Reviews

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Jack's Masterpiece

Similar to my notes four months ago. Spice and cedar lead the way this time. A decent amount of verve to move the flavors through the palate. In the end I found it to be "pretty good," but nothing…

Dark Matter Cabernet Sauvignon Limitless

Another Mondavi sister (Angelina) creation. The Limitless was an ok representation of Howell Mountain (different areas than Aloft), but it fell behind even the Aloft Cabernet in terms of complexity…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Eighteen Seventy-Three Napa Valley

Same as my previous notes, except that I found this to be especially thin and forgettable this time around. Some red and black fruit, but nothing too complex or captivating about this wine in…

Aloft Cabernet Sauvignon

Interesting from a science project standpoint. This showed advanced flavors of over-ripe, mature black and red currant, cigar leaf, leather, mushroom, tea, and a streak of deep black cherry. Served…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall Napa Valley

FRUITY, with a side order of even more fruit. Fruit on the attack. Fruit mid-palate. Fruit on the back end, with fruit rounding out the finish. I like me some fruit and all folks, but man this black…

Aloft Cabernet Sauvignon

A decent example of Howell Mountain, with black and dark red core fruit, some spice, a little dark chocolate, and creamy oak. Mid-palate was more medium than I would have preferred, but it had…

Vincent Arroyo Cabernet Sauvignon

A weak example of the varietal. More approachable than the 2013 Reserve Cabernet, but in terms of complexity and flavor this Cabernet was almost instantly forgettable. Next to no push or energy to…

Addax Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Almost like a hybrid of the 2014 Bevan McGah and Ontogeny I just had prior to tasting this wine, but injected with 100 cc of horse juice, the Addax was deeply extracted and concentrated with black,…

Vincent Arroyo Cabernet Sauvignon Winemaker's Reserve

Tart, tight, acidic, and thin. Didn't taste like a Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, I'm not sure exactly what it tasted like. Some tart red currant and unripe crunchy red cranberry. Some green peppercorn…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon McGah Vineyard

A very giving and inviting representation of the McGah site, with a notable finesse that allowed for a seamless delivery of black and dark purple core fruit. Had a bit of a black asphalt, pebbly…

Montagu Cabernet Sauvignon The Baron

GIII fruit, but a fairly walk-in-the-park version of the site. A bit of an imbalance between the overt fruitiness and whacky acid. The bottom of the barrel in terms of the GIII site. "It was ok," is…

Harumph Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain

More structure and focus than its Napa sibling, the Spring Mountain at least had some seemingly decent fruit to balance the otherwise boozy profile. The attack was alcohol first, fruit later. 88…

Seven Stones Cabernet Sauvignon

Similar to my previous notes on 1/22/2017. This exhibited beautifully balanced flavors throughout the later courses of dinner. Kobe beef and lamb dishes were certainly friends to this wine. Notes of…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Same as all of my previous notes. Though this is drinking really well right now with a bit of a decant (two hours was optimal), I will try to listen to my own advice and wait until 2018+ before…

World's End Cabernet Sauvignon CrossFire Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard

I wasn't a fan of this wine at all. Given the Missouri Hopper site, I definitely expected more. Closed off, muted, thin, and a bit tannic. Some black fruit on the attack with a bitter back end.…

Lithology Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

A beautiful label with lovely packaging in a pretty box that would make most wine collectors proud to own a 3-pack...and...a totally forgettable and unfortunate bottle of juice given the players and…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Same as my notes two months ago. A step behind the GTO and OG in terms of Carter's To Kalon wines, but a great showing regardless. Hold until 2020+.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon La Verdad Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Still awesome. Still 100 point potential. Served side by side with La Bam. The La Bam is a very good wine, but this La Verdad is on a whole other level. Superior concentration and complexity.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon La Bam Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Same as my notes from two months ago except that I bumped this up a point. Served with La Verdad side by side. Admittedly La Bam can't match the sheer awesomeness of its superior sibling La Verdad,…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fortuna Vineyard

Same as my notes from two months ago. 10 minutes in the glass and some swirling really brought out some elevated flavors. Not as high toned and overtly red fruited as last time. Verve and acidic…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon BBS Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

On the nose, interesting floral aromas, with liqueur and alcohol wafting up through the back of the mouth. On the palate, dark red and black berry notes, black raspberry liqueur, and subtle violets.

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon The Magnificent Seven

A nearly flawless example of a big "cult style" Napa Cabernet. The attack is a rush of dark black currant, black cherry, black raspberry, dark chocolate, subtle char, and black mulch notes. A…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon BBS Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Close to being on par with the 2015 Magnificant 7, this LPV BBS is packed full of dark, chocolate-covered black berry, black currant, black licorice, black raspberry liqueur, cacao, and pulverized…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon

A Stagecoach (Pritchard Hill side)/LPV hybrid, this Cabernet showed the best of what can become of Stagecoach fruit, with some much elevated flavor assistance from LPV. I wouldn't have been able to…

Celani Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

PnP with plum, black cherry, and red and black currant core fruit flavors. Some hints of wet cedar. A little funk on the back end. Smooth and plump, with the dark, ripe plum and black cherry notes…