A wonderfully balanced version of To Kalon. Not overtly flavor-blasted or extracted the way some versions of BTK can end up. Haunting and dark with still a finessed lift that elevates the core fruit,…
Same as my previous notes on this wine from August. This is both strong and beautiful in its delivery of red and black fruits. An interesting hybrid of sites that ultimately ends up creating a…
This had a very prominent funky railroad tie nose. On the palate, a little bit of the same, with a decent core of dark red/black fruit with some earth and spice. A fairly significant clamp on the…
Much more accessible and showy than its 2013 older brother. Sweeter fruit and a little more blue/black fruit (as contrasted with the 2013 black/red fruit profile). A little more dense and rich, but…
This followed a very similar path as the 2013 Carter LPV served alongside it. A little fruity (not as much red fruit as the Carter) and cattywampus on PnP, but with an hour or two in the decanter…
An interesting wine with a lot of flavors going on. Plum, black and red currant, blackberry, dark cranberry, earth, spice, oolong tea, and cedar. A little leathery and raisiny on the back end, with a…
Thanks to Cristal2000 for bringing this wine to the party. For me, the Hobbs had an inverse progression than the Carter. The Carter started out fruity and a bit over-lush and then made it's way into…
Straightforward and agreeable, with "medium" everything.attack, body, mid, finish. It was an ok wine, if not a bit uninspiring. Fairly soft and round overall. Red and black currant, cedar, and…
You might as well cut and paste Cristal2000's detailed notes on this wine, as he and I had a near-identical experience. PnP and this was initially overtly fruity (red fruited) and kinda wonky. We all…
This was a barrel sample generously gifted to us for our Las Piedras taste-off at Cook Restaurant in St. Helena, which also included a '13 Carter LPV, '13 Hobbs LPV, '13 Quivet LPV, and a '12 Vice…
Similar to the 2014s except that this 2013 was wound a little tighter and showed more of a linear profile. Plum, black and red currant, camphor, leather, and cedar. Tight, bitter, and pretty…
This Reserve was a little less funky than the standard 2014, but it still carried a strange aftertaste that I couldn't quite put my finger on. The attack started out seemingly solid, but then a…
Notes of ripe plum, camphor, mulch, and wet leather. Unfortunately all of the wines in the Sodhani lineup had a wood turpentine note to them. Not sure what was going on there. No rating.
Black, earthy core fruit surrounded by black currant, dark spice box, coffee grounds, and some faint truffle and earthy cedar on the tail end. Massive and finessed at the same time; as with the 2014…
Just when I thought nothing would be able to compete with Vice Versa's 2016 LPV served just before this wine, along came the good Doctor who just had to try to push the reigning champ off to the…
Absolutely unreal! This stands to become one of the best LPVs I've ever had; this juice blew the socks off of just about any LPV I've experienced. Of course, as a barrel sample, and as a wine that…
As much as I thought the Sleeping Lady was an enjoyable wine (served alongside the LPV), this LPV was notably more complex and driven. PnP displayed immediate gratification, with ripe blue and black…
Notes blue and black fruit, blue river rock, and some spice. Round, plush, and extremely inviting, this wine washes over the palate with ripe fruit and a medium-bodied delivery.
Earthy, ominous, and a bit gritty, the 2006 BTK was exhibiting a "Fistful of Dollars" profile of weathered, black soil, grating earth, and antique wood notes encompassing the mature, dark core fruit…
My first experience with this producer, and this did not disappoint at all. Beautiful blue/black core fruit, dark red raspberry, ripe black cherry, bitter chocolate, and a hint of cedar. The acid and…
This is certainly an easy drinker, with ultra-plush blue/black core fruit washing across the palate and coating it with a sucrosity that is both inviting and a little overwhelming at first. This…
Tight as a drum, with enough acid on the back end to suck all the fat out of sumo wrestler. Purity of fruit is notable indeed, as is the craftsmanship of the wine overall. However, this is a 2012…
Served side-by-side with a 2014 Bevan McGah. I favored the 2014 for its more exuberant personality and flavorful delivery of its blue and black fruit. The 2012 was probably a more balanced and…
Same as my previous notes from last month. Served side-by-side with a 2012 Bevan McGah. I favored the 2014 for its more exuberant personality and flavorful delivery of its blue and black fruit. The…
