Reviews

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,…

Rudd Oakville Estate Proprietary Red

What a great showing on this wine! Drank alongside a 2013 Myriad; after 30 minutes in the decanter, the Rudd took off like a rocket. Bursting with dark black raspberry, black cherry, deep red and…

Bevan Cellars EE Cuvée

4 months since I last had this wine. PnP was very tight and a bit boozy. Raspberry liqueur, black cherry, vanilla, and alcohol. Linear and and a little palate-numbing, with a tannic clamp that muted…

TOR Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Same as my specific flavor notes from May. Ideally, this shouldn't be opened for another year or two (shoot for 2018). We didn't intend on cracking the cork on this, but circumstances dictated…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fortuna Vineyard

I was going to wait on this, but I wanted to follow it over a couple of days. PnP was nice and vibrant, with red and black berry fruits. Not a lot of additional flavors initially, but after a few…

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

On the heels of having thoroughly loved the 2014 TOR BTK Cabernet recently at the Tor tasting at Meadowood, I decided to pop this 2012 BTK Cabernet.

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard

A new offering from Tor using the Herb Lamb Vineyard to source a single vineyard designation Cabernet Sauvignon. A beautifully centered wine, with some nice darker fruits peeking out of it. Showed…

TOR Proprietary Red Wine

The heavy addition of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot (both 43%, with the Cabernet Sauvignon only accounting for the remaining 14%) with this Oakville blend initially came off a bit angular and…

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Hands down the best wine of the fifteen Tor wines sampled during the tasting event. Even more captivating than the Black Magic (the "Reserve" BTK). Unbelievable intensity and depth, kicking out…

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Tierra Roja

This was a little more wild and brambly when compared to the softer and rounder Herb Lamb tasted just before it. Higher-toned red and black fruit-driven at the moment, the Tierra Roja will likely…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Bluegoose's notes are right on the money with this wine. Not much else to add. Certainly a well crafted and enjoyable wine, but somewhat overshadowed by the 2012 and 2013 vintages. Turned a little…

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

At the risk of sounding like I'm getting kickbacks from Schrader or something (I wish!), I have to admit this was indeed a fabulous showing with this wine. Had a bit of a tight grip on initial PnP,…

Rudd Oakville Estate Proprietary Red

Identical to my notes on 12/19/2015. Drinking very nice right out of the chute. An hour in a small decanter at 54 degrees was great. Beautifully balanced Cabernet and a great example of the varietal.…

Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Barrel sample.

Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard

Barrel sample.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

This was a great showing in my opinion. PnP was just slightly reserved, but it didn't take long for those plush and forward BTK purple, red, and blue berry fruit flavors to push through. Signature…

Bevan Cellars EE Cuvée

It has only been a month since I last had this wine, so same specific notes apply. This really developed some nice chocolate, espresso, and black raspberry liqueur flavors over the course of a few…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon BDB French Oak Connoisseurs Series SO/NO

Dusty cedar, red and black currant, and plum. This started to become fruity fairly rapidly. The intensity was good, but the plushness of this wine was a little distracting. Tasted more like an…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon BDB French Oak Connoisseurs Series SO/NO

Served from a 12L Balthazar bottle. This was the best of the three wines when compared to its 2013 and 2014 siblings.

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon BDB French Oak Connoisseurs Series SO/NO

Red/black currant, mulch, and cedar. The least interesting of its 2012 and 2014 siblings. This one lacked the dusty finish that would have held a little more interest for me had it shown a little…

Mark Herold Wines Herold

Similar to previous notes.

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Harbison Vineyard

Better than the 2012 Bevan Tin Box I had the previous night. The Harbison had the depth I was more looking for. Not only did this deliver in terms of a beautifully textured mouthfeel and a silky…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Tin Box Vineyard

Certainly an impeccably balanced and finessed Cabernet, with an elegance and femininity that I was a little surprised by. Soft and round, as the tannins were barely noticeable throughout the entire…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Of the BTKs, this was the most reserved at the moment. Sweet and concentrated, with notes of red and purple berry fruits, vanilla, and alcohol. The quality of fruit is again evident, as is the tannin…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Phenomenal fruit, with flashy red and purple berry notes, vanilla bean, chocolate, and pencil lead. Where this wine really shows you its presence is in its depth and mid-palate. Huge sexy "oomph" on…