Reviews

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Somewhat similar to the 2012 Revana Block 6 (served beside it) in terms of its dark, black core fruit. Less chocolate-driven than the Revana, but displaying a nice streak of black soil and earthy…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon Block 6

Very similar to the 2012 Block 6 I had the week before. Dark black and some super dark red core fruit, with black currant, chocolate, black soil, and spice to round-out the flavor profile. Dark,…

Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon

Same as my notes on this wine from last month. Black and purple core fruit (with some streaks of dark red), cassis, spice, and some licorice. More frame and grip than the 2015 Outpost Immigrant…

Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve

A step up from the 2015 Bone Ash, but still leading its attack with a lot of fruit in the mouth all at once. A darker flavor profile than the Bone Ash, with sappy black raspberry, wild blackberry,…

Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Bone Ash Vineyard

Definitely more fruit-driven than the Morlets and Rudd served alongside it, with seemingly less backbone and acidic grip. Ripe red and black core fruit, with lush, plush, rounded edges that would be…

Morlet Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Cour de Vallée

Compared/served directly next to a 2008 Morlet Coeur de Vallee and a 2012 Morlet Force de la Nature. My previous notes apply on this wine. This was 3rd of the 3 Morlets we had, mostly due to its…

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

A year since I had this wine. Man, I did everything I could think of to spoon-feed this wine into being anything beyond a stern-ass liquid Liam Neeson. No dice. This RBS carried a Klingon furrowed…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Previous notes apply. PnP was an initial punch of red and black cherry liqueur and vanilla extract. Decanted for an hour+, which GREATLY improved the overall delivery of flavor. Black cherry, red and…

Kobalt Cabernet Sauvignon

Dark black cherry and some bitter chocolate flavors dominate. Much more medium-bodied than expected. This performed similarly to a 2014 Grade Cabernet served alongside it. Both the Kobalt and Grade…

The Grade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Winfield Vineyard

All previous notes apply. An easy-going crowd pleaser for sure. Flavors are always enjoyable from this wine, if not just a touch simple on the back end. It performed similarly to a 2014 Kobalt served…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon Block 6

PnP with dark black and red berry core fruit. Chocolate, black raspberry, black currant, clove, allspice, and some black soil notes beautifully glide across the palate. Mid-palate and overall…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Teucer Vineyard

Previous notes from six months ago apply. PnP was just fine, albeit just a bit tight on the back end. Given a couple hours of air, this wine really opened up nicely with black cherry, dark bitter…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon BBS Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

An extraordinary example of the LPV site, with captivatingly crunchy minerality swirling amongst the gorgeously balanced and pure black and purple core fruit. Black cherry, miniature wild purple plum…

Lewis Cellars Cuvée L

PnP and this was ready to go. A little heat at first, but it blew off soon enough. Powerful but with a refined elegance that offers a more silky mouthfeel when compared to the Reserve or standard…

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Black and red core fruit, with notes of black and red raspberry, black and red cherry, vanilla liqueur, black rock, and some cedar. The mineral note shows up again on the back end (thankfully),…

Pulido-Walker Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard

Blackberry, black cherry, asphalt, black pebbles, and some scorched earth. The flavors were enticing, with the mineral notes really grabbing my attention. However, it was a bit boozy. The grip was…

Stone the Crows Cabernet Sauvignon Three Twins Vineyard

Pucker factor galore on the initial PnP. This needed some air to even out its delivery and broaden its shoulders a bit more. Sour plum, black and red cherry, wild blackberry liqueur, and some bitter…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon Terroir Series

Black cherry, black and red currant, plum, vanilla bean, and light cedar notes. Medium weight on the front end and through the mid-palate. Fairly simple and pedestrian, with a little bit of energy…

Post Parade Cabernet Sauvignon

Nose of ripe prune, green peppercorn, and poblano chili pepper. "Uh Oh?!" I immediately thought this was going to be blasted or flawed. Ultimately it was not - at least not the latter (which would've…

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

DAY 2: A little less than 1/4 of the previous juice was bottled in a small sample bottle, filled to the top, and sealed for the next day. Much more resolved and less overtly bombastic than Day 1.…

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

So I've had some breathtaking and otherworldly wines within the last week; and a number of them were from one of my favorite sites in the Valley. Who would've thought LPV could deliver such…

Addax Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Previous notes from last year apply. Big, ripe, and sexy, but with some serious scaffolding to hold it nicely together. Black and purple/red core fruit, with predominantly a black profile overall.…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

An exclamation of formidable magnificence in black liquid form, the 2016 barrel sample of the Quivet LPV was absolutely rockin'! A "Holy Mary, Mother of God" moment as soon at it hit the palate.…

Becklyn Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

Plush, round, flavorful, and pushing out a medium-bodied attack of dark black cherry, purple plum, blackberry, blueberry, cassis, and some spice. Certainly a nice array of flavors jumping around on…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

One of the top wines of the night. A point up from the last time I had this wine back in November of 2017. I would've said this was the best Quivet LPV I've had to date, but that attestation only…