Reviews

Goldeneye Pinot Noir Anderson Valley

Same as my notes from 11/2/2016. Not a fan. Simple and weak. A frail little girly-man of watery Pinot-like juice. Some spice on the mid held my interest barely long enough for me to then just go back…

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Petaluma Gap

Same as all of my other notes on this wine. Really nice, and a deep, dark-pitched soul of a Pinot. If you love high toned red cranberry types of Pinots, then pack a suitcase full of Cran-apple fruit…

Blankiet Estate Proprietary Red Wine Paradise Hills Vineyard

Same notes as 9/5/2016. No decant necessary. Presented really well on a PnP. Drink now and over the next few years.

Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon

Same notes as a few months ago. I know others enjoy this, but I just can't wrap my head around this as a true expression of the varietal. It has no varietal characteristics that really make it…

Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium

Naysayers be dammed, because I can't for the life of me find a reason not to rate the 2014 Materium much different than the 2013. In fact, I have to say that this wine is perhaps singing even better…

Realm Cellars Farella Vineyard

I gotta stop drinking all of these awesome wines. I feel like I'm just giving away high scores on CT lately. However, this is yet another well deserving wine. Tastes even better than I remember it to…

Clos Solène Hommage Blanc

An extremely well done white. The Roussanne component is stunning, with white peach, yellow citrus, and sweet flowers all wrapped in a nice kiss of vanilla. The Viognier seems to add a perfect cut to…

Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard

A truly amazing example of a CA Chardonnay. Perfectly balanced but also displaying a nice kick of spice box, smoke, and grey pebble/river rock to elevate the yellow citrus fruit and lemon curd…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Elysian Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

PnP with higher-toned red fruit notes that scream baby in a bottle. Purity of fruit is evident, as is the balance among the acidity, structure, and core fruit. However, as good a bottle of wine as…

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Petaluma Gap

Served with a few of the "heavier"/final courses in the evening at Madrona Manor, but still managed to have enough finesse to act like a Pinot when it needed to. Paired great with dishes that…

Iron Horse Vineyards Wedding Cuvée

Served at Madrona Manor (amazing dinner!) with the first few amuses. Decent depth and a little less crisp than expected. It made it an easy drinker in that regard. Not overly brut, dry, or…

Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Silver Eagle Vineyard

PnP was very tight and acidic; typical young RM notes of cranberry, pomegranate, red cherry, and hints of orange rind and spice box. No worries, as this is usually the way most of these little guys…

Three Sticks Chardonnay Durell Vineyard

A pleasant, round, and inviting Chardonnay. The creamy, yeast and almond-laced notes were at the forefront, with agreeable lemon curd and citrus fruit rounding out the finish.

12c Cabernet Sauvignon G3 Reserve Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

PnP with a small pour; it was really tight and high-toned. Red fruit notes with alcohol. A little tart in the finish, but some deeper red and purple fruit flavors started to peek through. Came across…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Coliseum Block

I hadn't originally planned on opening this wine, but a flawed 2012 Carter Coliseum pushed me to make sure a bottle of the 2013 wasn't having issues too.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Coliseum Block

Slight hints of alcohol and vinegar on the nose. Same on the palate. Fruit was dead and flat; slightly sour aftertaste. No finish otherwise. Air made the alcohol and acid more pronounced. Never…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Not surprisingly, PnP was indeed a little jammy and primary. Purple and red berry notes, alcohol, and some asphalt.

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Demigods & Demons

This is in as perfect of a drinking window as I would imagine it will ever be. Hugely plush, deep, fruit forward, and extremely giving on the attack. The silky glide is unreal, with a glycerin-coated…

Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard

Similar to my previous notes. A little more higher toned black raspberry liqueur and Amarena Fabbri black cherry notes dominating the palate this time around. This particular bottle threw off a lot…

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon GIII Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

PnP and over the course of the first couple of hours, notes of higher-toned, red berry fruit dominated. Red currant, some tart cranberry (which wasn't the most desirable of flavors for me personally…

Keplinger Mars

Similar to my notes from last summer. Double decanted and then swirled it around in a wide bottomed decanter at 54 degrees for about one hour. Notes of kirsch, black cherry, black raspberry, thyme,…

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson Vineyard

Similar to my previous note except this has really smoothed out since the last time I tasted it 6+ months ago. PnP with just some swirling in the glass gave way to nice black raspberry, black cherry,…

Château Le Thil Comte Clary

$17 + 2008 + BDX = Meh.

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Gap's Crown Vineyard

Same as last month. A decent bottle of wine that is on the downswing of its life (not in a bad way, but just reaching the secondary/tertiary stages of its maturity). It didn't need decanting at all.…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

PnP was an exercise in all things glutinous and homey: fat, fruity, sweet, and succulent. Started out as too much of a good thing, like an awkward, romping Labrador puppy that was just full of…