint and fresh dark and purple florals. The acidy is round and rain shower like. The rich, ripe, ruby, well balanced & polished finish is delicious with good length.

1/20/2019 - Somm David T Likes this wine:

I didn’t get to spend as much time as I would have liked with their 2015 as we were running late to get to our next appointment. I also did not get to write notes on their new 16 Hawk’s Prey.

The 15 is very approachable vs. the 13 & 14. It is less concentrated than the 13 & 14. More fruity. The nose shows more withering florals and red fruits. Dark and slightly baked cherries. Strawberries, black cherries, black raspberries, plum, vanilla, cinnamon, whiffs of clove, leather, limestone minerals, red cola, dry top soil, clay and bright red florals.

The body is full but, less full than the 13 & 14. Tannins softer and more velvety. As well, more bright red fruits. The acidity is also beautiful, it’s elegant and shows more bright red fruit in the finish.

I would have liked to spend a lot more time with their 2015 so I could have written more detailed notes. However, we simply ran out of time.

1/19/2019 - Somm David T Likes this wine:

Beautiful, perfume, florals interwoven with the fruits. Blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, haunting blue fruits, leather, strawberries, cherries and dry cranberries. Understated vanilla, mild clove, light cinnamon, dark rich soils, light graphite, dry crush rocks, fresh tobacco and fresh, dark florals with violets and just a hint of lavender.

What a round, ruby, body with ghostly tannins. It’s all beauty. Blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, haunting blue fruits, leather, strawberries, cherries and dry cranberries. Understated vanilla, medium clove, light cinnamon, some of the most beautiful dark spice I’ve had in a wine, dark rich soils, light graphite, dry crush rocks, dry top soil, fresh tobacco and fresh, dark florals with violets and just a hint of lavender. The acidity is perfect...like a rain shower. The finish is really amazingly balanced, elegant, floral and persistent for minutes. The 2016 Proprietary Blend will stun in 10 years plus in bottle.

12/24/2018 - Somm David T Likes this wine:

Every Christmas Eve and New Years Eve, I open a bottle of Krug Rosé. While their vintage cuvées are phenomenal, I really love their N/V Rosé.

It is delicate all the way around...shows such finesse and balance.

The nose so engaging. Cherry kirsch, strawberries, black raspberries, raspberry, pink grapefruit, tangerine, lean watermelon, light sea spray, soft of the softest most delicate; powdery chalkiness, sea fossils and volcanic minerals, hints of orange citrus rind, just a touch of baguette crust, light spice, fresh red floral and pink rose petals.

The body is rich and full yet feels like a feather on the palate. Super fine micro bubbles. Everything so beautiful, balanced and harmonious. Cherry kirsch, strawberries, black raspberries, raspberry, pink grapefruit, tangerine, blood orange, lean watermelon, peach, light sea spray, some of the softest most delicate; powdery chalkiness, sea fossils and volcanic minerals, hints of orange citrus rind, just a touch of baguette crust, light spice, fresh red floral and pink rose petals. The acidity is as perfect as it gets. The finish is absolutely incredible and persistent for minutes.

This bottle was corked in the summer of 2016. It’s a blend of 57 wines. The oldest is from 2000 and the youngest is from 2008.

I hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas! Cheers!

12/15/2018 - Somm David T Likes this wine:

On the nose, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries and baked strawberries on the glass edges. Smokiness, savory meats, limestone minerals, crushed dry rocks, hints of white & black pepper, dark spices, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, black licorice, bay leaf, used leather, dry tobacco, some graphite, dark rich soils, steeped fruit tea, alcohol vapors, dry stems, dry top soil with blue flowers, violets and lavender.

The body is medium just edging full. Tannins are; round, dusty, tarry and 50% resolved. The length & balance are good but, the tension, structure and body are leaner compared to stronger Napa vintages. This is a somewhat consistent theme I’ve experienced in 2010 Napa Cabernets. The initial mouth entry is good but goes hollow in the mid palate but, comes back on the long set. Ripe & juicy blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries and baked strawberries on the glass edges. Smokiness, savory meats, limestone minerals, crushed dry rocks, hints of white & black pepper, dark spices, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, caramel, mocha powder, black licorice, bay leaf, used leather, dry tobacco, some graphite, dark rich soils, steeped fruit tea, touch of hot alcohol on the palate, dry stems, dry top soil with blue & dark red flowers, violets with lavender. The acidity is quite nice. The long, ripe, juicy, elegant, well balanced finish lasts minutes due to the dark spice as it rests on the palate and brings a little heat.

Cathy was one of first female Winemakers in the Napa Valley. I was told once she was the first. However, having asked her, she said, “no.” She certainly was either the second or the third though.