Reviews

La Rochelle Pinot Noir Recherché Reserve Soberanes Vineyard

High-toned bright red cherry, vanilla, and some white travertine. Simple, lithe, and watery. Hardly any depth to speak of. Gains some points for energy and zip, but otherwise this is a runny nose of…

Araujo Estate Altagracia

This was a tough one for me. It came off as a simpleton that seemed displaced from any affiliation with the Araujo label. "Second wine" or not, this was a seemingly willowy example. Higher toned, red…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon

Previous notes from two months ago apply. I have to admit I'm really loving this wine right now. It's not as good as some of the SVDs, but dammit if I don't find this to be a really fine example of a…

Fleury Estate Winery Pinot Noir

Unfortunately over the hill. Pretty flabby and dying, with dark, mulch-ridden black cherry and over-ripe plum notes. Dirty and flat.

Relic Wines The Prior

Notes of black and red cherry, barely ripe purple plum, vanilla alcohol, cassis, and some stone. An ok representation of the CF varietal, but somewhat pedestrian for my palate; lacking layers and…

Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

Previous notes apply. Ripe, dark black cherry, mulch, earth, and some rhubarb. Round, easy, plush, and fairly straightforward. Fun but forgettable. Not a waste of a date, but definitely not marriage…

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

Same as previous notes. Nice cut and bright acidity; a higher toned, whiter stone fruit profile. The bubbles persisted for hours. A fun and easy sipper for sure.

Bacio Divino Cabernet Sauvignon Janzen Cloudy's Vineyard

Holy behemoth wine of the Seven Seas! A massive, massive wine at this stage, with a steroid-ridden attack of black raspberry and black cherry liqueur, red and black licorice, cassis, black currant,…

B Cellars Chardonnay Barrel Select

Same notes as two months ago. Seemingly weighty and rich, but never burdensome or fat. Maintains great flavor while still holding a good grip on the lush yellow citrus fruit; showed lovely balance…

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Coravin pour. Dark and powerful, with a grab-hold-of-ya, palate-gripping intensity that pumps waves of youthful dark fruit from its initial attack. Dark black raspberry, black cherry, blackberry,…

Bevan Cellars Merlot Alexis' Cuvée Showket Vineyards

Same as my previous notes from September 2017. For a wine that's progressed a decade from vintage, and as a domestic Merlot...aaanndd a Bevan Merlot to boot...I am shocked at how youthful, powerful,…

Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard

Two years ago to the day since I last had this wine; a wonderful progression since that time, with notes of blackberry compote, dark cassis, lower-toned dark cherry kirsch, Black Forest gateau, black…

Clos Solène L'Insolent

Finished the bottle. Previous notes apply. It took about two hours of decanted air to blow off some heat that pulled away from the core fruit flavors. In the end, I would hold for another year+ on…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Same notes as over a week ago. Finished the bottle. An enjoyable wine from beginning to end. Ok to drink now, but I'll hold another 6-12 months to see what comes next. No decant needed as far as I'm…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Weitz Vineyard

It has been a year-and-a-half since I last had this wine. A two hour+ decant did this well, as the initial PnP was a bit hot. Medium-to-full bodied, with beautifully energetic purple and dark red…

Salinia Chardonnay Saint Marigold

More Sherry than Chardonnay. Super arid and woody at this stage, with a drying, anti-unctuous effect inside the mouth. Like a Sherry and a still Champagne had an eczema baby.

Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon

Coravin pour, with initially linear, but beautifully pure black and purple core fruit flavors. Blackberry, black raspberry, black cherry, black currant, pencil lead, and some subtle earth. A bit of…

Arkenstone Sauvignon Blanc

Similar to my previous note. Missing a little oomph, especially as it warmed up, losing some of the unique lime flavors that jumped out back when I had this in February. Still a great SB. The score…

B Cellars Blend 27

Some plum, currant, and earth. A bit of spice on the back end, but otherwise, this was a forgettable red. Flat on the attack; medium bodied, with a tail end that faded fast. The fact that it was…

B Cellars Chardonnay Star Vineyard

"Not bad" is probably the best overall descriptor here - as in the way you might utter such a phrase walking out to your car after a movie that wasn't a total waste of time, but also wasn't one you'd…

Arrow & Branch Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Same as my previous notes. A bit more reserved this time (it was a PnP with little time to get air - 20 minutes tops), so the darker fruit wasn't as ready at the helm as before. Time in bottle is…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon

Previous notes apply. I prefer the 2014 version of this wine at the moment. This vintage may eclipse the 2014 at some point, but I have my doubts. This 2015 displayed a linearity that I think will be…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Similar to my previous notes. As a PnP this was fairly tight and linear. Some air in the glass coaxed out its familiar flavor profile of red and black core fruit. Not as "spicy" as I remember from…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper

Previous notes apply. This particular bottle was opened the day before, gassed, then reopened today. Showed much more potential to reach some elevated richness and concentration with exposure to air.…

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

Give this time. Sulfur, heat, and glycol dominated over the yellow citrus core fruit. Almost akin to a limoncello. Liqueur lemontini aftertaste. Hold for another year minimum.