Sonoma
Jericho Canyon Vineyard - 1868 Dessert Wine 2012
Napa Valley
(Port style wine) The nose is fruity. It reveals notes of crushed blackberry, raspberry and hints of balsamic combined with slight hints of redcurrant as well as discreet notes of spices and dried cassis. The palate is fruity, wellbalanced, suave, very slightly tight, gourmand and offers silkiness, a good finesse of the grain, tension as well as a small unctuosity. On the palate this wine expresses notes of crushed cassis, crushed blackberry and small notes of crushed raspberry combined with small touches of plum, chocolate, crushed Gariguette strawberry as well as slight toasted hints, vanilla and a very discreet hint of hazelnut. Tannins are fine and well-built. The finish is slight powerful.
Score : 15.25+/20 (90-91/100)
SONOMA RED WINES
Vérité - Le Désir 2014
Sonoma
The nose is elegant, fruity, powerful, aromatic, voluptuous, dynamic and offers a beautiful finesse of the grain as well as freshness. It reveals notes of blackberry, cassis, fleshy / juicy plum and small notes of wild strawberry associated with small touches of small wild berries, volcanic minerality, spices as well as discreet hints of flowers, Sichuan pepper, caramelization and very discreet hints of juicy black fruit. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, very slight tight, melodious and offers a beautiful definition, a very slight tension, a beautiful finesse of the grain, a small dynamism, a beautiful suavity, a very slight freshness, a racy minerality as well as a very beautiful finesse of the texture. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fleshy blackberry, crushed cassis and small notes of crushed raspberry, crushed plum associated with small touches of chocolate / cocoa, caramelization, toasted almond as well as discreet hints of sweet spices, discreet toasted hints, very discreet hints of blond tobacco (in the background) and an imperceptible hint of flowers (violet, blueberry) in the background. Tannins are fine, elegant and very slightly firm. Good length. Beautiful and gourmand persistence. There is a discreet hint of hazelnut on the persistence.
Score : 19+/20 (98-99/100)
Vérité - La Muse 2008
Sonoma
The nose is fresh, beautifully elegant, aromatic, harmonious, captivating and offers an amazing delicacy as well as a beautiful balance. It reveals notes of blackberry, cassis and small notes of ripe red fruits (redcurrants, raspberry) associated with small touches of undergrowth, zan as well as a very discreet hint of mushroom / truffle, camphor and an imperceptible hint of tonka bean. The mouth is beautifully suave, beautifully balanced (richness / finesse), harmonious, sensual / aerial and offers a very beautiful freshness, unctuosity, a delicate texture, a beautiful minerality, a very beautiful precision / finesse as well as an amazing elegance. On the palate this wine expresses notes of cassis, blackberry, ripe red berries and small notes of ripe wild strawberry, juicy cherry associated with fine touches of dark chocolate / cocoa, almond, a hint of grilled bread as well as a very discreet hint of iris / violet (in the background), hazelnut, mushroom (on the finish) and imperceptible hints of Bourbon vanilla. Tannins are fine, elegant, structuring and discreetly chewy. Good length and very beautiful persistence. There is an imperceptible touch of coffee / espresso on the aftertaste.
