AttorneySomm’s Wine Blog @attorneysomm - Tumblr Blog

Located in Napa County, Topping & Legnon (T&L) is a micro-boutique producer making only about 1,200 cases of wine per year. T&L has 16 acres under vine in the Lake County and North Coast AVAs. The vines average 22 years old and are 100% organic. While T&L used to sell the fruit to other wineries (whose names you would immediately recognize), they began bottling their wine privately in 2009. . I recently had the opportunity to taste through a good portion of the T&L lineup, including a 2015-2017 vertical of Cabernet Sauvignon (pic 2), the 2016 Cabernet Franc (pics 3-4) and the 2016 and 2017 Pinot Noir (pic 5). The cover photo (by Unleaded Studios) features the fantastic label for the 2015 Fire on the Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon! Due to the devastating fires in 2015, this wine required heroic winemaking efforts but the results speak for themselves! This wine narrowly edged out the 2016 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon for my favorite of the 3 Cabernets. . The 2016 Pinot Noir also stood out with its explosive aromatics! Vibrant cherry and raspberry notes were accented by orange peel and leather and perfectly balanced by abundant acidity. Somewhat nerdily, the finish was so long that I timed it and it consistently lasted a full 30 seconds! . For me, however, the wine of the night was the 2016 Cabernet Franc! Only 150 cases of this wine were produced. A magnificent mix of dark red fruit, cloves, violets and hints of herbs, this wine was a showstopper and, in my view, is also the best value in the lineup! . Thanks very much to T&L for letting me taste through their lineup of impressive wines! . . . . #toppinglegnonwines #californiawine #cabernetfranc #cabernet #cabernetsauvignon #organicwine #organicwines #napawine #napawines #donapa #itsfromnapa #pinotnoir #pinot #boutiquewinery #vineyard #winery #winereview #tastingnotes #winetasting #winelabel #winelabels #winelabeldesign (at Las Colinas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CB_HbiMJPjB/?igshid=18tz9lxkicz3w

"Unabashedly exclusive," Rare Champagne is aptly named because it is produced only in truly exceptional vintages! Indeed, so far there have only been 11 total bottlings (including two rose Champagnes) produced in the past 4 decades. Join Piper-Heidsieck and Rare Champagne's U.S. Brand Ambassador Kyle Kaplan and AttorneySomm on Instagram Live on Thursday, June 25 at 5 pm CST/6 pm EST! We will be tasting Rare Millesime 2006 and discussing what makes Rare Champagne so special! You can set a reminder by clicking on the countdown clock in my stories! . As is customary, the 2006 vintage of Rare Champagne is 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir. This wine is a blend of 17 crus which aged for a minimum of 7 years on the lees. As a result, this Champagne is already very complex and ready to enjoy! . While certainly not necessary to enjoy the tasting, we invite you to taste Rare Champagne along with us! In the meantime, if there are any questions you would like me to ask Kyle or topics that you would like us to discuss, please let me know in the comments below or by sending me a DM. . . . . #rarechampagne #piperheidsieckrare #piperheidsieck #champagne #champagnelife #champagner #champagnelover #sparklingwine #champagnepop #popbottles #luxuryitems #finewine #virtualhappyhour #virtualtasting #livetasting #instagramlive #champagnelifestyle #rareexperience #millesime2006 #champagne🍾 #champagnetasting #champagneworldwide #foodiewinelover #attorneysomm (at Dallas, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CByP_GPp_2A/?igshid=1sfl6iem34p51

For the outstanding 2000 vintage Chateau Mouton Rothschild created one of the finest labels I have ever seen! Ever since 1945, a top artist has been commissioned to prepare a painting or drawing for the Mouton label. In 2000, however, the glassmaker spent four months researching how to create the gold etching of the Augsburg Ram on the label before coming up with a new technique involving enamelling in relief. The results are stunning! The bottle beautifully depicts the Augsburg Ram drinking vessel created in 1590 by Jakob Schenauer, a master goldsmith, and has itself become a collector’s item! The original work on which the bottle is based is in the Museum of Wine in Art at Mouton. . But we did not just admire the label, we also drank the wine! Intoxicating aromatics of blackcurrant, black cherry, cedar, tobacco, pencil lead and Asian five spice boded well for the tasting to follow. On the palate, this wine was drinking incredibly young - much younger than many of the 2000 Bordeaux that I have tasted recently. It was rich and fruit-dominant, but still seems to require more bottle age to reach its full potential (much like the 2005). I hope to be able to try this one again in another 5-10 years. This wine is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot. . . . . . #mouton #moutonrothschild #chateaumoutonrothschild #augsburgram #bordeaux #bordeauxwine #firstgrowth #vin #vinrouge #frenchwine #winelabel #winelabeldesign #winelabels #wineart #winemuseum #sommlife #wineporn #pauillac #cabernet #cabernetsauvignon #grandvin #collectorsitem (at Roots and Water Wine Room) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBqh3hSpoCT/?igshid=1tgr14sq936cb

