Reviews

Crocker & Starr Cabernet Sauvignon Stone Place

Purple plum, blackberry, cedar, and hints of leather. A smooth and fulfilling entry that speaks to a nicely aged red with the seeming ability to evolve into its tertiary flavors with poise. There is…

Christopher Tynan Wines Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena Reserve

A solid performance, though this was rightly outshined a bit by a 2006 Abreu Madrona Ranch (comparative side-by-sides can get crunchy, eh?!). Otherwise, this 2012 Tynan Reserve was true to form and a…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The O.G. Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

With a silky-milkshakey entry, like a liquified raspberry nougat 3 Musketeers bar wrapped in a vanilla bean and caramel robe, this iteration of OG is a mix of oak and fruit that seemingly still need…

Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve

A straight skinny minny, with a diluted and "way-overly-classical" fringe profile that has the body of a Gamay, the brains of a Pinot Gri, and the stamina of a Lambrusco. Cedar, strawberry, red…

Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard

With a microscreen to filter-out some of the sediment and a small decanter to allow it to stretch its legs for about an hour at 52 degrees, the 2012 Araujo Eisele was ready for prime time. A lovely,…

Arrow & Branch Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch

A quartet of VHR wines side-by-side (among 20 other wines that night): 2018 VHR 2018 VHR Extended Barrel Age 2019 VHR 2019 Arrow & Branch VHR

Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon

Tense and coiled up on the initial pass, with crunchy blackberry seed, asphalt, coffee grounds, and gravelly soil. The profile is darker and blacker fruited than how I typically experience young…

Predecessor Cabernet Sauvignon Lorraine Red Lake Vineyard

Oh this is a round and fruity Cab that just says drink me now and love me for who I am. Don't ask me to take your math test. Don't ask me to recite Shakespeare. Just hold my hand, take me dancing,…

Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

An easy rider production of a Cabernet, with the softer contours of the 2012 vintage marrying with the now-ten-years-from-vintage maturity and resolution this wine brings to the table. A total food…

Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Though this showed some tertiary notes that more than hinted to the wine's age, they certainly added to the layered complexity of the flavor profile of this wine. Black and red raspberry, Red and…

VHR Cabernet Sauvignon Extended Barrel Age Vine Hill Ranch

A quartet of VHR wines side-by-side (among 20 other wines that night): 2018 VHR 2018 VHR Extended Barrel Age 2019 VHR 2019 Arrow & Branch VHR

VHR Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch

A quartet of VHR wines side-by-side (among 20 other wines that night): 2018 VHR 2018 VHR Extended Barrel Age 2019 VHR 2019 Arrow & Branch VHR

VHR Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch

A quartet of VHR wines side-by-side (among 20 other wines that night): 2018 VHR 2018 VHR Extended Barrel Age 2019 VHR 2019 Arrow & Branch VHR

Christopher Tynan Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines Meleagris Gallopavo

I've written a ton on this wine, so I'll spare everyone even more of my usual drivel and just say that this MG continues to impress. Though it offers upfront, chewy pleasure now (and a decent amount…

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

2016 Myriad Elysian, 2016 Myriad Empyrean, 2015 Schrader To Kalon, 2015 Schrader GIII

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon GIII Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

2016 Myriad Elysian, 2016 Myriad Empyrean, 2015 Schrader To Kalon, 2015 Schrader GIII

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Empyrean Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

2016 Myriad Elysian, 2016 Myriad Empyrean, 2015 Schrader To Kalon, 2015 Schrader GIII

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Elysian Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

2016 Myriad Elysian, 2016 Myriad Empyrean, 2015 Schrader To Kalon, 2015 Schrader GIII

MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon

The first line on my notes reads, "Of course. Why wouldn't 2019 be epic?! It's like it's not even fair to any other wine on the table." .though, in fairness, I will admit there was a bottle with some…

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Rock Block Series Magic Nights

From the Rock Block series, the 2018 Magic Nights is the latest iteration of this compelling succession. Black berry and mineral notes are beautifully weighted, with a mid-palate that brings on the…

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon SongBook

I could cut and paste most of my tasting notes for the 2019 Songbook and place them along with the beautiful 2018, with the exception of the slightly dialed-back ostentatiousness displayed with the…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

This continues to perform like the molten mineral-laced black asphalt blackberry bitter-chocolate baby you all know and love. It's as flashy and opulent as LPV can get without sacrificing focus and…

Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Bone Ash Vineyard

Boy oh boy, here we go with the blackberry biggin of biggins. I was instantly reminded of the 2019 Bevan Crane, with the oak and the coffee and the riiiiich berry fruit.and the oak. I suppose there…

Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Bone Ash Vineyard

Though there was a certain group who preferred the 2016 Venge served next to the 2013, I appreciated the extra tension the 2013 provided. For me, the 2013 and 2016 couldn't be more different. For…

Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Initially a red berry and cedar dominant profile, which quickly gave way to vivacious black cherry, spice, gravel, and faint hints of Italian seasoning (dried thyme and oregano). The spice and cedar…