Reviews

The Grade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Kingly Project Winfield Vineyard

A big, black, brooding Cabernet with a near-bottomless pit of dark core flavors. PnP with coiled-up blackberry, black licorice, red and black currant, asphalt, tar, bitter dark chocolate, obsidian,…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Twins Vineyard

PnP and my initial reaction was along the same lines of a number of folks who commented about this wine needing time. Very tight and clipped at first, but bursting at the seams with a medley of dark,…

Forman Cabernet Sauvignon

Opened this as part of a lineup of 2013 Cliff Lede, 2013 Rivers-Marie, and 2010 L'Aventure Cabernets.

Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasted this alongside a lineup of 2013 Cliff Lede, 2010 Forman, and 2010 L'Aventure Cabernets.

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District

I opened this up as an experiment with a lineup of 2013 Rivers-Marie, 2010 Forman, and 2010 L'Aventure Cabernets. This was at the end of the pack.

L'Aventure Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

Same as my previous CT notes on 2/7/2016.

Mark Herold Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Brown Label

Same as my CT notes on 2/12/2016. I bumped this up another point, as it was rocking, with all of the right parts in place. It had been open for a few hours in the bottle, which seemed like a great…

Mark Herold Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Brown Label

I tasted this wine in a side-by-side comparison with a bottle that had been open for approximately 6 hours, and one that was served via a Coravin device. These two 2013 Brown Labels were also served…

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District

Tasted alongside a Cliff Lede 2012 Stags Leap Cabernet and a 2011 High Fidelity. This was the weakest of the trio, with a thin and watery mouthfeel, lacking viscosity and depth. Some red currant and…

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District

Same as my specific notes from 2/12/2016. Not surprisingly, this wine bested a 2011 Cliff Lede Stags Leap Cabernet and a 2011 Cliff Lede High Fidelity.

Mark Herold Wines Herold

This was a Coravin pour, tasted alongside the 2013 Brown Label and the 2013 Coombsville at Mark Herold in Napa.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Coliseum Block

PnP with notes of smooth black raspberry, red/black currant, wild berry (almost a brambly, mountain fruit quality), red licorice, and a nice dusty/chalky component that added good cut on the back end.

Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Peterson Family Vineyard

PnP with the same tannic black berry fruit, black licorice, and wet pebble notes as my last CT note from 9/26/2015. 88-90 points on initial sips.

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Specific tasting notes were pretty much the same except that this go-around on the PnP it was a little clunky. It reminded me that this is still a young 2013 Napa Cabernet that isn't 100% ready to…

Forman Cabernet Sauvignon

More in line with my specific notes from 12/15/2015. Drinking good now without a decant. Classical Napa Cabernet style, with deep purple/red berry and currant notes. As always, some cedar on the back…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Pellet Vineyard

I concur with other previous notes on this wine, especially JCAASI01 regarding its plump, round characteristics. It almost drank like a big Merlot, with some juicy Syrah components (as mentioned by…

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District

PnP with notes of red and purple berry fruit, red and black currant, cocoa powder, and chalk. Not filling in much on the mid-palate and a bit of a bite on the finish. Into the decanter it went.

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon LPV Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

PnP with notes of beautifully brambly red and purple berry fruit, black raspberry, macerated blackberry, vanilla bean, dark chocolate raspberry liqueur, espresso, black currant, and just a faint hint…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Same as my specific CT notes from 10/31/2015. Good stuff. Barely needed a decant. Drink now and over the next few years.

Sullivan Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon James O'Neil

PnP with notes on ripe plum, black cherry, red currant, vanilla, and signature Rutherford dust. Air helped to broaden the flavors a bit, but also muddled the fruit. The plum note became especially…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Kudos to AGEVERETT, YACK MAN, and BLUEGOOSE who nailed this wine perfectly.

Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Tasted at Realm with Juan and Scott, alongside the 2013 Bard, 2013 Farella, and a 2013 Bevan Wildfoote Cabernet (just to mix it up a bit)!

Realm Cellars Farella Vineyard

Tasted at Realm with Juan and Scott, alongside the 2013 Bard, 2013 BTK, and a 2013 Bevan Wildfoote (just for fun).

Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve

Tasted at Venge, side by side with the 2013 Bone Ash, which was a different wine stylistically from the Reserve. While the Bone Ash was awash with powerful and opulent blackberry and black licorice…

Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Bone Ash Vineyard

Tasted side by side with the 2013 Venge Reserve Cabernet. Both were top notch Napa reds with reasonable QPRs considering what's in the bottle. They are a tad bit different wines stylistically; I…