Score : 20/20 (100/100)
Vérité - La Muse 2014
Sonoma
The nose is elegant, aromatic and offers a beautiful finesse of the grain, a very slight richness as well as power (perfectly / well controlled). It reveals notes of cassis, wild blackberry and small notes of black cherry, crushed raspberry associated with small touches of wild strawberry, caramelization, small toasted touches as well as discreet hints of tonka bean. The mouth offers a very beautiful fat, a very slight finesse, a beautiful balance, a beautiful definition, a slight tension, a beautiful acidulous frame (in the background), volume, a beautiful aromatic complexity, power (but full of finesse) as well as an explosive side. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fleshy blackberry, crushed cassis and small notes of raspberry, crunchy / juicy red berries associated with small / fine touches of flowers / violet, Zan, tobacco, cocoa as well as very discreet hints of cardamom and an imperceptible touch of Bourbon vanilla. Tannins are fine and slightly mellow. Good length. (2022+)
Score : 19.75+/20 (100/100)
Vérité - La Joie 2014
Sonoma
The nose is beautifully elegant, aromatic and offers a captivating side (as a parfum). It reveals notes of blackberry, violet, iris, cassis and small notes of blue fruits associated with small touches of camphor, slight hints of cornflower as well as very discreet touches of Cuben pepper, sweet spices and an imperceptible hint of local vegetation / sappy hint. The palate is fruity, juicy, well-balanced, precise, elegant, complex, harmonious and offers a beautiful juiciness, a very beautiful definition, a very beautiful acid frame, a good acidulous structure, a beautiful suavity as well as a fine minerality. On the palate this wine expresses notes of blackberry, plum and small notes of ripe / juicy redcurrants associated with small touches of raspberry, cassis as well as hints of flowers (violet, iris, a very discreet rose hint), cardamom, liquorice stick, nutmeg, a very discreet touch of blond tobacco and an imperceptible touch of minerality and cinnamon. Tannins are fine, elegant and very slightly firm. Good length. A style more ”fine / feminine” than on the Cuvée ”Le Désir 2014”.
Score : 19.75+/20 (100/100)
Tolosa - Pinot Noir 2016, Saltonstall Vineyard
Sonoma Coast
The nose is fruity, precise, slightly powerful and offers a small racy minerality. It reveals notes of red berries, blueberry and small notes of cornflower, lilacs associated with slight touches of cassis, tobacco, spices as well as a very discreet touch of Timut pepper. The mouth is fresh, fruity, well-balanced, slightly tight, silky and offers a beautiful definition, a slight acidulous frame, fleshiness, a good density, a beautiful gourmandise, a beautiful volume as well as a beautiful suavity. On the palate this wine expresses notes of plum, black cherry and small notes of fleshy red berries associated with small touches of wild raspberry, flowers (cornflower, lilac) as well as discreet hints of tobacco, chocolate and very discreet hints of vanilla. Good length.
Score : 17.25/20 (94-95/100)
Joseph Phelps - Pinot Noir 2014, Pastorale Vineyard
Sonoma Coast
The nose is fruity and offers a slight juiciness as well as a very slight concentration. It reveals notes of cassis, plum and small notes of blackberry associated with small hints of blueberry, violet and liquorice. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, suave, precise, racy, well-structured and offers a good definition, a good structure, a small juiciness, straightness as well as a small fat. On the palate this wine expresses notes of black cherry, plum and small notes of crushed Boysenberry combined with a hint of flowers, very ripe wild red berries as well as discreet hints of liquorice and spices. Tannins are fine and a bit mellow. Good length. There is a very discreet hint of chocolate on the finish.
Score : 16+/20 (92-93/100)
SONOMA WHITE WINES Joseph Phelps - Chardonnay 2015, Pastorale Vineyard
Sonoma Coast
The nose is fruity and offers a very slight concentration. It reveals notes of quince, mirabelle plum and small notes of brugnon associated with touches of yellow fruits as well as a discreet hint of butter and zests. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a slight juiciness, an acidulous frame, a good definition, a slight freshness as well as a small linear side. On the palate this wine expresses notes of citrus, quince and small notes of fresh / crunchy mirabelle plum associated with small touches of exotic fruits, litchi and zest. Good length.
Score : 15.25/20 (90/100)
Corazon - Gewurztraminer 2016 - Alexander Valley
Sonoma
The nose is fruity, fresh and aromatic. It reveals notes of peach and kumquat associated with small notes of exotic fruits, flowers as well as discreet hints of tangerine. The palate is fruity, fresh, well-balanced and offers juiciness, a slight tension, an acidulous frame, a good definition, precision, freshness as well as a fine gourmandise. On the palate this wine expresses notes of kumquat, crunchy vine peach and small notes of juicy citrus (lemon, mandarin) associated with discreet hints of flowers, juicy quince and a very discreet salinity on the finish. Good length.
Score : 15.5/20 (90-91/100)