Ever since I muled this bottle of 2010 Michele Chiarlo Cannubi Barolo home from Piedmont last November, I wanted to try it! This bottle was purchased directly from the winery following a tour and tasting. While I was concerned that I was opening it too soon, I threw caution to the wind and popped the bottle. And I was very glad that I did! . Explosive aromatics filled the room immediately after it was uncorked! A mesmerizing mix of dark cherry, licorice, rose petals, spices and tobacco won me over before the first sip. The tannins, initially grippy, were perfectly balanced by abundant acidity. After a couple hours in the decanter, this wine unfurled magnificently and the tannins softened and became silky. The finish was extraordinarily long and complex and made me want to do the Humpty Dance! A spectacular effort! . Cannubi is probably the most famous vineyard in Barolo! Recognized as an Italian cru in 1752, Cannubi is practically perfect in every way for growing Nebbiolo - aspect, soils, altitude and temperature. Its sandy soils tend to produce wines with more finesse and elegance than vineyards with rocky soils. . . . . #michelechiarlo #cannubi #vineyard #vino #vinoitaliano #vinorosso #vinorosso🍷 #piedmont #piemonte #barolo #vinos #barolowine #nebbiolo #nebbiololover #langhe #italianwine #popbottles #uncorked #topwine #wineoclock #sommelier #winestagram (at Lake Ridge at Joe Pool Lake) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBizbUuJhB-/?igshid=64dnlksriqv0

Join Vina VIK ("VIK") winemaker Cristian Vallejo (pic 2) and AttorneySomm on Instagram Live on Friday, June 12 at 6 pm EST for a virtual tasting of the outstanding VIK lineup! We will taste the 2015 Milla Cala, the 2013 vintage of the iconic VIK flagship wine, and the 2015 La Piu Bell (pic 3). You can set a reminder by clicking on the countdown clock in my stories. . Pictures by VIK (except no. 3). . Nestled in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in the Cachapoal Valley (near Colchagua), VIK has been making outstanding Chilean wine since its inaugural 2009 vintage. VIK's ambitious goal is to produce the best wine in all of South America! To accomplish this admirable goal, VIK has spared no expense in the vineyard or the winery (pics 4-6). The vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah. Mr. Vallejo uses varying blends of this fruit to produce each of the three wines. The winery is a state-of-the-art facility that is both stunning and highly sustainable technologically! . Located just 200 km from Santiago, VIK also offers numerous oenotourism opportunities, including a luxury retreat with 22 rooms, a world-class restaurant, a spa, and, of course, numerous wine tasting opportunities! . Join us to learn more about this up-and-coming producer of world-class wines! . . . . #viñavik #vinavik #vikwine #vikretreats #vikvibes #vino #vinotinto #chileanwine #chileanwines #carmenere #carménère #vinosdechile #livetasting #virtualhappyhour #virtualtasting #winemaker #winemakers #winery #oenotourisme #winetourism #chile #vinodechile (at Vina Vik, Millahue, Chile) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBTB3Vdp-mt/?igshid=df8gub4z3awu

