Wine Doctrine
Every tasting note

Reviews

5,921 notes

2007

Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard

California · Napa Valley

I love SBR Petites and have had great luck with them. They are generally extracted, high octane monsters that are still fun to drink and experiment with in terms of hedonistic pleasure and downright…

Reviewed 13 June 2017
2014

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley · Rutherford

Similar to my notes 6 months ago. This continued to improve over the course of three hours in the decanter. I'm surprised we were able to stretch this wine out for that long, as it was one of the…

Reviewed 12 June 2017
2013

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Summit 1376'

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

From PnP through three hours of consumption, this Pinot was firing on all cylinders the entire time. A big, rich display of dark cherry, deeply pitched raspberry, and fistfuls of baking spices. A…

Reviewed 11 June 2017
2013

TOR Chardonnay Cuvée Torchiana

California · Napa Valley

Same as my notes from March 31, 2017. It was good. It wasn't inspiring at the end of the day. Drink now before you get too bored of it.

Reviewed 10 June 2017
2012

Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Some of my previous notes apply. Not a particularly noteworthy showing this time around. PnP was tight and predominantly alcohol and acid based. The fruit was reserved, hidden under a tannic clamp…

Reviewed 9 June 2017
NV

Stella Fiore Brachetto

Piedmont · Piemonte DOC

Same as previous notes. Simple but fun. Drink now. Serve as cold as possible.

Reviewed 8 June 2017
2014

L'Aventure Optimus

Central Coast · Paso Robles Willow Creek District

PnP was tight and a bit off-putting. Linear flavors of purple and red fruit. A total of 2 hours in the decanter allowed for some more focused and flavorful notes to emerge. Some deeply pitched…

Reviewed 8 June 2017
2013

Arkenstone Cabernet Sauvignon NVD

California · Napa Valley

Same as my notes 2 months ago. Not something I'll likely revist after my remaining bottles are consumed. A bit plumy and lithe. Mid and back end fell off a bit more than I'd prefer. Drink now and…

Reviewed 8 June 2017
2013

Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard

Napa Valley · Howell Mountain

No joke, this is a colossal monster of a wine. Massive tannins and dark purple and black fruit on the attack...and I mean ATTACK. Hits you like a sledge hammer at first, but in the absolute best of…

Reviewed 7 June 2017
2015

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

The 2014 and 2015 RM Sonoma Coast Chardonnays were served side-by-side. This 2015 was almost completely inaccessible on PnP. Thin and tight. It took about an hour in the glass (and consumption over…

Reviewed 7 June 2017
NV

Broadbent Madeira Malmsey 10 Years Old

Portugal · Madeira

This went pretty darn good with a hazelnut and homemade caramel gelato (more so because the food was so good). Otherwise it was just ok. Typical lighter styled 10 year madeira. Some nice walnut and…

Reviewed 5 June 2017
2015

Long Shadows Wineries Riesling Poet's Leap

Washington · Columbia Valley

This went fine paired with a truffle oil and mushroom pizza. Hints of sweetness, but fairly innocuous overall. Nothing memorable about it at all. It was the proverbial "meh" Riesling. I'm starting to…

Reviewed 5 June 2017
NV

Marquès de Gelida Cava Brut Rosé

Spain · Cava

This was a suitable starter before the meal. One note for sure, but the note that it displayed was decent enough. Strawberry, grapefruit, apple, and a hint of straw. Fairly plush and round on the…

Reviewed 5 June 2017
2014

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

The 2014 and 2015 RM Sonoma Coast Chardonnays were served side-by-side. This 2014 was FAR more accessible and giving than the 2015. Notes of plush yellow fruit/citrus (pineapple, lemon), popcorn,…

Reviewed 4 June 2017
2010

Saxum Booker Vineyard

Central Coast · Paso Robles

Similar to my notes from September, except that overall I feel as though this wine is smoothing out quite a bit. This is fine, but it also flattens out some of the more concentrated flavors I've come…

Reviewed 3 June 2017
2013

Celani Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Ardore

Napa Valley · Oak Knoll District

Similar to my notes from last year except this displayed some clunkiness it had to work out during consumption before it settled into a decent glide. PnP had some alcohol and overtly ripe fruit notes…

Reviewed 2 June 2017
2007

Valdez Family Winery Petite Sirah Landy Vineyard

Sonoma County · Dry Creek Valley

It's been six months since my last bottle of this. Previous notes apply. After two hours in the decanter, this was singing beautifully. Rich without being heavy or over bearing (the way some PSs can…

Reviewed 1 June 2017
2012

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch Vineyard

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

I'll give credit where credit is due. I've been less than pleased with KB this last year, especially with their more recent appellation Pinots. But at this moment, with this wine, it was indeed a…

Reviewed 31 May 2017
2015

Yamakiri Cuvée Blanc

North Coast · Anderson Valley

Exact same notes as two months ago. A pleasant white; not overly sweet, with a drier finish than most Rieslings (possibly as a result of the Muscat?). Paired great with the cheese cart.

Reviewed 28 May 2017
2014

David Clinton Old Vine Zinfandel Mounts Vineyard

Sonoma County · Dry Creek Valley

Exact same notes as two months ago. After having some grape-ape Zinfandels the day before, this at least had some frame and acid. Though the structure was nice, the mid was a little thin and…

Reviewed 28 May 2017
2014

Domaine des Malandes Chablis 1er Cru Vau de Vey

Chablis · 1er Cru

Same as my notes from two months ago. "More ok" than the other two whites served before it. Not a whole lot of concentration for a Chardonnay. Some cut and frame, but not much fruit to fill the…

Reviewed 28 May 2017
2015

Eugenio Collavini Ribolla Gialla Benedete Veneto IGT

Veneto · IGT

I placed this in the "fine" category. It was decent, but nothing overly notable about it. It was a slight step up from the 2015 Maddy Bizkaiko Txakolina served before it. Once again, the food…

Reviewed 28 May 2017
2015

Maddy Bizkaiko Txakolina

País Vasco · Bizkaiko Txakolina

Same as my notes two months. It was ok. It worked fine with the awesome food paired with it. As a stand-alone, it's a bit forgettable.

Reviewed 28 May 2017
2008

Francois Lecompte Champagne

France · Champagne

A right now, ready to go, fruit forward type of wine. Not a whole lot of cut, but man was it giving its all in the core fruit department. Lemon, red apple flesh (mesocarp), clarified butter, and a…

Reviewed 28 May 2017