Reviews

Harlan Estate

I got all ramped-up to write about this wine and then just re-read my notes from 4/30/2021 that basically say it all (so, refer to those notes if you want to read my novella from April). This was…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon BBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Displaying an exceptionally young and tight demeanor, the 2015s in general seem to require even more time in bottle before coming to full fruition. Double-decanted for over 8 hours, the To Kalon BBS…

Vice Versa Beatrix Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Similar to my experience with this wine back in April, the Beatrix showed a healthy dollop of red berry, cassis, earth, dry flowers, and an almost-Grenache-garrigue element that provides an herbal…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Initially, the 2019 To Kalon was a bit reserved (by Napa standards of course) and took a little bit of coaxing after the first pull of the cork. Double-decanted and given over four hours to find its…

MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon

Another stellar performance from the 2018 MACDONALD. This is my second time sampling this vintage of what I believe to be an absolutely perfect wine. For me it's kinda simple: This is one of the best…

TOR Pure Magic Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard B F D

Black Magic and Pure Magic side by side.

Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

This took a while to get to where it needed to be, but once it found its sense of place, it fell into a wonderfully balanced expansion of flavor. Small Coravin pours over the course of a week barely…

MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon

Normally I wouldn't even think of messing with this wine inside of the 7+ year mark, but I wanted to get a feel for how it might hold over the course of the next decade and if it stands to be as…

Harlan Estate

Essentially a younger and more rambunctious version of the 2012, which is a great sign of things to come. Powerful and heady on entry, with blackberry liqueur, charcoal, graphite, and black raspberry…

Harlan Estate

One of the best wines I've ever had.

VHR Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch

Young, driven, and really, really determined in its energy and thrust, this wine was off to the racetracks with a super thrilling acidic frame that was spinning its essences in the mouth with so much…

Morlet Family Vineyards Cabernet Franc Force de la Nature

Hot and ripe on the first pop, but then it gets right into a nice stride, inviting another sip (and another bite of food). Plump black cherry, black and red currant, red and black licorice, and…

MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon

A perfect wine in the making, the 2018 Macdonald is undoubtedly going to be one of the top wines of the vintage. For those familiar with the Macdonald lineage, the 2018 will be no surprise as a…

Vice Versa Beatrix Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Barrel sample. Immediately recognizable as Valley Floor/Oakville fruit. Big, warm, fruity, and earthy, this specimen is a To Kalon mullet on the palate: Cab Franc on the front end, Cab Sauv on the…

Harlan Estate

Barrel sample. Fresh berries and charcoal, as if you took the best made blackberry pie and fired it up on an old school open-flame Weber BBQ. Texturally this is a complete dream, with fine grained…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Over two years since my last bottle. Plum, dark berry, spice box, cassis, and vanilla alcohol. A little awkward on the initial pull, with the booze and ripe plum notes battling a bit with each other…

Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

It's got that rich and chocolatey Benoit on top of a Hershey's black cherry Sunday thing going on that draws you in with the first sip. Cardamom and Christmas spices soon follow, along with a wave of…

Morlet Family Vineyards Cabernet Franc Force de la Nature

Somewhat similar to my experience with this wine from 2.5 years ago (June 2, 2018), though perhaps more relaxed and accessible at this juncture in terms of front-end approachability. Earth, spice,…

Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve

Big, ripe, and slightly plummy on entry, this fruit monster needs some air to really find its glide. Black cherry and vanillin cassis flavors tiger-paw other behind-the-scene notes of soil and char…

Bevan Cellars EE Cuvée

Similar to my tasting note from last year. Progressing very nicely. Decanted two-three hours to really get its glide on. Beautifully weighted, with a flavor expansion that offers a surprisingly…

Morlet Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Cour de Vallée

Gorgeous purple-red berry fruit saunters effortlessly across the palate with dark soil, wet cedar, cigar leaf, and black spice notes. Carries with it a conspicuous amount of sediment, but it's so…

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

As good as it was 1.5 years ago. A big, mouthwatering wine that is somehow able to finesse its way clear of being a brute. Super luscious blue and black berry fruits, with embers, slate, anise/dark…

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

It's been 3.5 years since my last bottle. This has progressed nicely, and could likely use even another year or two to fully come together. Followed over the course of 72 hours (Days one and two were…

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

It's been about 3 years since I've had the 2013 OG. I actually pulled this by mistake (I thought I grabbed a 2015), because I was reading some of the most recent CT reviews on the 2013 and planned on…

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

2017 Schrader RBS and CCS side-by-side.