Reviews

Bevan Cellars EE Cuvée Tench Vineyard

Same as my notes two months ago. The best of the 2015 Bevans. Though still young and somewhat primary in its youthful delivery, the mid-palate concentration and complex flavor profile are certainly…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard

I recall liking this wine, but it didn't evoke any true sense of draw or fascination for me. I thought it was a very well crafted wine (as is true with many of Russell's wines), and the fruit…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Tin Box Vineyard

Similar to last year, this version of Tin Box displayed its signature red, black, and some purple fruit flavors, plum, black and red currant, black cherry, and the slightest hints of spice. This was…

Bevan Cellars Danger D Cuvée Showket Vineyards

A special treat to be able to try this wine. Tasted with "Danger D" himself - a remarkable man indeed. Beautifully integrated tannins with resolved flavors of deep black and red fruit, black and red…

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 337 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

From Magnum. Drank over the course of two nights. Black and red currant, black cherry, cedar, mulch, and some pebbles. Alcohol lingered on the finish throughout consumption. The fruit was more…

World's End Cabernet Sauvignon CrossFire Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard

I wasn't a fan of this wine at all. Given the Missouri Hopper site, I definitely expected more. Closed off, muted, thin, and a bit tannic. Some black fruit on the attack with a bitter back end.…

Lithology Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

A beautiful label with lovely packaging in a pretty box that would make most wine collectors proud to own a 3-pack...and...a totally forgettable and unfortunate bottle of juice given the players and…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Same as my notes two months ago. A step behind the GTO and OG in terms of Carter's To Kalon wines, but a great showing regardless. Hold until 2020+.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fortuna Vineyard

Same as my notes from two months ago. 10 minutes in the glass and some swirling really brought out some elevated flavors. Not as high toned and overtly red fruited as last time. Verve and acidic…

Rudd Oakville Estate Proprietary Red

Same as all of my previous notes. Micro-filtered (had a decent amount of sediment) and decanted for an hour. A little jet fuel at the initial PnP, but it didn't take long to start showing…

Favia La Magdalena

PnP started out with plum and alcohol; hot brick and purple fruit notes competing with each other. This needed about two hours to calm down. Notes of ripe plum, blueberry, boysenberry, and some…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fortuna Vineyard

Coming along nicely. Still fairly juvenile, carrying a youthful pop of acid and tannins (especially on PnP and for the first hour or so in the decater). A little linear in the attack, but displaying…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon American Oak Carved & Grooved Family Reserve Alain Fouquet South Oakville

It was an unfortunate pass for me on the American Oak wines. As with the U-Stave North, this Alain Fouquet suffered from the same caramel-laced flavor that distracted from the core fruit. I couldn't…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon American Oak U-Stave north

Try as I might, I just couldn't jump on the bandwagon with the American Oak wines. The wood imparted a lightly burnt caramel flavor on the attack that distracted from the fruit flavors. Lacked the…

Bevan Cellars EE Cuvée Tench Vineyard

Phenomenal performance for such a young wine. Hands down the best EE I've ever had. So concentrated, opulent, and deep, but at the same time brimming with energetic purple and red core fruit.…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Calixtro Tench Vineyard

A very intriguing wine. Displayed classical red and black currant, cedar, and fruitcake notes, but also enveloped the palate with a rush of dark purple and black core fruit, cloves, and asphalt. The…

Ghost Block Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

This poor little guy couldn't come close to hanging with the other big boys served alongside it. Some dark currant and cedar notes, but pretty thin mid-palate. Unfortunately forgettable. 88-90 points…

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon T6 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

PnP with initially tart red and purple berry notes and alcohol on the back end. An hour in the decanter yielded ripe and fruity core flavors with plum, red and black licorice, and some vanilla. There…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fortuna Vineyard

For a sub-$100 Napa Cabernet, and from the Fortuna site no less, this wine drinks way above its price point. Just a tick below some of the other more expansive and concentrated 2015 Carters, the…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The G.T.O Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Perfect, quality fruit, beautiful concentration, extraordinary depth the likes of which I haven't had in a wine, and a finish that went on for 60++ seconds (and this was after having the other Carter…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The O.G. Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

I've written quite a lot about this particular wine, as it is often my absolute favorite in the Carter lineup. Other previous notes have indeed covered it well. I will say once again that this wine…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

This reminded me of the OG, but with a little less of that core black fruit and massive attack that inherently comes from the OG. This GD was surely opulent and inviting, but had a verve that kicked…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

I had this wine served from 2 separate bottles (2 separate ways): Multiple Coravin 3-day old bottle and a fresh PnP.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The G.T.O Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

DAY 1: PnP was tight and restrained, with notes of black and red currant, black cherry, spice, and alcohol. Took about four hours in the decanter to open up with additional, deeper flavors of…

Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard

Wait at least another two years before popping the cork on this. Restrained notes of black currant, river rock, asphalt, and some anise. PACKED with potential but nowhere near ready for prime time.…