Reviews

L'Aventure Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

Showing the earthy side of Cabernet Sauvignon at this stage. Notes of wild and dust-covered plum, red and black cherry, and dry soil and sedimentary rock. The plum and cherry dominate throughout the…

Miner Family Cabernet Sauvignon Emily's

Uber fruity. Oceanspray Cran-Cabernet cocktail. Some black cherry, blackberry, and cranberry-plum flavors. Next-to-no depth or focus. Finishes weak, with no sense of nuance or sophistication. Better…

Nickel & Nickel Cabernet Sauvignon Branding Iron

A curious mix of cranberry and plum flavors, with some vanilla and crunchy pomegranate and red currant notes. Simple and a little odd overall. The price of admission on some of these N&N Cabs seems…

Nickel & Nickel Cabernet Sauvignon Dragonfly

Round and ripe red and black cherry, plum, and some cedar. Straightforward and soft around the edges. Finishes plummy and a bit globular. Drink now and over the next few years.

Nickel & Nickel Cabernet Sauvignon Hayne Vineyard

A plummy Zinfandel-esque profile with an overly ripe, round, and simple core. Flavors of plum, plum, plum, black cherry, macerated blackberry, cedar, and plum. Finishes plummy, with a plum-ridden…

Nickel & Nickel Cabernet Sauvignon John C. Sullenger Vineyard

Though fairly tight and somewhat constricted, this was probably the best in the lineup from this producer. Notes of black and red cherry, vanilla, black raspberry, cedar, red and black currant, and…

Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras

Previous notes apply from last year, though I do think another couple of years will produce even more upside for this wine. The 2014 is an agreeable vintage no doubt, with a personable delivery of…

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

It's been three years since my last bottle of this wine. A slight bit of evolution in bottle has served it well, but it hasn't changed all that much. Perhaps a little more expressive and less linear,…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Still sticking to 2020+ (maybe even 2021) as a marker for offering an even more improved drinking window on this wine. It performs quite decently with a healthy decant, but would do well to shed a…

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Still best to hold until after 2021++. This bottle was followed for four separate days over the course of two weeks (Coravin pours and a final day of a few hours of open air).…

Barnett Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Rattlesnake

Constricted and wrapped around the axle, this hyper-young wine is still in the embryonic state. Notes of crunchy cranberry, pomegranate, red cherry, red currant, cedar, green peppercorn, and some…

Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus

2016 Materium and 2016 Amoenus side-by-side.

Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium

2016 Materium and 2016 Amoenus side-by-side.

Tusk Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

As soon as the juice hits the glass, the nose cons you into thinking you made a big mistake, with crushed ripe blackberry and Grey Goose slithering up the nostrils. It's not a full-on Everclear…

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Followed over three separate days - divided (March 18, 21, and 28) via Coravin and finally open-air on the final day. The initial Coravin pours were certainly flavorful, but with a bit of a…

Bacio Divino Cabernet Sauvignon Janzen Cloudy's Vineyard

Delivered as expected given last year's performance, the 2014 Cloudy's continues to kick out a solid bevy of dark/black flavors; black raspberry, blueberry, black currant, asphalt, black soil, and…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

A serious wine indeed, perhaps even a bit too serious in its present state, with a Jack Nicholson "You can't handle the truth" proclamation as soon as it launches its sword-forward attack on the…

Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus

Similar to previous notes. A little rounder and more plush this time around, displaying a beautifully balanced and smooth entry, if not lacking just a bit of verve and grip to best house the gorgeous…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

2014 Quivet LPV and 2014 Schrader LPV side-by-side.

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon LPV Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

2014 Quivet LPV and 2014 Schrader LPV side-by-side.

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

One of my Napa Cabs of the vintage, and a consistent standout every time I pop the cork. This wine simply lays waste to a whole mess of wines when in comparative tastings or as a stand-alone. The…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Black cherry dominates here, with subtle hints of black river rock, dust, and vanilla. Showing some linearity, with a more horizontal delivery of flavors in its current state. Agreeable and a super…

Arrow & Branch Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Much improved and developed from when I had this last year. Black cherry, black raspberry, cardamom, blackberry seed, and some dust. The initial attack cons you into thinking it is going to be…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Incubo

2015 Incubo & 2015 Space and Time.

Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Barrel sample. A fresh and vivacious example of Crane, registering a little high and red-fruited at the moment. A great deal of speed and pop here, with notes of bing cherry, red raspberry, cassis,…