Reviews

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard

A new offering from Tor using the Herb Lamb Vineyard to source a single vineyard designation Cabernet Sauvignon. A beautifully centered wine, with some nice darker fruits peeking out of it. Showed…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Previous tasting notes apply. My last bottle. PnP was slightly tight, with some alcohol lingering on the finish. Red and black fruit dominant, with black licorice, red and black currant, and some…

Boich Family Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Identical to my notes from October 2015. This wine has a lot of verve and energy, packed with coiled-up red and blue fruit flavors. Very good now; will hopefully be greater in another year or two.…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Bluegoose's notes are right on the money with this wine. Not much else to add. Certainly a well crafted and enjoyable wine, but somewhat overshadowed by the 2012 and 2013 vintages. Turned a little…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Quick impromptu tasting with Mike Smith during a pick-up of my Carter/Myriad/Quivet wines. This was poured via Coravin and allowed just a little time for air with some swirling in the glass.

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Quick impromptu tasting with Mike Smith during a pick-up of my Carter/Myriad/Quivet wines. This was poured from Coravin with just a little time to breathe in the glass.

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Connoisseurs Series Allier French Oak Gamba Block 2

Notes of black berry fruit, dark plum, and cedar. Smooth and drinking well now; looks to be at the apex or just on the beginning downturn of its optimum drinking window. The cedar note became more…

Mark Herold Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Brown Label

Holding steady at 95-96 points. Previous tasting notes from a few months ago still apply. Three hours of air in a decanter at 54 degrees smoothed out the overall texture of the wine very nicely.

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Cimarossa Vineyard

Unbelievable showing this time around. Similar to my specific tasting notes six months ago in terms of specific flavors, except that the black licorice and asphalt notes circled even more superbly…

Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection

PnP with accessible and immediately gratifying notes of blackberry, black cherry, black and red current, dark chocolate, and vanilla bean. A kiss of spice on the back end framed the core flavors…

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

At the risk of sounding like I'm getting kickbacks from Schrader or something (I wish!), I have to admit this was indeed a fabulous showing with this wine. Had a bit of a tight grip on initial PnP,…

Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon

Another strong showing with this wine. Drinking well now, without the sweetness that had appeared previously. Nice round, dark fruit and dark chocolate flavors at the forefront.

Hartwell Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve

PnP with enthralling notes of black and red currant, blackberry, asphalt, spice, and a hint of vanilla. After over an hour in the decanter at 54°, deeper flavors of dark chocolate and black licorice…

Lewelling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena

PnP with notes of dusty red and purple berries, red and black currant, bitter plum, spice box, and a little earth. Threw out some wonderful intensity and verve on initial opening. Right away I felt…

Bacio Divino Cabernet Sauvignon Janzen Cloudy's Vineyard

Decanted at a restaurant (Seven Hills SF) and followed over the course of two hours. Specific tasting notes from my last experience with this wine a few months ago still apply, with amazing dark…

The Debate Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Much improved from my previous experience with this wine nearly eight months ago. Decanted at a restaurant (Seven Hills SF) and followed for three hours.

Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection

PnP, then decanted at 54 degrees, and followed over the course of about two-three hours. Time/Air didn't necessarily mark any significant changes in this wine's overall flavor profile; it stayed…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Previous specific tasting notes still apply. I continue to love this wine. Slow O2 at 54° for an hour. Consumed over two more hours, which was the perfect service treatment of this wine for my…

Barnett Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Rattlesnake

PnP with good wild mountain red and purple berry fruit notes. Tight and chalky initially, but it didn't take long to open up fairly nicely. After about an hour decant, notes of plum, ripe raspberry,…

Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard

I have to remember to listen to my own advice about waiting until mid-2017 before I crack the cork on wines like this. PnP was very, very tight, but the sleek, black fruit-driven profile gave me hope.

Mending Wall Cabernet Sauvignon

PnP with wild flavors of red and black berry, red currant, black cherry, black raspberry, tobacco, bitter chocolate, and dust. A little high-toned to start, but quickly lost its bite after a little…

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon

On initial PnP, this was singing beautifully. Notes of dark plum, red and black currant, brambly blackberry, and some asphalt/minerality. This started off tasting a little like a wild mountain fruit…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Kaliholmanok Bel Canto

There are those times in life (and in wine) when all the stars align. I don't give out 100 points hardly ever (maybe once or twice so far - and I've been lucky enough to have some pretty phenomenal…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon

On initial PnP, this threw off alcohol, cedar, and plum. After a slow O2 for about an hour (and some decent swirling in the glass), the confluence of flavors improved more seamlessly. Still, it never…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

This was one of the stars of the evening. No decant. PnP and slow O2 over an hour of consumption. The bottle was empty after an hour-and-a-half.