Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I have posted notes on many Williams Selyem Pinots, but only my second from their Calegari Vineyard.

I have claimed tirelessly that WS is one of the very top Ca Pinots Noir producers. However, they aren’t until they have this kind of age and older. When enjoyed young, they are good but not brilliant. Like now! It takes cellaring to get there.

I haven’t tasted any of the vintages since Domaine Faiveley bought and took over and started making them in June 2024. Although, they carried forward some of the WS staff as consultants. My hope is they won’t change the style drastically. They are a red burgundy producer and I enjoy their burgundies with the same age. So…🤞

2011 was critically acclaimed not good for Cabernets, but think they flushed out better with age than young. Pinots from 2011, for me, have never been an issue.

The nose is; dark to mid berry fruits, brambly, tree sap, grilled meats- pork, hint of smoke, moist herbs, cola & dark to red excellent florals.

The palate is ripe, lush, brambly dark fruits. There is a dark core of them surrounded by dry twig, dark chocolate & mocha powder. There is some velvety tannin profile here. Blackberries, black raspberries, black plum to pudding, black cherries, poached to slightly baked strawberries with pomegranate, blueberry hues with haunting raspberries. Shades of eucalyptus, tree sap, smoke, grilled meats, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, dark mid spices w/ some heat, anise crawling to black licorice, mid berry cola, warm, muddy, grey clay, limestone marl, volcanics, dry river stone, dry, crush rocks, dry top soil, tumble weed, dry tobacco w/ ash, soft, used leather, just a hint of lead pencil, iron pan, fresh to withering; dark, red, blue florals with violets and a touch of lavender, excellent, rainfall acidity with a well; knitted, made, balanced, nicely tensioned/structured, elegantly, perfectly polished finish that lasts ninety seconds to two-minutes landing on spice, clays and beautiful earthy minerals. — 4 months ago

Frank Kuo

9.6

Color of dark purple with grey shades on the rim. Nose of oak, dried strawberry, plums, currants, spice, vanilla, aldehyde, and spicy note from alcohol. Nose is nice. Taste follows the nose, silky and mouthful, matured and soft tannins, a bit zesty feeling, well balanced of oak and dark fruits. Tasty. Aftertaste is also long and savory with some more black pepper touch. A gem of Cab — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Finally a night or weekend we weren’t working on our rental, rushing to get some Christmas shopping done or getting ready to entertain holiday guests. It’s a night for us to chill out. That’s a good thing. It is also our final night to enjoy all our Christmas candlelights before we pack up tomorrow. 😔

We didn’t even enjoy any of one our very favorite N/V Rosé Champagnes over the holidays.

Tastes really good tonight. Showing shades of carbonated Dreamsicle or Creamsicle. However, you remember them growing up. Rich, ripe, candied & lean; black cherries, strawberries, cherries and summertime leaner watermelon. Baguette, grey volcanics, sea spray and finely powdered, razor sharp chalkiness with candied, pink rose pedals. Perfect, crisp, lively acidity and long, rich, well polished & balanced finish with persistence.

Hope you all have had a great start to 2020! — 6 years ago

Robert Irani

9.0

Excellent one — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I haven’t had a Bordeaux in a while. Especially, with a Ribcap. So, why not an 82? The vintage Robert Parker made his career as the only critic who called it correctly.

Very good 80’s Bordeaux were my first true wine love. Their style & 12-13% ABV will always be my cherished infatuation. Wished it had never changed.

Bought this Calon Segur on the secondary market several yrs ago. Tricky cork. Used my Durand. All good. Fill line perfect, no bottle neck tannin burn but plenty of velvety sediment.

If any of you ever wondered why there is a heart on the label. Here is the interesting reason…

It symbolizes the estate's deep-rooted history and the affection of its former owner, the Marquis de Ségur. Despite owning prestigious estates like Château Lafite and Château Latour, he famously declared, "I make wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is at Calon." His sentiment is immortalized by the heart emblem on the label.

Opened it and let it breathe from the bottle for 45 minutes. Tasted it and decanting it in stages. Then, stopped 1/2 way through and poured the bottom half of the bottle from the bottle.

