Reviews

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

You've been wanting to try the 2014 Scarlett Reserve out...but don't. You'll think that the standard 2014 Scarlett isn't drinking too bad considering it's youth, so why not give the Reserve a…

Alban Vineyards Syrah Seymour's Vineyard

In no way ready for prime time whatsoever. A total departure from the Reva in almost every way. The Seymour's carries much higher-register red fruit tonalities of red raspberry and pomegranate, with…

Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard

A fairly open and giving Pinot considering its youth. Usually these RM wines take some bottle age to really start kicking into gear (typically they can come off astringent and overtly tight).…

Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

PnP with a splash decant at around 54 degrees proved to be the best showing of the night for this wine. Extraordinary notes of black berry fruits, black currant, asphalt/road tar, dark chocolate,…

Lewelling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena

Similar to my previous notes, but this went down a tick for me to be honest. Turned a little plumy after about an hour of air. Thin mid-palate as well. QPR is obviously pretty darn good, but even at…

Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block

Same as previous notes. Some subtle black olive and earth notes after about 3 hours in the decanter at 54 degrees. I will try to hold until mid/late 2017.

Rudius Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard

Same as my notes from six months ago except that this had a hard time shedding itself of a plum-tinged aftertaste until about 2+ hours of air managed to help bring out some deeper flavors. However,…

Becklyn Cellars Sauvignon Blanc McGah Vineyard

You can go ahead and copy and paste most of what Cristal2000 mentioned with anything I could hope to conjure up in terms of tasting notes for this wine. This was New Zealand SB right out of the gate…

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard

This took about two hours to fully unveil its core fruit and additional nuanced flavors. After a couple of hours in the decanter at 54 degrees, notes of deep black cherry, black raspberry, fresh…

Celani Family Vineyards Chardonnay Napa Valley

Same notes as 5 months ago. A very nice bottle of Chardonnay. Drink now and over the next couple of years.

Hartwell Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve

Same notes as 3 months ago. A really nice dark chocolate and roasted coffee note appeared after about an hour or so of air, which really elevated the wine. 94-95 points on the final sips. The…

L'Aventure Optimus

High-pitched and almost undrinkable at first. Needed about an hour in the decanter before it was ready. Previous tasting notes apply. A 2012 Hartwell Cabernet totally destroyed this wine when served…

Thomas Fogarty Lexington Meritage

Stewed and lifeless. Tasted dirty and manure-ridden. And of course, had that signature thin and diluted Fogarty style to it. In the Pursuit of Balance gone completely awry. Totally disappointing.

Thomas Fogarty Syrah Fat Buck Ridge Vineyard

Dead and lifeless. Stewed plum, pepper, barnyard. Serving this as part of a Signature Reserve Tasting was insulting to say the least. Not even worth commenting further on.

Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Henry Ayrton's Block Rapley Trail Vineyard

What should have been the grand finale of the signature Pinot lineup from Fogarty ended up, not surprisingly, a total dud. Same old song with the watery and diluted flavor profile, even less so when…

Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Rapley Trail Vineyard

Probably one of the "best" wines in the Pinot lineup, the Rapley Trail had a little bit of forest floor, mulch, and cedar to assist in attempting to wake up the otherwise diluted and watery black…

Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Series Muns Vineyard

Try as I might, I can't for the life of me remember this Pinot at all. I can tell you it was thin and lost on my palate.

Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Will's Cabin Vineyard

Obviously sounding like a broken record, this wine followed suit with its brethren Pinots in its lost and forgettable profile. Some diluted strawberry, black cherry, and a hint of forest floor (which…

Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Series Vida Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains

Much like the appellation Pinot. Thin, diluted, and weak. I took one sip and dumped the wine. Instantly forgettable and disappointing. Not even lifesaver verbiage like "pretty" or "feminine" or…

Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains

Thin, watery, and pretty forgettable. Some diluted strawberry, pomegranate, cherry, and watermelon? flavors. No sense of body or frame at all. Like many of the Pinots from Fogarty, the low alcohol…

Thomas Fogarty Chardonnay Satsum Langley Hill Vineyard

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Thomas Fogarty Chardonnay Damiana

A beautiful Chardonnay, and one that easily overshadowed the 2011 Chardonnay tasted next to it. The 2012 Damiana had lovely flavors of silky and creamy vanilla bean, lemon curd, poached pear,…

Thomas Fogarty Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains

A nice and straightforward Chardonnay, with some lemon citrus, butter, and vanilla. Not over the top in its modern style and quite friendly on the approach and through the mid-palate. A bit simple,…

Bernardus Winery Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard

Unfortunately all of the four 2013 Pinots tasted in this lineup were forgettable for the most part and hovered in the 87 point range at best. I could not honestly tell you which wine was which. The…

Bernardus Winery Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard

Unfortunately all of the four 2013 Pinots tasted in this lineup were forgettable for the most part and hovered in the 87 point range at best. I could not honestly tell you which wine was which. The…