Reviews

Impensata Proprietary Red Wine Engelhard Vineyard

This is still working itself out, with some heat pushing the otherwise beautifully pure fruit to the side at times. There are moments of glory here, with pockets of textural genius that envelop and…

Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon La Voleuse Du Chagrin Geeslin Vineyard

2019 Napa blind of Promontory, Colgin Tychson, and Kinsman La Voleuse.

Palisades Canyon Chenin Blanc

Creamy lemon, creme fraiche, and cut grass. The acidity creeps up on the back end making for both a popping and smooth profile. Finishes round and slightly milky.

Palisades Canyon Petite Sirah

Charcoal, blackberry, and a little booze on the back end. A little warmer (room) temperature leveled out the finish. Cooling off would regain focus; so, I recommend this at cellar temperature.…

Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon La Voleuse Du Chagrin Geeslin Vineyard

Man, this thing is still in rock star leather pants mode with all the fixins. Mick Jagger swagger. Freddy Mercury twerkery. David Bowie showy. and Steven Tyler. um. styler?.. or whatever rhymes with…

Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon La Voleuse Du Chagrin Geeslin Vineyard

In a blind of 2019 Napa Cabs, this performed exceptional, though it is worth noting that it is undoubtedly young and still sorting itself out. My notes on this bottle read, "More sophisticated and…

Impensata Proprietary Red Wine Engelhard Vineyard

The nose hits you square in. well, the nose. with washed ripe berries and warm red licorice. On the palate, this is teeth staining and chocolatey ripe, with mixed berries and dark spice. The 2019 is…

Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon La Voleuse Du Chagrin Geeslin Vineyard

At the onset, this bottle of Voleuse was like a little Sweetheats candy. "Be Mine. Cutie Pie. Hug Me. XOXO." I was always partial to, "For Shizzle My Nizzle." (Maybe that was a different candy -…

Impensata Proprietary Red Wine Engelhard Vineyard

While the 2019 Impensata Ecotone Merlot is out at the clubs dancing the night away, the 2018 Engelhard is stuck at home studying for the LSAT. There is richness here, but it is corralled pretty darn…

Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Bone Ash Vineyard

Boy oh boy, here we go with the blackberry biggin of biggins. I was instantly reminded of the 2019 Bevan Crane, with the oak and the coffee and the riiiiich berry fruit.and the oak. I suppose there…

Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Bone Ash Vineyard

Though there was a certain group who preferred the 2016 Venge served next to the 2013, I appreciated the extra tension the 2013 provided. For me, the 2013 and 2016 couldn't be more different. For…

Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon La Voleuse Du Chagrin Geeslin Vineyard

Oh boy my friends, the Thief of Sorrow will likely steal your little heart and turn it into a pile of brooding and cavernous mush once you take a sip, especially knowing that this site won't be…

Heritage School Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Missiaen's Hillside Vineyard

With a mountain fruit kind of vibe, reminding me instantly of a Pritchard Hill lookalike, the Hillside impresses with its iron-inflected and redder pitched fruit running through its otherwise dark…

Heritage School Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Lakeview

A dark and ripe fruit-filled entry is provided requisite frame and grip by way of a firm chalkiness that quickly whips-up the lush berry core and gives keen direction to the lifted finish. Though the…

Heritage School Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Julie's Creekside Vineyard

Round and ripe berry notes are intermixed with plum and chocolate to make for a front-loaded, fruit forward wine that provides immediate pleasure with a richness that equates to direct accessibility…

Heritage School Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Missiaen's Hillside Vineyard

Similar to the 2018 Hillside served directly beside it in terms of profile and specific flavor-components, this iteration is more of a hallmark of the affable and smooth-operator 2014 vintage. A bit…

Heritage School Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Select Blend

Always a three-barrel selection from among a combination of any of the three sites (Hillside, Lakeview, Creekside), this Select immediately shows an added layer of concentration and depth when…

Impensata Proprietary Red Wine Engelhard Vineyard

A fun and fruity entry pushes forward with ripe and dark berry fruit that saturates the palate and finishes with a lingering tinge of youthful booze. Less nervy and acidic on initial entry than the…

Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon La Voleuse Du Chagrin Geeslin Vineyard

You want an Eisele that went on a major Miami Vice bender, pararescued its way out of an Apache AH-64 on to Pablo Escobar's zooming SCARAB, tripped on 60 kilos of Bolivian marching powder,…

Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus

Well, I know I'm gonna get some static for this, but here-goes nuthin'.

Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Bone Ash Vineyard

This wine continues to own the dance floor with its dark fruit core and striking black mineral elements that offer so much endurance throughout consumption. For me, this is how a 2013 Napa Cabernet…

Cruse Wine Company Valdiguié Pétillant Naturel Deming

Dry, sharp, and fairly empty overall. Some floral elements inject a bitterness that adds insult to injury. Finishes hollow and vapid. Not sure what the overall intent of this wine is. Seemed to carry…

Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus

2016 Materium and 2016 Amoenus side-by-side.

Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus

Similar to previous notes. A little rounder and more plush this time around, displaying a beautifully balanced and smooth entry, if not lacking just a bit of verve and grip to best house the gorgeous…

The Grade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Kingly Project Winfield Vineyard

Previous notes apply in terms of this wine's specific flavor profile, except the intensity of this is starting to down-shift as it continues to age in bottle. For some, this is welcomed news, as…