82 is such a grand, classic vintage. For the most part, I drink Calon Segur’s too early, even at 20 yrs of age. I don’t want to say it is a long in tooth as its neighbor, Montrose, but it is close. This 82 is drinking perfectly w/ 41 yrs in bottle and will hold another 5 yrs. Such soft, perfectly darkish spices with elegantly ripe fruits.

This 82 glides over the palate. There is only beautiful elegance, nothing bites back. The fruits are older (not old or past their prime), ripe fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, both plums but lean plum vs black, dark cherries, crazy, outstanding, hoovering raspberries with notes of blueberries & shades of freshly picked rhubarb. Some black cherry cola, anise to understated black licorice, dark chocolate pudding, caramel, layered, gentle baking spices-nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & vanillin, touch of sun tea, old leather, dryish to fresh tobacco w/ash, charcoal, elegant graphite, dry limestone powder, dry river pebbles, black, rich earth w/ dry leaves, magical, dark spices, grey volcanics, dry stems, just a hint of dry herbs, dry top soil, fresh & withering dark, red flowers, red roses, grand acidity with perfect; balance, tension, structure and a grand, gentle finish that goes on & on and eventually lands on an amazing soft buffet of earthiness.

This is a wine that is technically a 94, but w/ evolution & style a 97. Amazing bottle that you don’t want to end.

$500 a bottle today through the app. Somewhere around $10 upon release. — 4 months ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

2007 Chateau de Beaucastel- The 2007 Chateau Beaucastel is deftly walking the tightrope between primary and tertiary tones at the moment. Aromatically profound, the wine immediately unveils layers of black fruits woven together with shades of white truffle crudo, black peppercorns and Earl Grey tea that take shape in the glass. Showing brilliant verve and freshness, the palate has great depth of concentration, power and range. Blackberry compote and black licorice flavors combine with lighter red raspberry, damp earth and Provencale herb accents on this expressive palate. The long finish marvelously accentuates this beautiful wine. Marvelous now at the thirteen year mark, the 2007 Chateau Beaucastel has many years of drinking enjoyment ahead of it. Drink 2020-2035- 95 — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Zeron Winery Fifty Shades of Rosé Casad Vineyard Grenache of Rosé 2024, Red Mountain, Washington State


Pretty color of dark salmon with a peachy hue.

Nose of raspberries, fresh cherries, light spices and minerals.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with fresh cherries, sweet raspberries, light earth, herbs and spices.

Nice length on the finish with lemons and light almonds.

This is a delicious Rosé from Red Mountain in Washington State. Elegant and fruit forward. Nicely balanced and complex, with a light creamy mouthfeel.

This Single Vineyard Grenache Rosé is refreshing and easy drinking, with a touch of RS on the palate. Neither tart nor bitter, which is how I like it.

Tangy and interesting to drink by itself as a sipping wine, and better when properly chilled. Good for parties or the pool.

13.3% alcohol by volume.

92 points. — 8 months ago

Frank Kuo

9.2

Color of different shades of purple, with a bit copper and grey tones on the rim. Nose of fruity dark fruits, aldehyde, spicy and fermented cabbage, and just a touch of oak. Taste is smooth, marginal tannins and easy, a bit sweet mixed with zesty bitterness and right amount of acidity, fresh raspberry, some oak, and warmth of alcohol. Aftertaste is medium long , with more berries note and a bit touch of mineral. Not bad. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

We’ve had their N/V Blanc but, haven’t had their Rose in awhile. Quite good.

Mousse is very refined. Great mouthfeel. Blood orange, tangerine, rhubarb notes, poached strawberries, black cherries, watermelon near the rind, white spice, oyster shell, grainy chalk, grey volcanics, saline, dry yeast, baguette crust, mint with pink roses dominate with shades of red roses. The acidity is lively. The finish is, pleasantly rich, elegant, well balanced & polished persistent for minutes falling into minerals & spice. — 6 years ago

Frank Kuo

9.2

Color of shades of purple, a bit grey on the rim, and a bit ruby in the body. Nose of mice tobacco leaves, cherry jam, blackberry, spice, heat of alcohol, and a bit leathery. Taste is hickory, oaky, with nice acidity and spice, polished sweetness from ripe grapes, low on tannins, and easy to drink. Aftertaste has a bit tinkling minty flavor with more spice. Crowd pleaser. — 7 years ago