Reviews

Becklyn Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

From 3L. Similar to previous notes. Huge, plush, ripe attack, with black/red/purple fruit liqueur, black cherry, plum, and vanilla. A fantastic flavor profile; a little plump and doughy on its…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Empyrean Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

From magnum. Decanted and aerated over the course of 3+ hours. Final sips were the absolute best.

Lerner Project Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

From magnum. Dark, chocolate-covered black cherry and black raspberry core fruit, with dark clove and anise spice notes. Compelling scorched earth, embers, and black earthy soil components added…

Bevan Cellars Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard

A gorgeous and massive frontal attack of black and purple core fruit, with black raspberry, bitter chocolate, dark cassis, and spice notes. Similar to the '16 EE served beside it, but with less overt…

Bevan Cellars EE Cuvée Tench Vineyard

Huge blackberry and black raspberry core fruit, with waves of boozy red and black licorice, black cherry liqueur, currant, and spice. Delivering flavor like a hussie barrel sample from a brothel in…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Wildfoote Vineyard, Vixen Block

Oh man, is this wine gonna be a sexy siren when it has a chance to fully come together. Currently, it's a pro athlete in training mode getting geared-up for the main event. Driven and captivating for…

Bevan Cellars Danger D Cuvée Showket Vineyards

From .750. While the David's Cuvée was noticeably less intense in .750 than from magnum the day before, the Danger D was fairly similar between the two bottling sizes. Possibly a hair less…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon David's Cuvée Showket Vineyards

From .750. Interesting the differences between this bottle and the magnum from the day before. This bottle was just as smooth and beautiful, but noticeably less intense and more medium in its…

Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

PnP and this at-first-look beauty caressed the palate with lovely black core fruit and black/blue river rock. With every moment of air, however, this HSS started to quickly soften. In little time,…

Ultramarine Blanc de Blancs Heintz Vineyard Sonoma Coast

White stone and high-pitched yellow citrus core fruit. More linear in its delivery when compared to the 2010 Ultramarine served next to it. A little bit of the usual saline funk I associate with this…

Ultramarine Blanc de Blancs Heintz Vineyard Sonoma Coast

Funky yellow citrus, quince, chalk, seaweed, bruised lemon rind, and some wet hay. An interesting display of flavors across the palate, offering a unique complexity certainly not seen with domestic…

Paul Bara Champagne Grand Cru Special Club

A really enjoyable Special Club. Clean yellow citrus with the perfect amount of yeast and saline to provide a beautifully enticing body and cut. Nice oyster shell and salted lemon curd additions made…

Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier Brut

70/30 Chardonnay/Pinot Noir. Disgorged September 2016.

Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon

This was the sparkler of the evening, with superb balance and delivery of flavors across the palate from entry to the finish. Mature oxidative notes of salty butterscotch, bruised lemon peel,…

Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée Edition 165eme

Previous notes from two months ago apply, except that I bumped this up another point primarily because of the nice oxidative butterscotch and plantain notes that developed over time in the glass with…

Lillian Winery Syrah

A Syrah trio of 2008 and 2009 Lillians, and a 2012 Andremily No. 1. The latter was clearly the more complex wine.

Lillian Winery Syrah

A Syrah trio of 2008 and 2009 Lillians, and a 2012 Andremily No. 1. The latter was clearly the more complex wine.

Andremily Syrah No. 1

From magnum. A wonderfully complex and intriguing Syrah, with blackberry core fruit; notes of olive brine, railroad tie, black and blue river rock, oyster shell, garrigue, and some funky, saline…

Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

From a vertical of 2003/2004/2005 Magnums of HSS.

Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

From a vertical of 2003/2004/2005 Magnums of HSS.

Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

From a vertical of 2003/2004/2005 Magnums of HSS.

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

From 3L. My previous note from May still applies. Mounds of fruit and flavor, interwoven nicely with dark chocolate and earth flavors that provided complexity and focus. A BIG wine.

Becklyn Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

From 3L. Previous notes apply. PnP and it was kicking out rich, extracted liqueur-like notes of black, blue, and red berry core fruit. Vanilla and bitter chocolate on the front end as well. This 3L…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon David's Cuvée Showket Vineyards

From magnum. The most polished of the three 2008 Bevans tasted (Alexis, Danger D, David's). A little less intense and powerful than the broader-shouldered Danger D, but still displaying wonderful…

Bevan Cellars Danger D Cuvée Showket Vineyards

From magnum. This wine was showing much more power and intensity than when I last had it back in September 2017. I can only assume the magnum effect is what was potentially preserving this wine much…