Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This 96 Citran seriously over delivers @Cole’s Chop House Napa. Bought this 8 months or so ago for $39.99 at K&L. Clyde has brought in another grand slam value -golden gem.

Previous notes apply. Nearly 94 with the Cowboy Bone-in Ribeye. The Cowboy is their best steak and the only one I order.

I am mostly disappointed in most steakhouse recommendations or read, not Cole’s. — 6 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Larry Tsai was nice enough to share this with the Moone Tsai picnic table luncheon after the Brasswood tasting. Delicious and look forward to tasting his 23.

Thick, round, lush, dark fruits with boldness softened. — 6 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

This was sensational today at the Brasswood Event.

The 23’s I tasted today are as good as advertised. — 7 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

The Hora is their entry level wine from the young vines on their Estate.

It’s the lighter side of Bordeaux blended fruits; dark cherries, strawberries, blackberries. The body is thinner. More fruity & red floral than their Founders and Cathiard but certainly pleasurable to enjoy earlier inside 15 yrs.

Photos of my visit today. Impressive they copper all their own barrels. Believe they are the only ones in the Napa Valley that do.

Owners & founders since 2020 and is the same ownership as Smith Haut Lafitte in Bordeaux. — 6 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Outstanding producer and another 2022 that doesn’t disappoint.

Beautiful viscosity, lush, heather honey, lemon, lime, green apple, pineapple, white stone fruit, tropical melons, saline/sea spray, white spice, moist, chalky powder, limestone, butterscotch toffee, caramel, excellent acidity and round, lush, very balanced, elegant finish that last two-minutes and lands on spice and soft minerality.

Worth every bit of the $49 I paid and then some.

@Morimoto Napa
— 6 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I may sound like a broken record but these cuvées from Williams Selyem don’t really produce magic until they have 10 years+ in bottle. Tonight this 2009 Sonoma Coast is magic w/ the grilled marinaded “Bulgogi Pork.”

The cork like a new bottling. Nothing running down the sides.

The wine glides magnificently onto the palate. It has another 7-10 yrs stored well.

It is wine candy w/o the heavy candy. Ripe & glorious. It rides the fence of good red burgundy & Ca Pinot.

The fruits are perfectly ripe; dark cherries, black raspberries, blackberries, cooked strawberries, plum w/ subtle blueberries. Mid Asian/Indian spices w/just a touch of of heat, mild baking spices led w/ clove, nutmeg, cinnamon that is near stick, vanillin, very lightly grilled meats, mid dry tobacco, steeped tea, dry herbs, very used leather, dry brush/twigs, far crushed rocks, crumpled limestone, red roses, dark/red just candied flowers framed in violets, grand acidity, balance, well knitted, nicely tensioned/structured elegant finish that goes on and on and lasts minutes falling on dry minerals & spices. — 8 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

The Regusci is darker than the Napa blend, heavier in the mouth and creamy. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries. Dark chocolate, cocoa powder, baking spices, dark spices, withering dark flowers, round acidity, larger structure, well tensioned, balanced, lush, elegant finish that last two minutes and falls on dry earthiness & spice.

@TRB wines tasting room St. Helena right on 29. — 6 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Well worth the $45 dollars I paid for this 23 Caterwaul Napa last week.

Lighter to mid red fruits. Blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries, nice spice & baking spices.

Really good but like most TRB wines better with 8-10 yrs in bottle.

@TRB wines Tasting Room St. Helena. Right on 29. — 6 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

This was the best Cabernet at the Brasswood Event today. Stunning. — 7 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

It has been awhile since I’ve had this cuvée. It has darkened & gained infinitely in complexity. One of the very best White Burgundies values on the market. Anxiously awaiting the 2022s. Past vintages around $39.

Still has excellent viscosity & acidity. Very ripe to dried yellow & white stone fruits, ripe & dried apricots, marmalade jam, pineapple juice to dried pineapple, macerated lemons, touches of lime & green apple, tropical melons, saline, sea fossils, melted caramel, some toffee, toast, limestone, chalk, mixed nuts w/ skin-Brazil nuts lead that blend, yellows lilies & flowers, grand acidity as I already mentioned, with a lush, elegant, well balanced finish that lasts two-minutes and falls gently on minerality. — 8 days ago