Reviews

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Black cherry liqueur, initially tasting a bit like the Elysian, but with a little more swanky red cherry tones. Round and somewhat boozy; the most plush of the lineup. Finished a little chewy…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Elysian Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Black cherry and red cherry cassis; not as dark or as concentrated as the Memento Mori served directly beside it. Rode higher in its tonal expressions, with some booze and glycol on the back end. A…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon BBS Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Keenly focused and pure blackberry, black cherry, black river rock, and bitter dark chocolate notes fired-off in deliberate succession on the front end of the attack. A more serious wine when…

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Compelling aromatics of dark muddled fruit and a slight floral whiff. On the palate, beautifully rich blackberry and chocolate on the front end. Cassis, black cherry, blueberry skin, clove, and a…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

This was the richest and most concentrated of the wines sampled, with chocolate, huge blackberry and ripe black cherry, floral, and black wet soil. Like the Realm, the texture on this wine was…

Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Exquisitely balanced with richness akin to the Memento Mori, with just a little less of the bitter dark chocolate notes coming out (which I was surprised about when I later learned this was the Realm…

Domaine Vacheron Sancerre

Very well balanced. No fireworks, but well crafted and perhaps a bit rounder than I prefer in my SB. Missing elevated energy and cut. Verve was medium. It was a "nice" date, and would serve well as a…

Buoncristiani Cabernet Sauvignon The Core

Ripe blackberry preserves, with some dark soil and chocolate picking up the rear of the delivery and saving it from becoming an absolute, singular implosion of ripe black fruit. Much more rich and…

Bevan Cellars Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard

So smooth and silky at this stage of the game. Give this a go if you have a few bottles. It'll last for a number of years for sure, but there's really no need to delay gratification. It was a little…

Staglin Family Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

Wonderful black currant and crunchy blackberry notes, with a bit of a hardened minerality streak that kept the delivery fairly linear and somewhat primary. There is definitely sophistication and…

Keplinger Mars

More upfront fruit this go-around, leading with ripe plum, kirsch, and deep red raspberry. Progressing along nicely (and a little more rapidly than I had initially expected). Carries additional, more…

Vice Versa Chardonnay Platt Vineyard

I know, I know... it's another 100 point Chardonnay from me. But pop a pill and hear me out on this......

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Steltzner Vineyard

Still as awesome as last year. Perhaps, dare I say, gaining some refinement since my last sample in the Fall. The latter half of my previous notes apply (a la the John Stamos reference), with the…

Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Champagne Blanc de Noirs Cote de Bechalin

As before, I really find this wine to be a beguiling example of Pinot Noir Champagne. Focused and deliberate while also complex and just a tad funky (as is Cedric's signature), with saline meets…

Greer Cabernet Sauvignon Greer Vineyard

This rendition of Greer carries the signature Pott black cherry compote and pummeled ripe strawberry core, with some nice dust and cassis notes to balance it all out. More focused and framed-out than…

Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Silver Eagle Vineyard

Predominately red fruited, with some citrus peel and rock notes. A easy-going Pinot at this stage. Not as much of a loosey-goosey experience as last year's sample, but definitely lacks some of the…

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Platt Vineyard

This poor little gawky ogre is still in a bit of a tug-of-war mode with its vanilla-glycol-alcohol versus grilled pineapple-lemon flavors all competing for center stage in Thunderdome. More of a…

Laherte Frères Champagne Extra Brut Les Vignes d'Autrefois

Though it hasn't been able to catch up to the phenomenal 2012 version, this 2013 offers a nice drive of yellow citrus and black cherry flavors, along with the typical rustic PM tinge of bark and…

Aubert Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard

Almost a year since my last note, with the Eastside coming along quite nicely. More fruit and unctuous flavor expansion this go-around. However, some if the typical Aubert glycol peeking through and…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Teucer Vineyard

It's been over a year since I last sampled this vintage of Teucer. As expected, this has progressed nicely, with unctuous but not overbearing flavors of dark berry fruit, dark chocolate, and black…

Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon

Dark and fairly rich. Chewy and a little bubblegumy in terms of mouthfeel. A nice full texture, but kind of a dumb delivery in that it lacks complex and expansive layering of flavors. Blackberry,…

Morlet Family Vineyards La Proportion Dorée

Refer to previous notes. Continue to hold, though this is offering gorgeous and pure yellow citrus fruit flavors, with an exquisite balance and a near-flawless glide. Worth keeping in the cellar for…

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

Same as before. I know others think time in bottle will help this wine, and I hope they are correct. For me, I'm not confident time in bottle will help. It stands to smooth out a bit and shake off…

Realm Cellars The Tempest

Almost a year and a half since I last had this wine. I thought I had drunk the last of this vintage of Tempest, but the cellar Santa unearthed this bottle hiding in the back.

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Almost a year since I've had this. Followed over three days. I've posted way too much in this wine as it is, but it's worth saying that there is stuffing to last a number of years. Notable focus…