While this bottle may not look like much from the outside, the contents were simply stunning! This 1987 Guigal La Mouline Cote Rotie was a highlight from a recent in-person tasting (that complied with all legal requirements). . Based in the Northern Rhone, E. Guigal makes some of my favorite wines. The so-called La La trilogy (La Mouline, La Landonne and La Turque) is the crown jewel of the Guigal lineup. La Mouline always contains the highest percentage of Viognier (typically around 11%). The La Mouline fruit comes from a steep, heavily-terraced portion of the Cote Blonde vineyard with rocky soils and which is typically the warmest of the three sources. (See the very first post in my profile for vineyard pics!). La Mouline is produced using the more gentle pumping over technique as opposed to punching down. As a result of these differences, La Mouline tends to be the most elegant of the three and the one that can be enjoyed the earliest. . Of course, La Mouline still ages phenomenally well! La Mouline is also one of those rare wines that transcend vintage and points and is inevitably one of the most memberable bottles on the table every time it is opened. And so it was with this 1987! Despite being from a supposedly off vintage, this La Mouline outclassed many more highly regarded (and more costly) wines from the very first nose! An intriguing array of dark cherry, black pepper, smoked meat, olive, iron, rosemary, thye, and sage perfectly balanced the abundant acidity. The mouthfeel was ethereal and the finish long, lingering and complex! La Mouline has a soulful character that reminds you with every sip that you are experiencing something truly special! After every sip, I sat in silence soaking it all in much like I do when appreciating an artistic masterpiece at a museum. It was such a blessing to be able to experience this memorable wine in-person with good friends I had not seen since January. . . . . #guigal #eguigal #domaineguigal #coterotie #côterôtie #northernrhone #syrah #syrahwine #viognier #lamouline #vineyard #tastingnotes #wineporn #wineevents #rhonevalley #rhone ##wineeducation #vin #instawine #winelover #winenot #topwine (at Roots and Water Wine Room) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBLoQ0nJBO-/?igshid=1hzfoswnh4z4t

“Go into my cellar and pick anything you want" - Part II. I was recently blessed with the opportunity to select two bottles from a friend's cellar for us to enjoy. The first selection, about which I posted recently, was the 1995 Haut-Brion. The second - 1990 Chateau Lynch-Bages! . From experience, I knew that the 1990 Lynch Bages was one of the all-time greats for that venerable producer (and my personal favorite to date)! Had I blinded this wine, there was no way I would have guessed it was 30 years old - it was incredibly youthful! This bottle was also darker and more structured than the Haut-Brion. . This wine remains incredibly expressive! A thrilling, powerful combination of blackcurrant, dark cherry, cedar, graphite and mixed spice. Although rich and full-bodied, this wine was perfectly balanced and precise and coated my palate with tastefully-opulent fruit followed by a long, complex finish! If the 1995 Haut-Brion was a Mercedes S-Class, this wine is a Mercedes CLS 63 AMG - the body style of Ray Donavan's first car (from Showtime) but with the AMG package and much more power. Unlike my most recent experience with this wine (about a year ago), I did not detect much of the jalapeno/green bell pepper descriptor - perhaps because this wine received less air and was consumed more quickly. . Along with 1990, my other personal favorite vintages of Lynch-Bages (to date) include the 1982 (from Magnum) and 1989. With efforts like this one, I have long thought that Lynch-Bages is underrated as a Fifth Growth in the 1855 Classification. Does anyone else agree? . . . . #chateaulynchbages #chateauhautbrion #1855classification #drinkbordeaux #pauillac #bordeauxwine #bordeauxwines #winery #cabernetsauvignon #vinrouge #frenchwine #frenchwines #vigneron #grandcruclasse #vinsdebordeaux #wineaddict #drinkwine #lynchbages #hautbrion #winereview #winetasting #winewinewine (at Lake Ridge at Joe Pool Lake) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBGJ1nOJKhT/?igshid=58cwdltd4bbp

Join Charles Heidsieck's U.S. Brand Ambassador Philippe Andre (@niquesomm) and AttorneySomm on Instagram Live on Wednesday, June 3 at 5 pm CST/6 pm EST for a virtual tasting of Charles Heidsieck Rose Reserve and Blanc de Blancs! In addition to offering our tasting notes, we will be discussing our favorite food parings with Champagne! You can set a reminder by clicking on the countdown clock in my stories. . Located in Reims, Charles Heidsieck was established in 1851 and is one of the Grande Marquee Champagne houses. Charles Heidsieck offers outstanding quality for the price and prides itself on using a very higher percentage of reserve wines in its non-vintage Champagne. For example, the Brut Reserve contains an impressive 40% reserve wine compared to the industry standard of 10-12%. While the Blanc de Blancs and the Rose Reserve also contain a large percentage of reserve wine, these particular disgorgements also benefit from being based primarily on fruit from outstanding vintages in Champagne. . The Blanc de Blancs, for example, is a blend of 25% reserve wines and 75% of fruit from the outstanding 2012 vintage. Of course, as the name suggests, the Blanc de Blancs is 100% Chardonnay. . The Rose Reserve is also based primarily on fruit from an outstanding vintage, with 80% of the fruit coming from the tremendous 2008 vintage. The remaining 20% is from reserve wines with an average age of 10 years. Approximately 5% still red wine was added to the blend. . While certainly not necessary to enjoy the tasting, we invite you to taste these outstanding Champagnes along with us! . . . . #champagne #champagnelover #champagnelife #champagner #champagnes #champagnepop #blancdeblancs #blancdeblanc #rosechampagne #champagnerose #charlesheidsieck #foodiewinelover #sommelier #sommlife #sparklingwine #winepairing #livetasting #virtualhappyhour #virtualtasting #foodwineexplorer (at Home Sweet Home) https://www.instagram.com/p/CA5mXcMnS1M/?igshid=2nmz4bllr9th

