Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I’ve had better Napa Cabernets, but not many. From magnum.

This is elegance refined.

Black currants, black berries, black raspberries, both plums into pudding, black cherries, strawberries, raspberry hues, mid berry cola/licorice, mocha powder, dark chocolate brownies, layered baking spices, soft spices w/ a bit of a punch, caramel, anise to black licorice, dry tobacco & used leather, dry crushed rocks, cedar, dry herbs, touch of eucalyptus, dark withering to candied flowers, grand, round acidity, lush, round, balanced, knitted, elegant, smartly polished finish that last minutes and falls on malt ball, softened earth & spice.

Minus a point for a hint of bandaid on the nose that didn’t affect the palate. — 7 months ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.5

Nice Wednesday keto bottle, with some pesto topped barramundi
K&L notes,

This Champagne is composed of juice from all old vine Grand Cru grapes on property that used to belong to Krug right in the Cotes de Blanc… so you know they’re working with great land and great fruit. The nose is earthy, almost a little sandy toned, but there’s also good fresh fruit here with scents of citrus peel and Golden Delicious apples. The mouthfeel is soft and supple with a great apple/pear balance that becomes more intense in fruitiness and even borders on tropical flavors before coming to a gradual vanilla finish. — 5 years ago

Lisa Saenz

9.7

Super Shiraz, lively flavors — 6 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.4

A spicy meat a ball — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

One thing I enjoy about Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is their style. They make much better wines than a number of years back. After changing Winemakers, they continue to excel. However, their style has remained intact despite changes.

Chase Creek is normally a member only allocated wine but, I imagine some members have purchased a few bottles.

The nose reveals; used expresso grounds, dark currants, blackberries, dark slightly sour cherries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, haunting blue fruits, steeped tea, limestone minerals, anise, leather, fresh tobacco, cedar, pronounced herbaceous notes, rich, black turned, earth with dry leaves, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, dark withering flowers, fresh blue florals with violets.

The body is full and rich. The tannins just getting to nicely resolved with gritty, dusty and tarry stickiness. The big structure, good tension, length and nice balance are just nudging towards its peak. Used expresso grounds, dark currants, blackberries, dark slightly sour cherries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, a little more blue fruits than the nose, steeped tea, limestone minerals, dry underbrush, anise, dark sweet tarriness, leather, fresh tobacco, cedar, pronounced herbaceous notes, dark asian spices, rich, black, turned, earth with dry leaves, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, mocha powder, caramel, dark withering flowers, fresh blue florals with violets. The acidity is good but, not great. The long finish is big, bold, dark, elegant, well balanced fruit & earth and persistent for several minutes.

This will continue to improve over the next 7–10 years.

Photos of, their newer tasting room and Estate vines, their spotless cellar with the swinging pendulum ball that doesn’t stop, newer tasting room and their Fay Vineyard.
— 7 years ago

Allison Lyzenga

9.4

Medium garnet; medium intensity aromas of cherry, red currant, pomegranate, hot spring, beach ball; developing; dry, medium plus acid, medium plus tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, medium intensity flavors of bitter cherry stone, red currant, black plum skin, very little fruit, mostly mineral, medium plus finish; excellent — 8 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; consumed over an hour. The 2018 Nostros Blend is an interesting combination of Rhône varieties. A GSM with a touch of Roussanne. The wine pours a deep garnet color with medium+ viscosity; faint staining of tears. On the nose, a combination of ripe and stewed red, black and blue fruits, oiled leather ball glove, black pepper, olive tapenade, salmiakki, tomato leaf, dry rocky minerals and just a hint of warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium (+?) tannin, medium acid. Alcohol is medium + but comes across a touch hot. Finish is long and spicy. My favorite red so far from Manousakis. Should drink well through the end of the decade. I can sense Laurence Féraud’s hand on this ❤️ — 3 years ago

Paul Secombe

9.4

Sadly the last bottle.. simply superb. Peppermint, black berries, plums rolled into a ball that rolls across the palate — 4 years ago

Ira Schwartz

9.3

A very complete nose of brioche, citrus and apple pie. In the mouth air is needed to really give this a chance to strut its stuff. Prominent but not overwhelming acid at first but an hour of air makes this as round as a beach ball. The palate starts to duplicate the nose with an hour or so of time. Another positive ‘08 champagne ,with upside from here. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Certainly a very good Napa producer that still largely flies under the radar. This is delicious.

