Reviews

Tusk Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

Plum-dominant, with accompanying flavors of black cherry and black/purple berry fruit; wild, macerated raspberry makes a brief appearance, but is pushed over by the earthy plum note that elbows its…

Tusk Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" shouted the stinging nettle Tusk as is pulled the sheets over its face, refusing to get up and go to school. Balled-up, Coiled-up, spikey, and with even more air, a bit bitter…

Tusk Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

Opulence is the word of the day here folks. Expressive and fruit-forward, the 2014 washes over the palate with velvety, lush black berry fruit. The hallmark slice of red fruit interjects briefly, but…

Tusk Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

The clear standout and undeniable best of the Tusk lineup was indeed the complex and sophisticated 2015 Tusk. As seemed to be the case for most everyone at the table, the progressive vintages…

Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Drinking much younger than it would seem for a 12-year-from-vintage Napa Cabernet, this initially fools you into thinking it's 5-6 years younger. Started out a little tight, yet bold and…

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Cimarossa Vineyard

This was pretty balled-up this go-around. Before it finally got around to delivering some of its more familiar flavors, it had spent at least an hour or two in the decanter unbundling itself. Still,…

Steltzner Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District

Cotton candy confection is at the forefront of this wine at the moment. Some purple and red berry fruit notes, laced with vanilla and whipped cream. Hold for 3-5+ years so it can hopefully shed some…

Becklyn Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper

Creosote, blackberry, damp black earth, fresh turned soil, and some charcuterie notes cut in line before the frame eventually catches up with its semi-sweet, rich tannins. A bit of an onslaught on…

12c Cabernet Sauvignon G3 Reserve Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Almost indistinguishable from the 12C, the 12C G3 Reserve displayed a same red and black fruit interlaced with cedar and dry, dusty soil notes; exhibited nearly-identical weight distribution and…

Becklyn Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Moulds Vineyard

This wine is admittedly a tricky one for me, as this particular site jives less with my palate in general; so, full disclosure there. Many will find it to be a well-honed machine that reflects…

12c Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Red and black fruit, and seemingly the most light-footed of the 2017s in the tasting. As is typical with the 12C, a cedar and earth element rides throughout the delivery. A much daintier example of…

Becklyn Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

Much like the Myriad Twins, the standard Becklyn sample displayed fresh, ripe red and black fruit, albeit with a more reserved temperament overall at the moment. Complete, friendly, and with medium…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Kenefick Ranch

The 2017 Quivet Kenefick and Pellet samples tasted identical to me in their current states. Some sweet vanilla and strawberry cream elements encircle the red cherry core, with hints of spice barely…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Peterson Family

A new offering from Mike Smith, the Peterson (of Switchback Ridge fame) is a very fine testament to the site's ability to pump out some quality juice. Not surprisingly, this behaved very similarly to…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

A more red/purple fruit profile this vintage, with less of the black fruit and scorched mineral elements as is typically the case with this wine and from this site. The front end hits the palate with…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Round Pond Vineyard

The most plush and round of the 2018 offerings, the Round Pond delivers well in the blackberry and plum department, flaunting its commodities without giving up the whole farm. Fun and pleasurable…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Round Pond Vineyard

Similar as I recall from barrel, but ultimately the Round Pond was somewhat of an enigma for me. There is purple fruit intermingling with tobacco leaf and earth, but I was getting a Pine-sol note…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Twins Vineyard

Showing its hand the least amongst the otherwise intense and commanding 2018s, the Twins rode a little high on entry and couldn't get into full envelopment mode on the palate in its current state.…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Twins Vineyard

Lighter bodied than the Steltzner, but with a very similar fruit profile; exhibiting red and purple berry fruit and some strawberry vanilla cream to add some interest. Purple plum shows up on the…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Dear Lord in Heaven, this is a WIIIIIDE open book in its current state, splaying out all the goods right on the front end and making no excuses for it. Those familiar with GIII are no strangers to…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Steltzner Vineyard

Red and purple berry fruit, pulverized granite, and some subtle spice. Much less black and intense this go-around than from when I had it out of barrel. A very satisfying and complete wine, though…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Empyrean Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Tight and locked-up from the very first sip, but not so much that it doesn't offer the insatiable consumer some flavor gratification in the form of black currant, black pebbles, plum skin, and…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

My notes on this wine started out with "WAIT," as the first sip displayed a walled-off demeanor fortified with tannins and an almost bitter clamp that initially stomped on the fruit. Luckily, with…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Blackberry, black cherry, and ripe purple fruit compile the core fruit, with scorched earth, wet cedar, and obsidian framing the general profile. This is displaying a bit of a reduced and macerated…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Purple and red fruit. Initially an unassuming and straightforward delivery, but the Scarlett picks up some weight mid-way through and pushes its fruity character on through the medium finish. A much…