Pinot Noir is a fantastic red wine for summer and I've been drinking through my stash at warp speed! I recently opened 3 more bottles to do a comparison tasting of Rivers Marie Pinot Noir from the 2011 vintage - namely, Occidental Ridge, Silver Eagle and the Sonoma Coast appellation wine. . 📸 by Unleaded Studios. . Rivers Marie is the personal label of prominent winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown (his wife's middle name is Marie). Year in and year out, the Rivers Marie Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is one of the best wine values in California! I purchased my bottle on release for $25 and it held its own among the single-vineyard wines that cost twice as much. A beautiful medley of cranberry, red cherry, rhubarb and orange peel were balanced by ample acidity. While all 3 wines were very food friendly, due to a higher acid level, the Sonoma Coast was simply stunning with grilled salmon and was the wine everyone wanted to revisit during dinner! . There were only 160 cases of the 2011 Rivers Marie Occidental Ridge produced and it weighed in at a mere 12.8% ABV! The fruit profile was similer to the Sonoma Coast, but this wine also had more of an earthy, forest floor component. This wine was the most resilient of the three and the aromatics remained largely unchanged hours later. . I tend to save the best for last and the Silver Eagle was a showstopper! A gorgeous mix of pomegranate, red cherry and blueberry exploded from my glass right after I poured it! The blue fruit and more substantial structure distinguished the Silver Eagle from the other two wines. It is no surprise that this was the best wine of the three because the Silver Eagle fruit was fortuitously picked before the rains that tainted the 2011 harvest in many parts of Sonoma (and Napa). There were 225 cases produced and this wine had 14.1% ABV. . . . . #pinotnoir #pinot #pinotnoirlover #sonomacoast #sonomawine #sonomawinecountry #sonomacountywine #drinksonoma #riversmarie #thomasriversbrown #winereview #sonoma #winereview #winereviews #tastingnotes #winepic #winetime🍷 #californiawine #winemaker #silvereaglevineyard #winetasting #winetasting🍷 (at Los Colinas, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAxjTT2pkzg/?igshid=qkdzz50ioy7d

"Go into my cellar and pick anything you want!" While this is something that I would ordinarily only be able to do if I released a Genie from a bottle, one of my friends recently (and generously) gave me this very opportunity! The only restrictions were no Petrus or Opus One (due to an extended vertical). . There were many tantalizing options! Lots of well-aged Dominus, Pichon Lalande, Pichon Baron and numerous First Growth Bordeauxs from the 1990s. This cellar was particularly deep in 1995 - an outstanding vintage in Bordeaux! After briefly considering the 1995 Latour, I ultimately chose 1995 Haut-Brion. For me, there is nothing quite like Haut-Brion and it has long been one of my favorite producers - even among the First Growths. . This pristine bottle belied its age and had been peacefully resting in the climate-controlled cellar since its initial purchase more than two decades ago. As soon as I popped the cork, I knew we were in for a treat! After leaving the wine in the decanter for what seemed like an eternity (it was an hour), we finally started tasting it! . The aromatics seduced me immediately! An enticing blend of dried blackcurrant and plum, tobacco, cedar, graphite, forest floor, gravel, hints of smoke and dried violets gracefully emanated from the glass. This wine is world-class, but in a refined, tasteful way - this is more Mercedes S-class than Porsche 911. Everything was perfectly balanced - tannins were present, but subtle and perfectly balanced by acidity. The finish was long and complex - even a small taste lingered on my palate for close to a minute! This is one of those wines that you contemplate quietly - taking small sips and seeing how the wine evolves over the course of time. We enjoyed the experience so much that I was sent back to choose another bottle! I'll write about my second selection in a future post (it was not the 95 Latour)! . . . . #chateauhautbrion #hautbrion #pessacleognan #bordeaux #bordeauxwine #drinkbordeaux #grandcruclasse #grandvin #grandvindebordeaux #vinrouge #firstgrowth #topwine #winewinewine #wineporn #winecellar #winetime #winetime🍷 #winelover #dallaswine #morewine (at Joel Pool Lake) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAp1M1GHpW6/?igshid=1xjr8m6lanfc3

