Reviews

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Bergfeld

An enticing bottle of wine from start to finish. Drinking extremely well with about a 30 minute decant. Rich and deep, with the perfect kiss of sweet cassis and red and black licorice to compliment…

Bevan Cellars Ontogeny

PnP with surprisingly accessible but still fairly tight and somewhat muted notes of red and black currant, black licorice, a smidgen of blueberry-chocolate liqueur, blue slate, and a faint hint of…

Valdez Family Winery Petite Sirah Landy Vineyard

Same as my previous notes, with earthy funk and olive brine flavors to compliment the otherwise dark core of purple, red, and black berry fruit. Asphalt and some spice on the back end. My girl…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Actaeon Quixote Vineyard

PnP with tightly coiled notes of red and purple berry fruit, red currant, tobacco leaf, and some spice. I let this balled-up little monster unravel in a decanter for two-three hours. What emerged…

Cliff Lede High Fidelity

Some of my previous notes apply, but this was indeed more accessible than six months ago. With a short decant, it was drinking at what I would expect to be close to its apex. It developed over time,…

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Gap's Crown Vineyard

Same as my notes from last month except that I moved this up a point. It was tasted side-by-side with a 2010 KB Gap's Crown. Both were very good, and sort of intersecting each other in their…

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Gap's Crown Vineyard

Same as my notes from July, except that I knocked this down a point, as it seemed to fade fairly rapidly after a few hours of air. I would not recommend decanting. Enjoy sooner than later; I feel…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

As previously mentioned, and quite ironically, this was poured at a private event with around 50 guests. For that, this wine was indeed a safe bet. All of the bottles were ultimately drained and the…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Oracle's Whisper

I need to listen to my own advice... WAIT...

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

The final wine in the lineup - and for good reason - the Carter Three Kings showed why it can compete with the best in Napa Valley. Though I am still partial to the OG and LPV in 2014 (so far), the…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Weitz Vineyard

After having the Myriad GIII (which was a very giving wine, displaying tons of dark fruit and a hedonistic mouthfeel), the Carter Weitz seemed extra tight. All of the flavors were there (previous…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

I really dig this wine. Previous notes apply. I could drink the hell out of this GIII and kill the bottle before I knew what hit me.

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

In a year's time, I feel like I will like this wine close to as much as its 2013 older brother. The fruit here is unquestionably beautiful, especially for an appellation, "standard" Cabernet. Same as…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Coliseum Block

The 2012 version of this wine is stunning at the moment. This 2014 reminded me of a very young version of the 2012 (no surprise there), but the 2014 seems like it might have a little more spine. A…

Carter Cellars Hossfeld Coliseum

Starting to show a little progress from 6 months ago when I last tried it, the Hossfeld Coliseum displayed some nice Merlot-driven curves and rounded (but a little reserved) richness. Similar to my…

Ancillary Cellars Pinot Noir Sangiacomo Vineyard

A little darker than the Sun Chase, but a little more muted and thin, with black cherry, mulch, and a hint of mushroom. Once the Sun Chase got past its balled-up tartness and predominantly red,…

Ancillary Cellars Pinot Noir Sun Chase Vineyard

Fairly high-toned and a little tart at first, with cranberry and pomegranate flavors. Acid seemed high initially, with a drying quality on the finish. Some swirling in the glass coaxed out some nice…

Ancillary Cellars Chardonnay Sangiacomo Vineyard

A really beautiful bottle of Chardonnay all the way around. Notes of lemon olive oil, lemon verbena, quince preserve (hints of tropical fruit), pear, and some faint vanilla bean. A bit of a buttered…

Envy Wines Chenin Blanc

Crisp and a bit dry without totally sucking the moisture out of the palate and sides of the cheeks the way some Chenin Blancs can do. Light and vibrant, with a finish that was surprisingly not bitter…

Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

After a splash decant (through a micro filter to rid it of the sediment it was throwing off initially), this thing was high-kicking better than Paula Abdul (flashback 'Straight Up' '80s Paula; not…

Kobalt Cabernet Sauvignon

As expected after having the 2013 version a few times now (which I really like), the 2012 was rich, full, decadently voluptuous, and lavishly dark. Just a hair less intense and vivacious than the…

Carlisle Syrah Sonoma County

Previous notes apply. A good Syrah for $25, and yes, that qualifier needs to be there. It drinks above its price point in the sense that it is super inexpensive. But it doesn't drink way above its…

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Beautiful Generation

Similar to all of my other previous notes. PnP was a little tight, but it advertised itself right away as a big boy wine. Balled-up black raspberry, black currant, black asphalt, and some bitter…

Rudius Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard

Same as last month. I feel like this is digressing fast. My last bottle. Others at the table preferred it to the 2012 Keever; however, their palates were certainly more aligned with plump, round,…

Keever Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Same as two months ago. 93-94. Drinking fine now; will improve with 6-12 of bottle age. A very good Cabernet, but the QPR isn't that great all things considering.