Reviews

Realm Cellars The Falstaff

Similar to my notes on this wine from almost two years ago. This particular specimen was from Magnum. With some swirling in the glass, this delivered some nice earthy black cherry, purple plum,…

Bevan Cellars Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard

As others have noted, this is a big, adulterous, slap-yo-mama and run from the po-lice kind of Chardonnay. The frontal attack isn't "just" like a blustering vocal purging of the liquid incarnation of…

Launois Pere et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Veuve Clemence Brut Blanc de Blancs

Same as all previous notes. An ok starter to the evening meal. Served in a flute (usually I prefer a BDX stem). A bit chalky and linear on the attack. A decent amount of bubbles drawing away from the…

Hartford / Hartford Court Old Vine Zinfandel Hartford Vineyard

Try as I might, I just can't bring myself to find enjoyment in these Zinfandels. It's like a Pinot Noir and a jug of Welch's grape juice birthed an Ocean Spray Cran-Grape baby and then fed it Vodka…

Hartford / Hartford Court Pinot Noir MacLean's Block

Dark black cherry, forest floor, pepper, earth, and spice. The darkest profile of the Pinots tasted. Medium bodied, with some booze on the back end that pulls you away from the core fruit just a bit.…

Hartford / Hartford Court Pinot Noir Velvet Sisters

The most flavor-driven of the Pinots served, the Velvet Sisters was kicking out ripe and sweet red cherry, red raspberry, orange rind, and evergreen notes. The alcohol lingered in the finish. The…

Hartford / Hartford Court Pinot Noir Seascape Vineyard

An intriguing Pinot Noir, medium in weight, with a "light on its feet" delivery, but with a beguiling complexity of flavors that really elevated it to the next level. Normally I prefer a little more…

Hartford / Hartford Court Chardonnay Far Coast Vineyard

This was served as a PnP directly out of the refrigerator, so my first impression was a little lost on the otherwise muted flavors. My initial sips showed some chalky rock and pithy yellow/white…

Hartford / Hartford Court Chardonnay Three Jacks

Ripe yellow core fruit, with a wonderful citrus marmalade flavor that really shaped the profile of this wine. Some olive oil, lemon curd, lemon zest, and tropical fruit notes emerged as well.

Hartford / Hartford Court Chardonnay Sevens Bench Vineyard

A mild mannered, easy going Chardonnay that appears ready for immediate consumption. Yellow citrus core fruit, with some slight spice and minerality. A bit more of a straightforward profile when…

Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate

A fun and fascinating wine to follow throughout the night. A super generous gift to the table!

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon BBS Stagecoach Vineyard

This BBS was a beautifully crafted, brooding but sultry beast, strikingly indicative of the best of what can come out of the alluring 2012 vintage and the Stagecoach site. Sexy black core fruit,…

Christopher Tynan Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines Meleagris Gallopavo

Cocked, locked, and spitting black nails the size of broadswords right through the back of the mouth on initial entry. Decanted for a total of three+ hours, and it could've used even more air time.…

Gosset Champagne Célebris

Previous notes apply. Good lift and tension, with just enough subtle oxidation to provide interest and depth. Classy and elegant. Still has years of life ahead of it. Paired great with potato rosti…

Cirq Pinot Noir TreeHouse

All I can really say is that a side-by-side with a 1998 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses made this Cirq taste like licking Courtney Love's oxycodone-ridden…

Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses

PnP with flawless provenance and no signs whatsoever of VA or funk. Cork was absolutely perfect.

Addax Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

A year since I last had this wine. It should still be another year before I revisit it again. Previous notes apply otherwise, as this is overall a well crafted bottle of juice.

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Twins Vineyard

Starting to really come into a nice drinking window. PnP with just a little swirling in the glass to blow off a little initial heat worked just fine service-wise. Black cherry, plum, cassis, and…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Purity of fruit is evident, as is the overall flavor profile. This still has some fattening-up to do in my opinion. Frame first then fruit, at this stage at least. A wine to…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder

The optimist would say this wine is "in a transition phase," "still integrating," "of a particular style," or "a unique representation of the terroir."

Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Silver Eagle Vineyard

Boy has this little goober lost some steam over the last couple of years. Over-ripe cranberry, orange peel, muddled strawberry, cinnamon stick, and some soil. The flavors are (or rather, were) all…

J Vineyards & Winery Cuvée 20

White and subtle/hollow yellow citrus and stone fruit. Some unripe pear and bitter apple. The bubbles masked most anything worth talking about here. Your basic 7-11 sparkler that you take to a friend…

Arkenstone Cabernet Sauvignon NVD

A 2011 that didn't instantly catapult me into adversity and grumpiness, this Arkenstone NVD actually showed a decent flavor profile that wasn't washed over with bell pepper and wood flavors. Rather,…

Arkenstone Estate

Blackberry, purple plum, licorice, anise, black currant, black cherry, and some spice. A floral note emerged on the tail end as well. Notable energy and drive, especially compared to the 2014. A…

Arkenstone Obsidian

Black currant, asphalt, blackberry, black licorice, and subtle dark cassis and violet notes. Drinking very well now, with an accessibility that is indicative of the 2014 vintage. Not as much drive as…