Domaine du Pegau was the wine of choice for this week's tasting, with a comparison of the 2009, 2011 and the 2014 Cuvee Reservee! . Located in Chateauneuf du Pape, Pegau makes consistently good (and often great) wines every year. 2011 and 2014 were considered down vintages, but that just means that you can pay less for them and enjoy them earlier! . The Cuvee Reservee typically consists of 85% Grenache and 9% Syrah, with Mourvedre and other permitted varietals rounding out the blend. The vines are grown in rocky soils (pic 5). Whole-cluster fermentation is used and the wines are aged for 24 months in large oak vats (see pic 6). These pictures were from my visit to Domaine du Pegau in December of 2014. . Now on to the tasting notes! The 2011 is likely at its peak now, so drink them if you've got them! Bright red fruit, thyme, rosemary, pepper and hints of cedar. A well-rounded wine that was most enjoyable! . The 2014 kept evolving in the glass - even after a 3-hour decant. Initially, there were beautiful floral aromatics to accompany the bright raspberry, cinnamon, tobacco, leather, thyme and rosemary. Later the wine became more savory and brooding and pepper notes supplanted the flowers. Surprisingly, it rallied at the end of the night. . As enjoyable as the 2011 and 2014 were, the 2009 was the standout in this group! Following a 2-hour decant, the funk and meat notes dominated. After 3 more hours, however, the red fruit took center stage accented by more subtle funk, smoked meat, garrigue (rosemary, thyme, lavender), liquorice, and white pepper. The finish was long and complex. An outstanding wine that is in a great place, but there is certainly no rush to drink it. . While it is fun to taste Pegau when young, I typically wait at least 5-7 years to open them. My favorite vintages so far have been 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2015-2016. What is your favorite vintage of Pegau? . . . . #domainedupegau #chateaupegau #chateauneufdupape #chateauneuf #rhonevalley #southernrhone #grenache #winery #vindefrance #cotesdurhone #degustation #winereview #winereviews #tastingnotes #somm #winetasting #wineryvisit #cuvee #cuvée #vigneron (at Joel Pool Lake) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAS-ecmn-0H/?igshid=ffor44ginoqk

The 2011 Clos de Tart Grand Cru Monopole is an outstanding red Burgundy from Morey-St-Denis! . A “clos” is a walled vineyard and a “monopole” is an area controlled by a single winery. So as the name suggests, the fruit for this wine is grown in a walled, Grand Cru vineyard controlled by a single winery. In this case, Clos de Tart is also an appellation that is about 7.5 hectares (18 acres). . This was the first time I tasted Clos de Tart, but hopefully not the last! Reticent yet refined red cherry, earth, liquorice, and mixed spice were joined by subtle, yet beguiling floral aromatics of violets and roses! Abundant acidity perfectly balanced the fruit. The finish was long and complex! Note to self: drink more Burdundy . . . . . . . #burgundy #burgundywine #burgundywines #burgundylover #bourgogne #redburgundy #closdetart #moreystdenis #moreysaintdenis #grandcru #monopole #dégustation #frenchwines #vinfrancais #pinotnoir #pinot #vindebourgogne #wineeducation #wineknowledge #topwine (at Roots and Water Wine Room) https://www.instagram.com/p/CANfudTHpdR/?igshid=1xi1kmnfowpdf

