Reviews

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Selection Beckstoffer Bourn Vineyard

A tad darker and more plush than the 2015, the B Cellars 2016 Bourn shows a bit of reticence at the moment, sauntering up on its attack with a more medium-bodied delivery overall. Mid-palate was…

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Intense and concentrated without a doubt, but with a sophistication and focus that really showed extraordinarily well this time around. Even more elevated and complex in its showing since my previous…

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard

A mighty tasty representation of the site, and completely elevated in every respect since I last sampled this in barrel back in February. 10 months ago, this was all about sanguine and bloody butcher…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon The Arsenal Greer Vineyard

First bottle was a wet dog flawed mess.

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon The Arsenal Greer Vineyard

Another flawed bottle of the Arsenal. Wet newspaper and dog-left-out-in-the-rain mustiness. Fruit was blown and flat, with a bitter, astringent delivery overall.

Skipstone Oliver's Blend

Currant, plum, black cherry, black soil, forest floor, mulch, and some pencil shavings. A darker, earthier profile, with medium speed across the palate; finishes a little bitter and gritty. A…

Fisher Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Lamb Vineyard

Black currant, plum, and some black raspberry core fruit. Earth, wet cedar, and Nesquik chocolate powder. notes also emerge. Medium bodied, with a back end that finishes on a slightly bitter,…

Accendo Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

Black and red currant, blackberry jam, black and red cherry, sandalwood, chocolate chunk, and some spice. A slight floral note appeared on the tail end briefly, but got washed over with a tiny tannic…

Villa Del Lago Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine is going to be a wonderful expression of Pritchard Hill........but only after we set up a space station on Saturn's rings and Ex Machina ballerinas rule the world.

Gandona Cabernet Sauvignon

Powerful but fairly tight on initial PnP. Day 1 was much less giving than 24 hours later. Initially, this Gandona spit out some black cherry, cranberry, bitter chocolate, vanilla alcohol, and some…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Martinez Vineyard

The most accessible and giving of the other three Pritchard Hill wines tasted beside it. More black cherry fruit, with hints of bitter chocolate. Strongest in the mid-palate depth. Still a bit…

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson Vineyard

Previous notes apply. This was only pulled for purposes of a Pritchard Hill taste-off. Like all of the wines tasted, the Tor needs time. 3+ years minimum. I felt it was a little flat on its delivery…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

A beautiful wine that took a few hours in the decanter to unfurl and shed just a bit of excess cassis liqueur and alcohol to unveil an array of deeper purple, red, and black fruit flavors. Some tasty…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

After a couple of Coravin evolutions, the remaining juice from this bottle was PnP'd and consumed within 30 minutes. Great flavors and energy during this volley.

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Fruity and flat on the attack, with a hollow mid-palate that stumbled its way to a hot, booze-ridden finish. No real grip or frame aside from the distracting alcohol sensation on the back end.

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Last minute pull. It's been about a year since my last dance with the Scarlett. This showed less "ultra-modern" than last time, which I appreciated. A somewhat medium and pleasantly flavorful attack,…

Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown Napa Valley

Currant, black cherry, gravel, and earth notes lead the way, with a notable grippy minerality that elevates this wine beyond just being your average throwdown NV. Medium weight mid-palate, with a…

Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon Blueline

A beautifully rich and smooth attack of dark berry fruit, with dark chocolate and graphite notes that add interest. Mid-palate depth is notable, with enough acid and grip to corral the ripe core and…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Elysian Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Day 1: Great Gotham Gobs of Candied Cassis Boy Wonder! The first sips from this harlot worked the palate the same way Kim Basinger worked a bottle of honey bear honey in 9 1/2 Weeks. Good God man!…

Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus

Exhibiting beautifully brooding and complex flavors of black, purple, and dark red core fruit, the 2015 Amoenus kicks out notes of deep, dark black cherry, wild blackberry, black soil, black olive,…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Similar to last month. Like an agreeable friend-hug with someone you've kinda hung out with a time or two. No romance, but a decent "It's just lunch" type of wine. Drink now.

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Elysian Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Finished the bottle. Holding for a few years is still recommended. I poured this into a decanter and kept it at <52 degrees in an attempt to control the air influence (giving it air, but hoping…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Coravin pour. Same as before. It's fun. It's flavorful. It's not going to win any Nobel Peace Prizes or ever make it as an answer on Jeopardy, but this is solid juice served with a smile all day…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Bergfeld

Previous notes apply. Showed more complexity than its 2014 Hall Howell peer that was served the day before, but didn't do a ton to really show that it belongs in the upper echelons of Napa Cabernets.…

Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Same as previous notes. A decent amount of mid-palate concentration (though more on the elegant side of things overall), with some black mineral-laced fruit that added interest throughout…