Reviews

Buoncristiani Cabernet Sauvignon

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…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon

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…

AJ Pearce Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. George Vineyard

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…

Favia Cabernet Sauvignon

Just 10 days ago, the bottle I had of this was really singing with about an hour of air. This time, it was wound extraordinarily tight throughout most of consumption. Almost like a totally different…

Sarocka Cabernet Sauvignon

93-94+ points this time around. With about two hours of air, it became more approachable and flavorful. Previous notes apply otherwise. I'll try to hold my next bottle until 2019+.

Post Parade Cabernet Sauvignon

Unfortunately I have to go against the CT grain on this one, as my experience was a little "meh" when all was said and done. This was the group's least favorite wine of the night. Part of the issue…

Barbour Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

A much softer and more accessible representation of the 2013 vintage for Napa Cabernet. Purple and black fruit profile, with some nice cedar flecks on the back end. Not overly complex, but extremely…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Same as my previous notes. PnP was a blast of alcohol and higher register red fruit notes. All it took was about an hour in the decanter and this wine was singing quite nicely. Really appealing red…

Hawkes Cabernet Sauvignon Red Winery Vineyard

Served as a horizontal trio of 2011 Hawkes Cabernets, to include the Red Winery, Stone Vineyard, and Pyramid Vineyard. This was my favorite of the three, with a decent push of red berry fruit. Still…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Same as all of my previous notes. Served next to a 2014 D.R. Stephens Napa Cabernet. I slightly favored the Scarlett, but both came off with decent pushes of fruit (2014 vintage showing a lot of baby…

D.R. Stephens Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

A very agreeable example of this varietal in the 2014 vintage. Not a ton of fireworks, but some nice black and blue core fruit to compliment the vanilla bean and subtle clove notes. Round, plush, and…

Hawkes Cabernet Sauvignon Hawkes Pyramid Vineyard

Served as a horizontal trio of 2011 Hawkes Cabernets, to include the Red Winery, Stone Vineyard, and Pyramid Vineyard. This came off extremely high-toned, almost as if it was a young Pinot. Cranberry…

Hawkes Cabernet Sauvignon Stone Vineyard

Served as a horizontal trio of 2011 Hawkes Cabernets, to include the Red Winery, Stone Vineyard, and Pyramid Vineyard. This was in the middle for me in terms of preference. It has some decent flavors…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Nine months since my last bottle. I think this needs even more time in bottle (2020). PnP has a decent amount of alcohol to blow off; it took about 3+ hours before it settled down and unveiled some…

Favia Cabernet Sauvignon

Previous notes apply. Displayed a beautiful, silky finesse throughout consumption. Extremely focused and balanced delivery. The perfect amount of weight and lift working in tandem to enhance its…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Previous notes apply. This is just as solid as it gets for a 2014 sub-$100 wine. PnP and it was good to go, though some air in the glass with a little swirling brought out deeper black cherry and…

Herb Lamb Cabernet Sauvignon HL

At first sip, a similar experience to my CT notes a few months ago. However, a soft plum note appeared after an hour or so of decanting, which threw off some of the initial classical Cabernet flavors…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Same as my notes from 8 months ago. Black cherry and plum liqueur dominated for the first three hours (slowly draining the bottle between our two glasses - no decant). Showed especially beautiful and…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Teucer Vineyard

Likely one of the best representations of the Coombsville site that I've ever had. Beautifully haunting and dark blackberry, black cherry, black raspberry, black currant, charred oak, melted dark…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Martinez Vineyard

Deep black raspberry, black cherry, cassis, black currant, and subtle bitter chocolate. Some vanilla-laced alcohol at the tail end of the attack, circling inside the mouth and clipping the finish…

Tusk Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasted at the House of Tusk Celebration event.

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon

Black and red fruit; some spice and sweet cassis as well. Deeply pitched and kicking out much more drive when compared to the 2014. The 2015 wrapped around the palate nicely, especially on the front…

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon

Round and accessible with no hard edges. Some nice red and black (and hints of blue) fruit. Black cherry and cacao nibs dominated, with some vanilla alcohol, cedar, and earth on the back end.

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper

PnP, with somewhat reticent notes of red and black fruit, cassis, and some earth and spice notes. I was missing some of the superlative intonations that would have otherwise driven me to express…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Very much in my lane in terms of the superior level of overall delivery that comes from the BTK site. Oakville fruit shown with a concentration and depth one would expect from a top tier wine, but…