Join Chateau Lagrange winemaker Matthieu Bordes (pic 2) and AttorneySomm on Instagram Live on Wednesday, May 13 at 5 pm EST/11 pm Paris for a virtual tasting of the outstanding 2010 and 2016 vintages of Chateau Lagrange! You can set a reminder by clicking on the countdown clock in my story. . 📸 by Chateau Lagrange . Located in Saint-Julien, Chateau Lagrange is a Third Growth in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. The winery meticulously manages its vines and vinifies its wines plot-by-plot to ensure maximum blending flexibity and excellence in the final blend. On average, the vines are more than 40 years old (pics 3-4) and are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon (67%), Merlot (28%) and Petit Verdot (5%). The wines are aged for 21 months with 60% new French oak barrels (pic 5). . While certainly not necessary to enjoy the tasting, we invite you to taste the wines along with us! For those in the Dallas area, please DM me to find out where to source the wines. . . . . #chateaulagrange #saintjulien #medoc #grandcruclasse #bordeaux #winemaker #winemaking #winery #winetasting #winetasting🍷 #wineeducation #cabernetsauvignon #cabernet #virtualhappyhour #livetasting #virtualtasting #attorneysomm (at Château Lagrange) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAFxpbTnKah/?igshid=1udfwt9qg94ag

#chateaulagrange #saintjulien #medoc #grandcruclasse #bordeaux #winemaker #winemaking #winery #winetasting #winetasting🍷#wineeducation #cabernetsauvignon #cabernet #virtualhappyhour #livetasting #virtualtasting #attorneysomm

While Aubert Chardonnay has long been one of my favorites, I had never done a proper comparison tasting - until Friday night! . Mark Aubert has made world-class Chardonnay for more than two decades! He starts with top notch Chardonnay and then uses Burgundian winemaking techniques - malolactic fermentation, aging in French oak barrels and batonnage (stirring of the lees in the barrel). The results are truly special! . The wine lineup included four single-vineyard Chardonnays - 2014 Larry Hyde & Sons; 2014 Sugar Shack; 2015 Hudson; and 2018 CIX. These full-bodied wines benefit from air, so I aerated them for an hour before digging in. . This was my first experience with Larry Hyde and it will not be my last! An intriguing kaleidoscope of tropical notes pineapple, apricot, guava, lemon, peach were joined by marzipan and honeysuckle. This wine is in a great spot now, but there is certainly no rush to drink it. . Next up was 2014 Sugar Shack. This wine stood out because it is the only Aubert Chardonnay from Napa (Rutherford). Due to Napa’s warmer temperatures, this wine had the most ripe, intense tropical fruit of the lineup as well as beguiling butterscotch notes and a super long finish! This wine did not evolve as much in the glass and may not require as much aeration. . From Carneros, the 2015 Hudson was my wine of the night! It immediately seduced me with a flinty minerality that reminded me of a Corton-Charlemagne. This minerality combined with pear, lemon, peach, pineapple, citrus blossom, marzipan, and hints of smoke and a long, complex finish! This wine is rich and powerful, yet balanced. Really a fantastic wine! . While young, the 2018 CIX more than held its own! This wine benefited the most from air and kept improving the longer it was opened. While it will certainly continue to develop with age, it was a joy to taste now. . Swipe left to see cool pics of the punt. . . . . #markaubert #aubert #aubertwines #chardonnay #chardonnayday #chardonnayallday #chardonnaywine #whitewine #whitewinelover #itsfromnapa #sonomawine #californiawine #winelineup #winemaker #whitewines (at Dallas, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAAnxw8H6gh/?igshid=1oetz57yc2v6

#markaubert #aubert #aubertwines #chardonnay #chardonnayday #chardonnayallday #chardonnaywine #whitewine #whitewinelover #itsfromnapa #sonomawine #californiawine #winelineup #winemaker #whitewines

Since my annual pilgrimage to the iconic Bern's Steakhouse was canceled this year, I'm remembering last year's epic visit! Following a starter flight of white wine, things got serious with a side-by-side comparison tasting of 1948 and 1950 Pichon Lalande! . Bern's wines have a reputation for aging incredibly well both because the owner showed incredible foresight by ensuring meticulous provenance during transport from Europe to Florida and due to the extra-cool storage temperatures maintained in Bern's legendary cellar. Shortly after a proper decant, we learned that these well-preserved septuagenarians were not just a novelty - they were both still in their drinking window, albeit well past peak. Based solely on inspection in the glass (pic 3), they looked a lot like Bordeaux from the 1970s or early 1980s. . Despite being close in age, the wines could not have been more different. The 48 had faint dried plum aromas, tobacco, earth and later developed the telltale green/pepper notes. In contrast, the 50 somehow had surprisingly bright fruit, but little complexity. Iron initially dominated the palate for the 50, but after an hour the fruit overpowered the iron and it became a very pleasant wine. The 48 never showed much fruit, but was incredibly complex and the better wine overall. . While neither of these wines rivaled the legendary 1982 vintage, which remains one of my favorite all-time wines, it was a tremendous treat to be able to compare such old vintages from Pichon Lalande! . . . . #vin #vinrouge #redwine #bernssteakhouse #pichonlalande #bordeauxwine #cabernet #bordeauxblend #pauillac #oldwine #drinkbordeaux #wineporn #somm #pichon #sommlife (at Bern's Steak House) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_5NhEPHIw5/?igshid=11bwbwdqc7lpo

