Somm David T 
Launois Père et Fils
Vinum Dei Brut Champagne Blend
Solid producer about 35-40 minutes drive south of Rheims
Quality producer that is still fairly priced in the mid-forty-dollar range.
My previous notes from August still hold here. I would only add, while champagne really goes with anything, This is an excellent pair with food/dishes one might not expect. Believe it was built for more than a start with cheese, small bites, dessert or a closing night glass. Handles heavier dishes beautifully.
— 9 days ago
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005
My last of three.
The 05 vintage is basically perfect fruit etc…
This started a bit slow from an hour decant. It really pick up steam w/ the Waygu Ribcap.
The Bordeaux elegance & earth profound. The fruits are floral-laden. Dry blackberries, raspberries, both plum, with skin, dark cherries, dry strawberries, baked rhubarb, hints of raspberry, dark chocolate bar, light caramel, dark spice with a little heat, dry limestone. topsoil, dry riverstone, cigar box with ash, old used leather, dark forest floor with leaves, clove, touch of cinnamon, vanilla and a pinch of nutmeg sweet graphite, used charcoal, black tea, mid berry cola dark wuthering flowers, hence of lavender and old violets, perfect around acidity with a well-balanced structured, evenly tensioned finish that last minutes and lands on dry earth and spice with florals — 16 days ago
Famille Moussé
Special Club Hommage à Cuisles 100 Ans Extra Brut Pinot Meunier
One of my favorite champagne producers & visits in 2023.
This is 100% Pinot Meunier, Cedric is a champagne of Meunier. The center picture is his soil from around the property dried and cut up. When it is wet, it looks like an avocado that has fresh w/ rotting parts. He explained to me this usual soil is perfect for Meunier.
Macerated fruits of apple/ pear, raspberries, citrus blend w/ a dominant pink grapefruit lead, almonds, vanillin, caramel, sea spray-saline, crisp chalkiness, soft, fine grain volcanics, spring flowers, yellow lilies, excellent soft acidity with a very balanced, gently structured, excellent long finish that sets on mellow white spice. — 2 days ago
A. Rafanelli
Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
One of the very best QPR’s in Napa/Sonoma. I have had all the top tier Napa Cabernets. On the secondary markets, I pay in the $70 to $90 range. I enjoy this producer more than many of the higher-priced Napa Cabernets. Including; Realm, Maybach, Phelps, Outpost, Lakoya, to name a few.
This 2007 is right around the top of the bell curve. It delivers everything you expect from the 2007 vintage and yet, it’s a Sonoma producer, which lends itself to the expression, don’t judge a wine by its region.
My 5/24 note remains. To that end, for me, this is not a producer to open young if you’re looking for its best self. You can open a wine whenever you want to, but I would pushback that you’re not getting its best self. This 07 still has a fair amount of teeth. The integration and evolution is incredible. It’s flat out near perfect as to when to open your first.
The short notes on this are perfectly ripe/ruby fruits that are;, blackberries, black raspberry, black plum, haunting raspberries, dry earth, cinnamon stick for days, endless far east spices, dark chocolate, caramel, black licorice, mid berry cola, dark & red flowers with violets and hints of lavender, excellent round acidity, a well-made balanced finish that is the definition of elegance with earth and spice on the long set that goes on and on.
In a QPR Napa/Sonoma Cabernet race with the higher-priced Cabernets, it is not even close.
— 9 days ago
Arnot-Roberts
Watson Ranch Chardonnay 2018
One of about 7-10 Ca Chardonnay’s I enjoy. My last of three. Their 2018 is slightly better than other of their vintages I’ve had.
This rides the fence of of white burgundy & Ca Chardonnay.
Macerated red & green apples, some lime & lemon pulp, tropical fruits, kiwi, heathered honey, caramel, sandstone, saline, dry river stone, soft white spice, just a hint of brown sugar, a near chalky presence that coats the tongue, vanilla, frothy cream foam, yellow flowers, jasmine nice round acidity and an elegant rich, balanced, nicely tensioned w/ a 60 second finish that lands on volcanics and just a shade of spice. — 16 days ago
Louis M. Martini
California Cabernet Sauvignon 1966
Happy 60th birthday Sofia. Love you. 11/2/66. — 5 days ago
Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey
Au Bout du Monde Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Chardonnay 2022
I do enjoy & respect PYCM’s craft. This Bourgogne is well worth twice what I paid. You can pay much more for many non-white Bourgogne’s. I am just not sure the additional spend pencils vs those higher prices in many QPR comparisons. One qualifying remark, in really good vintages.
It is an insanely great pair w/ the Jasper Hill Farms, Harbison and honey crisp apples. 92 on its own, 93 with the paring.
My July 2026 notes still hold. — 9 days ago
Casa Emma
Gran Selezione Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend 2016
The only two things disappointing about this wine is that it wasn’t eight years older and I didn’t have more of it. I could only think how great it was tonight and how much better it would be in roughly eight years. Not to say I was disappointed, it was delicious..
Its fallen into nice evolution. Still needs some further integration, but it was really nice. Beautiful sour cherries, excellent texture and body, softened dry earth, tobacco, touch of leather and had amazing red florals with haunting violets.
2016 is an amazing vintage. — 9 days ago
J-M Seleque
Le Quintette Extra Brut Champagne 5 Terroirs Chardonnay
I have always enjoyed their cuvées. First time having the Quintette.
The entry is elegant…beautiful fine mousse. Green apples, lime w/ just a touch of zest, lemon pulp, some kiwi & green melon, yellow pear w/ no skin, topical melon, notes of melted caramel, well cooked bread crust, a hint gingerbread, graham crackers, sea spray, understated sea fossils, elegant chalkiness, grey volcanics, dry river stone, yellow & white flowers with fruit blossoms, excellent acidity with soft, gentle structure/tension, elegant finish for that lasts 90 seconds and falls on gentle spice & volcanics.
• Virtue "Justice" planted in 1950.
"Pernay "Les Frileux" planted in 1959.
• Pierry Chevernets" and "Cantuel" planted in 1981 and 1986.
• Crohaut" planted in 1985.
• Mardeuil "'Les Basses
Ronces" planted in 1982.
- Cultivation in oak logs of 350 to 600
100% Chardonnay.
Revolts 2020 + 20% of Solera started in 2012.
Fermenter in oak that are 350 à 600 litres.
Unpasteurized, unfiltered wine
Dégorgement : 11/2023. Dosage : 2g/L.
Photos of, JMSÉLÈQUE, vineyards and Jean Marc Seleque. — 23 days ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
If this was poured blind, 95% of all Somm’s would call it Burgundy. For me this is better than white Burgundy as it is far less expensive than Premier Cru or Grand Cu Burgundy and just as good.
A bit tricky to find and this was in the higher $40 range. When I can find it, I generally get six.
Still a bit young, but gorgeous.
Central Otago still had the long even cool climate that is slowly escaping Burgundy, which is key for excellent acidity.
The body round and a touch waxy. Mildly Meyer sour lemons, lime pulp, green apple, some white stone fruit, pineapple, caramel, honey comb, limestone, sea spray, almond sliver’s, butterscotch, soft volcanic mineral powder, hints of gun flint, dry river stone, yellow & white flowers, excellent acidity, beautiful structure/tension, endless balance with an elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds and long sets on white spice.
Photos of; the Felton Road property and my walk of it with owner Nigel Greening. — 2 days ago