The nose is a 95. Ruby currants & cassis, dark chocolate wrapped in bright & withering dark, purple, red flowers laid on violets with baking & dark Middle Eastern spices dashed on top. Boysenberries, mulberries, slightly, candied & ruby raspberries, black raspberries, baked, black plum, strawberries on the high nose, star anise, black licorice, mocha, caramel, limestone, dry sage, thyme, touch of rosemary, dry top soil, black, rich earth, slightly moist clay with light notes of dark berry cola & dark fruit roll-ups.

The palate is; round, ripe, lush, juicy and simply delicious. The round tannins are; slightly tarry, meaty with cocoa powder. This is a good check on the 12 which, is still ascending. The structure & tension are just get to their good drinking point. The length & balance are really good with better things ahead. She is an elegant beauty. This has another 15 plus years of good drinking ahead of it. However, the 12 vintage has always drunk well young. Dark cassis & currants, boysenberries, mulberries, slightly, candied & ruby raspberries, black raspberries, baked, black plum, strawberries, star anise, black licorice, mocha, melted caramel, dark spices with lots of palate heat, vanillin, clove, nutmeg, light cinnamon, limestone, dry sage, thyme, touch of rosemary, dry tobacco, wood shavings, graphite, dry underbrush, dry top soil, black, rich earth, slightly moist clay with light notes of dark berry cola & dark fruit roll-ups. The acidity is round, voluptuous & holds the slightly elevated alcohol level. The finish is all you want in a wine; ripe, ruby, juicy, balanced with warm earthiness that slides into spices that persist endlessly.

Photos of; the rotating waterfall/ball as viewed from their amazing terrace patio, the Estate with their signature windmill, tasting room and kitchen and their patio with views of the Estate and valley floor. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Chardonnay pairing with Saffron Fettucine with Saffron Cream, Pancetta,
Summer Corn, Parsley and Pecorino Romano.

Green apple, juicy pineapple flesh, green melon, cream, butter, light honey notes, some lime candy, rich, waxy and well polished. One of a handful of CA Chardonnay’s I enjoy because of their light wood influence. At steal at $36 member price.

Not the best pair I’ve had but, it worked ok.

Photos of, their terrace view, Saffron Fettucine with Saffron Cream, Pancetta, Summer Corn, Parsley and Pecorino Romano, the rotating ball waterfall and hand blown glass that decorated their cellar halls.
— 8 years ago

Hema Reddy

9.0

Much smoother and heavier than expected. Highly recommend! — 8 years ago

Steven Lee

9.5

Friend house warming. Recent discovery of cabernet blend in beechworth is pretty good. Vanilla and chalky mineral. Abit of white paper feel. there is also some blue fruit and floral taste like pomerol. Quite smooth and elegant but still got some background bitter taste. Plum sweet — 4 years ago

Bill Mowry

9.1

87% Merlot along with Cab, Petite Sirah, and a touch of Malbec. Strawberries, boysenberries, and chocolate. — 4 years ago

Laz Ryan Lackner

9.2

An excellent Caymus wine if you want to ball on a budget. — 6 years ago

Jeff Ball

9.1

The name’s Ball... Jeff Ball and I found this champagne to have quite a bit of yeast and some caramel on the nose and palate. It was surprisingly syrupy as well. — 6 years ago

Scott Petrus

8.9

Hugely underrated. Soft and elegant this is the belle of the ball. — 7 years ago

Chantelle M

9.0

Drank with Alma and Chris and Ken and Selena. 15.99 from Ball Square. — 8 years ago

Sylvain Rhainds

9.1

2015. Direct du producteur. Un Riesling très différent des normes. — 8 years ago

M F

8.9

Tasted at TW wine tasting. Delicious. Smooth Nicely blended and aged.
Good accompanying beef dill cutlets and cucumber arugula dill salad. — 8 years ago