#vin #vinrouge #redwine #bernssteakhouse #pichonlalande #bordeauxwine #cabernet #bordeauxblend #pauillac #oldwine #drinkbordeaux #wineporn #somm #pichon #sommlife

It all started with a sip of Opus One! Back in 2007, one of my friends generously gave me a tasting pour from his bottle. As soon as that magical elixir hit my palate, it was as if the heavens parted and the angels started serenading me! While I had tasted plenty of wines before, I had never experienced anything like that! It was that moment that helped turn me into the wine lover that I am today! . Soon thereafter I visited Napa for the first time! While I enjoy reading about wine, there is no substitute for seeing the vineyards, the soil and the terrain in person, speaking with the owners and winemakers, and learning about the winemaking process. And, of course, the best part is the opportunity to taste numerous different wines, often paired with regional cuisine! . I enjoyed that first trip so much that, ever since that time, my vacations inevitably involve a wine-tasting component. In all, I have visited more than 38 wine-growing regions worldwide, including the vast majority of wine-producing regions in the United States. This picture is from the Willamette Valley in Oregon, which I visit often! . While an attorney by day (and sometimes nights and weekends), I am also a freelance wine journalist and currently pursing a level 4 diploma through the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). . I am honored to be the US representative in @sips.aroundtheglobe - a collaboration of like-minded wine enthusiasts. Its members represent twelve countries and have a collective reach of more than 100,000 followers. Please visit our new page and follow us as we sip around the globe! . . . . #sipsaroundtheglobe #wineenthusiast #winelovers #vineyard #vineyardvines #willamettevalley #youcansipwithus #wineblogger #wsetglobal #winetravel #wsetdiploma #aboutme #introduction #attorney #winery (at Willamette Valley) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_xgPzap4Zg/?igshid=1wjjvykrk7fyw

#sipsaroundtheglobe #wineenthusiast #winelovers #vineyard #vineyardvines #willamettevalley #youcansipwithus #wineblogger #wsetglobal #winetravel #wsetdiploma #aboutme #introduction #attorney #winery

GIVEAWAY ALERT! . To celebrate going over 10,000 followers, @shop.isitsundayyet has graciously offered to give away 3 Pop-A-Cork wine openers $44.99 MSRP)! As shown in the video, I was able to easily and quickly open my wine last night using the opener! . Entering is easy! Just make sure that you (1) Like and save this post; (2) Follow both @attorneysomm and @shop.isitsundayyet; and (3) Tag 2 friends (each in a separate comment below) who would enjoy this opener. Every additional tag is a bonus entry, and every story share of this post is an additional entry as well! Just be sure to tag both me and @shop.isitsundayyet in the story. . Of course, since I'm an attorney, there has to be some legalese! Disclaimer: The giveaway will close on Tuesday night at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to U.S. residents. This giveaway is not administered, affiliated with or sponsored in any way by Instagram. No purchase is necessary to enter. By entering, you confirm that you are 13+ years of age, release Instagram of all liability, and agree to Instagram’s terms of use. . . . . #giveaway #giveawayalert #10kgiveaway #10kfollowers #poppingbottles #popbottles #winefun #winewinewine #winetime🍷 #wineopener #winelover #attorney #attorneysomm #isitsundayyet #bottleopener (at Las Colinas, Irving) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_u7PwbJFRd/?igshid=imklurlhh1kd

#giveaway #giveawayalert #10kgiveaway #10kfollowers #poppingbottles #popbottles #winefun #winewinewine #winetime🍷#wineopener #winelover #attorney #attorneysomm #isitsundayyet #bottleopener

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