This was the first wine in the tasting that seemed less uptight and unyielding. Here, a plushness and savoriness shows. A bit fruity at first, but with a textual seamlessness that seems to indicate a…
On first pass, and during the blind portion of this tasting, this presents as somewhat reduced, with muted fruit; it shows as both rounder and drier on the finish (if that's possible?). Shy red fruit…
At the onset, this bottle of Voleuse was like a little Sweetheats candy. "Be Mine. Cutie Pie. Hug Me. XOXO." I was always partial to, "For Shizzle My Nizzle." (Maybe that was a different candy -…
This was not part of the blind tasting of 2016 Napa Cabs, but of course, and you know how these things go, due to the continuing graciousness of our hosts, this 2019 MacDonald found its way into the…
Another go-around with this wine, which delivered the initial hit of powerful tannins, but was able to find a nice groove once given a healthy amount of air. This bottle kicked out super dark, black…
Broad-shouldered and powerful, the T6 launches its attack with copious amounts of cassis, muddled black and red raspberry, red cherry liqueur, and some boozy vanillin flavors, finishing strong and…
A very plush rendering of Sleeping Lady, with mocha, blueberries, blackberry cobbler, milk chocolate, vanilla, and sweet cassis, the 2016 Roam is succulent and round, with an easily accessible…
So chiseled and linear that it almost seems like this thing is gonna stayed locked and loaded for the next 30 years. With air, air, air, and more air, blackberry seed, black cherry, and fresh herbs…
Hands-down my favorite Quintvs of the lineup, with a depth and purity that truly delivers all the goods with one gorgeous gulp. The 2016s at this address are phenomenal, and the Quintvs showcases it…
A perfect wine. And in 10 years it'll be a perfect wine. And in 15 years it'll be a perfect wine. And in 20 years it'll..well, you get the picture. So, we all know that taro card reading wine is an…
Well, I asked for some tension and I got some tension. The 2015 is tighter and more linear than the 2014. This is indeed a long-hauler, with quite the grippy frame. More herbal and exacting on the…
There is a simmering herbaceous energy that swarms around the black currant and unripe black cherry flavors, with menthol and forest floor rounding out the profile. The cooler vintage makes for a…
A noticeable step up from the Teres, the Quintvs (pronounced Quintus, by the way - this house uses the "v" as a "u" FYI. A helpful hint from your pal csimm so you don't walk around saying "Adam-vs"…
I didn't get much of a read here. It was so linear and primary that any sort of logical assessment was lost between the pucker and the frame. Sour cherry and sour cherry and sour cherry. The finish…
Along the same lines as the 2016, this 2018 has a fuller mouthfeel and some dark power to counterbalance the grainy frame. The 2018 displays some of the mineral-inflect tannic spine as the 2013, but…
Surely the best of the bunch in terms of concentration and depth, the Reserve Cabernet offers that extra layer of density and breadth befitting a reserve designation. Powerful blackberry, black…
The vintage here does the Teres all the favors in the world, with initially a tight front end, but with requisite power to throttle the fruit and push it forward so that it can compete with the…
The powerhouse of the three SVDs, the Alluvium elbows past the partygoers and shows its upfront opulence and swanky luxury. Ripe blackberry is encircled with a bit of booze on the initial cascade of…
Tight, linear, and a bit spicy, the 2013 Teres shows some of the stern hallmarks of the vintage. With air, red and black currants, herbs, unripe raspberries, and dusty earth emerge. Finishes with…
Comparatively darker and chewier than the Red Hen, The Ceniza rolls out the blackberry, ash, bitter chocolate, pulverized granite, pencil lead, and wet cave flavors with a gothic and semi-serious…
A new project by Jack Bittner, with Graeme Macdonald as winemaker, the 2019 001 (double-O[oh]-one) will be the inaugural wine from prime plots on the Ecotone site. Jack was gracious enough to meet us…
Dark and deep, with ripe blackberry, purple plum, and red and black raspberry notes almost immediately landing on the mid-palate with a perfect dollop of savory goodness, but also with red currant…
Huh. This was. initially pretty perplexing. Round and uber-plush. Displayed pretty yummy black and blue fruit that was indeed tasty, but lacked the extra frame and tension to keep things moving and…
Another bottle of this got thrown into the mix courtesy of Cristal2000. This bottle OWNED the table in its own right. A Howell Mountain beauty that really outshined its other Adamvs peers all the way…
If you have $85 burning a hole in your corduroys and don't know what to spend it on, might I suggest the La Pelle Napa Valley. This is a total bang for your buck wine. You can drink this now and not…
