Wine Doctrine
Every tasting note

Reviews

5,921 notes

2008

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Napa Valley · Oakville

A fun addition to the lineup, this VV BTK (labeled as "Napa Valley") is a beautiful example of how these wines can show their maturity while still displaying youthful verve and energy. Black cherry,…

Reviewed 26 July 2018
2016

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Napa Valley · St. Helena

Intense and concentrated notes of blackberry, black cherry, bitter chocolate, scorched earth, asphalt, and some spice. CRISTAL covered this thoroughly in his recent note more than I really need to…

Reviewed 26 July 2018
2016

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon

California · Napa Valley

Notes of chocolatey blackberry, black raspberry, earthy blueberry, forest floor, bitter dark chocolate, and spice.

Reviewed 26 July 2018
2016

Vice Versa Pinot Noir Platt Vineyard

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

Even more intense than when I last had it in February, the VV Platt Pinot explodes with ripe black cherry, currant, juniper, evergreen, and earthy spicebox notes.

Reviewed 26 July 2018
2016

Vice Versa Chardonnay Platt Vineyard

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

Having the opportunity to follow these VV Platt wines is really something special. My previous notes apply, with some additional comments about "quality"...

Reviewed 26 July 2018
2014

JCB The Surrealist Red

California · Napa Valley

Fancy-schmancy bottle with Bellagio-esque adornments, and a velvet case to boot (since the bottle is clear glass and hence requires a royal robe to cloak it from the light that stands to harm this…

Reviewed 26 July 2018
2012

JCB Cabernet Sauvignon Nº 10

California · Napa Valley

Red and black currant, cedar, black licorice, and some spice. World's apart from the wah-waahh 2011 version served before it. That said, this 2012 was an average performer. Medium bodied and a little…

Reviewed 26 July 2018
2011

JCB Cabernet Sauvignon Nº 10

California · Napa Valley

Oh 2011, once again you have failed me. It's not a "style;" it's not "palate preference." It's just "not good." Sometimes I feel as though I shouldn't even comment on wines like this. That if I don't…

Reviewed 26 July 2018
2015

JCB Passion

California · Napa Valley

90% Cabernet Sauvignon; 10% Petite Sirah. Black raspberry meets bitter blackberry seed. I can only imagine that the healthy dollop of PS is the culprit that threw this thing into a goofy tail spin.…

Reviewed 26 July 2018
2012

JCB Pinot Noir No. 6

USA · California

Black cherry, dried cranberry, earth, and orange peel. Medium-shmedium all the way around - body, weight, complexity.

Reviewed 26 July 2018
2016

JCB Chardonnay No. 33

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

65% new oak/14 months. A Burgundian rendition with pure lemon citrus and white peach notes. Fairly full on the front end, but clean, crisp, and pure overall. Mid-palate was a tad hollow, with the…

Reviewed 26 July 2018
2008

JCB Gala Brut

France · Champagne

2008 base. Yellow citrus, bruised lemon peel, marmalade, dried banana chips, hay, and some wet white stone. A nice hit of earthiness on the back end made for an interesting finish, elevating this…

Reviewed 26 July 2018
2014

JCB N° 9

Napa / Sonoma · Carneros

2014 base from Carneros. A simple sparkler with white stone a high toned yellow citrus. A straight pop across the palate, with a flinty, pithy finish. Much more of a simple Jack when compared to its…

Reviewed 26 July 2018
2013

Aubert Chardonnay CIX Estate Vineyard

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

Two years ago since I last had this wine. PnP kicked out some off-putting spritz that threw the flavors all out of whack. It tasted like a Sauvignon Blanc had a love child with a super dry…

Reviewed 22 July 2018
2009

Joseph Phelps Insignia

California · Napa Valley

PnP and later decanted for about 2+ hours. Black cherry, cedar, red and black currant, tobacco leaf, and faint earth. Especially tight on the back end. Needs another 2+ years minimum. Hold until…

Reviewed 21 July 2018
2015

B Cellars Cabernet Franc Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Napa Valley · St. Helena

Coravin pour with exotic notes of wild black cherry, red and black currant, crunchy cassis, deep kirsch, dark dried cranberry, Herbes de Provence, and violets. A beguiling wine that kept me coming…

Reviewed 20 July 2018
2013

Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon

California · Napa Valley

PnP with red and black cherry core fruit. Some cassis, vanilla, earthy cedar, red and black currant, and incense emerged. Faint hints of bitter chocolate covered cherry oozed out on the back end…

Reviewed 18 July 2018
2014

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Kaliholmanok Kicu'me

Napa Valley · Spring Mountain District

Previous note applies. Finished the bottle; consumed over two+ hours. Served at 52 degrees as a PnP. 93-94 points. I'll try to hold remaining bottles for at least another year or two.

Reviewed 16 July 2018