David Wilcox @ HopMonk Tavern, Novato, CA, USA, 02/22/2025

Opening the show was local guitarist Teja Gerken, kicking things off with his charming new composition Aerogramme. Vicki's Red Boots featured some great tapping technique, and the tune 11:11PM delighted with its impressive melody. I really enjoyed John Coltrane's Naima, played on a 12-string guitar, as well as Teja's The Groomsmen, which had a bit of a rock feel. He wrapped up his set with a short version of Turlough O'Carolan's Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór. A great start to the night!

After a short break, David Wilcox took the stage, opening with the pleasant Start With the Ending. I liked the next catchy tune called We Make the Way by Walking. David's extended set showcased many gorgeous songs with witty lyrics, along with intriguing poetry and some spoken word. And his laugh was absolutely infectious! Wilcox's guitar technique is undeniably impressive, though his music often leans too soft and mellow for my taste — I find it more engaging when it carries a bit more edge. Among the more energetic pieces, I especially enjoyed Rusty Old American Dream — such a great tune! I also got quite a kick out of Ladders and Chainsaws, performed a cappella to the tune of My Favorite Things — what a hilarious moment! I'd love to see David perform again, but wouldn't mind having other musicians accompanying him. An evening well spent.

Set list (Teja Gerken, 8:00 PM — 8:30 PM): Aerogramme, Vicki's Red Boots, 11:11PM, Naima, The Groomsmen, Sí Bheag Sí Mhór

Set list (David Wilcox, 8:45 PM — 10:28 PM): Start With the Ending, We Make the Way by Walking, I Wish You Enough, ? ("it's getting pretty close to sunset"), The Beautiful, Rusty Old American Dream, Show the Way, Eye of the Hurricane, The Way I Tell the Story, Roses, Ladders and Chainsaws, Disappearing Man, Worst Enemy, ? ("switch off my distractions"), ? ("I don't know the next right thing"), Perfect Storm, Deeper Still, The View from the Edge, Spectacular Catastrophe
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2019 Williams Selyem "Bacigalupi Vineyard" Zinfandel tasting notes

2019 Williams Selyem "Bacigalupi Vineyard" Zinfandel 75cl 15.1% ABV
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley AVA
Varietal: Zinfandel
Barrel aged for 14 months (26% new oak, 26% one year old, 26% two years old, 22% three plus years old)

Color: purple.
Nose: cedar nuts, hazelnuts, anise, vanilla, blueberries, leather, pepper, plums, blackberries, lemon zest, tomato leaf. Over time, lacquer appears.
Taste: plums, strawberries, chocolate, cherries, red currants, pepper, mint. Ripe tannins, bright acidity (pH: 3.47, T.A.: 6.1 g/L), excellent balance.
Finish: chocolate, cherries, raspberries, tannins, cranberries, a hint of salt, pepper.
Score: 9 ¼. Nearly excellent. +2+3+2.

Conclusion: gorgeous Zinfandel with extra nuttiness on the nose and an amazing taste. This wine is close to its peak — drink now or hold for a couple more years. 93/100.

Glenfarclas 2010/2024 tasting notes

GlenFabulous 13YO (?) Duncan Taylor Exclusively for K&L Wines 70cl 55.1% ABV
Faultline range
Distilled May 8, 2010, bottled July 29, 2024
Cask type: Hogshead
Cask no: 29900345
294 bottles


Color: golden.
Nose: apples, peaches, fresh bread, honey, Qurabiya biscuits, clay, cinnamon, star fruit, pea pods, sheep's wool, wax, cashew nuts, caraway, mint, cloves, cut grass, and a hint of shampoo. The fruity notes are pleasant, though the shampoo-like ones feel somewhat out of place.
Taste: apples, pears, quinces, limes, lemons, cinnamon, dark chocolate, pepper, honey. Not very complex, but pleasant, and not overly sweet.
Finish: toffee, pepper, apples, pears, salted caramel, lemons, bitter medicinal herbs.
Score: 8 ¼. Nearly good. +1+1+1.

Conclusion: a bourbon cask-matured Glenfarclas from Duncan Taylor, bottled as GlenFabulous since independent bottlers cannot use the distillery's actual name on the label. It's always interesting to try a naked Glenfarclas, stripped of its usual sherry influence, though this one doesn't leave a strong impression. The packaging feels cheap, and the age remains a question — if the provided dates are correct, this whisky is 14 years old. 83/100.