We were suppose to be in Napa this weekend. Sadly, no one should be in Napa/Sonoma except Firefighters and first responders. However in lieu of; the Sodhani party, appointments at Beau Vinge, Mark Herold & a steak at Cole’s Chop House, what the next best thing? #STEAKANDCLARETNIGHT at home in the backyard. This 86 was amazing with my ribeye. The kind of pleasure that causes great pause and rolls the eyes a bit. On the nose; menthol, eucalyptus, dry herbs, soft ripe blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries, baked plum, perfectly stated baking spices, stones, soft unstated spice, clay, rich dark earth, touch of black cherry cola and fresh & dark florals. The palate is heaven as it coats. The body medium full, layered and the tannins are nicely resolved but not completely...still a fair amount of life in this bottle. I’d say it’s still around it’s peak. The fruits are ripe and still fresh. Blackberries, baked plum, dark cherries, strawberries, dry cranberries, hues of blueberries, black cherry cola, sweet darker spice, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, dark rich earth, dry stones, tobacco, suede leather, dry clay, menthol, eucalyptus, touch of dry herbs, fresh & dry dark flowers, beautiful, round acidity, perfect 12.5% alcohol and a long, even, elegantly balanced with beautiful structure, tension & length that’s lasts two minutes. It’s in a really excellent spot. 9.6 with the ribeye and 9.4 on it’s own. Photos of; an aerial shot of Chateau Canon, owners Alain and Gerard Wertheimer who made their first big money on Chanel, own Rauzan-Segla and are worth just under a paltry 10 billion, their barrel room and their Saint-Emilion vineyard. Producer notes and history...Chateau Canon is a premier cru with a history of fine vintages. This Saint-Emilion property has long been recognised as one of the best in the appellation. It is believed that Canon was named after Jacques Kanon, the naval officer who bought estate in 1760. He built the château here and surrounded it with plantings solely of vines...a rare agricultural practice at the time. However, he then sold the estate to a Bordeaux négociant just ten years later. In 1919 it was purchased by the Fournier family, who owned the property until 1996. When they sold it to the Wertheimer family, owners of Chanel and of Rauzan-Ségla in Margaux it unfortunately had some serious problems. The cellars were contaminated with TCA, the chemical compound which causes cork taint. Many of the vines were infected by viruses and in need of being replaced. As well, part of the vineyard above the quarried cellars had subsided. Fortunately the Wertheimers had the money to fix these issues and a manager, John Kolasa with the skills. The first decade of the 21st century saw Canon begin to regain its reputation once John Kolasa retired and Nicolas Audebert at Rauzan-Ségla took over. The substantial estate covers 22 hectares on Saint-Emilion’s famous limestone plateau close to the town. The vines have an average age of 25 years and are generally planted with a southerly or south-westerly exposure. 75% of the vines are Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. After the grapes are hand-picked, they are fermented in traditional cone-shaped vats, before spending 18 months ageing in oak barrels, 50% new and 50% used. — 9 years ago


Serious napa cab. This could go for a while, I guessed a nice napa cab from like 2017 or so. But this is still fresh and wonderful but that fun sweet red earth napa cab vibe. This makes me regain some confidence in napa again. Despite all the madness that happens there (and ludicrous prices) there is a real reason for good wine. Not just big oak and wine manipulation. I really enjoyed this, man if napa was more like this maybe I would buy it more... — 5 years ago
Love the Pascal Kerbiquet. I've had the "Regain" so figured I should try the regular Pouilly Fumé. It is bright, chalky (in a good way) and almost floral. Green and light and the acidity makes it pair well even with the artichokes and asparagus I'm eating. I'm a fan. — 9 years ago


Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7
I only see this available in New York
Excellent, medium body, semi strong. Very flavourful. No additives. Had at Regain in Marseille. Small winery in Aix en Provence. Passage 2021 — 2 years ago
White blend. Nose of peach and white flowers. Very delicate yet ample palate with a subtle sweet dimension. Peach again, lime. Moderately long finish. — 9 years ago
Crisp lemon and lime with green apple combined with guava and Mellon notes with a saline finish. Full bodied and almost oily on the palate. Golden yellow. Nice complexity. — 12 years ago
JKT
A JR selection that aged well. Nice white floral notes underlined by steely acidic accents carrying into a firm texture and bite into the finish. — 3 months ago