Reviews

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Intense and concentrated without a doubt, but with a sophistication and focus that really showed extraordinarily well this time around. Even more elevated and complex in its showing since my previous…

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard

A mighty tasty representation of the site, and completely elevated in every respect since I last sampled this in barrel back in February. 10 months ago, this was all about sanguine and bloody butcher…

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

Served side-by-side with a 2016 B Cellars Star Cabernet, which was much more fruit driven and showed less up-front structure and acid than the Oakville. Previous notes apply on the Oakville, with…

MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon

Opened around 11AM, double-decanted, and remained re-corked in the bottle until 7PM. Re-opened, decanted, and followed over the course of a few hours. After the first hour of open air exposure in the…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

A beautiful wine that took a few hours in the decanter to unfurl and shed just a bit of excess cassis liqueur and alcohol to unveil an array of deeper purple, red, and black fruit flavors. Some tasty…

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Served side-by-side with the 2015 B Cellars BTK. This 2016 (a barrel sample) is similar to when I had it back in February, though it seems to be honing-in more on its identity at this stage. The…

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Inching its way in excellence, the BTK continues its trajectory toward showing a great combination of cerebral interest and soulful flavor. Previous notes apply, though I found this sample to be more…

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

Black cherry and black raspberry dominate here, with some red cherry, red and black currant, and cranberry flavors showing up to the party as well. Brilliant cut and acid here. Ripe but not rich,…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Same as previous notes. Great structure and frame, with the flavors starting to peek out nicely. The bone is still bigger than the meat at this juncture. Continuing to hold another couple of years…

Piazza Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Estate Oakville

This worked decently with the steak served as the final savory course of the evening, but it was at the back of the pack compared to some of the other Cabernets at the table. Flat mid-palate compared…

Piazza Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Connoisseur's Series 9 Oaks French Select South

From barrel. Black fruit dominated by rich blackberry, black cherry, chocolate chunk, and spice. The 9 Oaks barrel really worked well with the core fruit in this particular concoction. Mid-palate was…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Single Cluster

Offered in Magnum only. Black cherry and red and black currant dominant. A similar flavor profile to some of the other Del Dotto Oakville wines, except that this had a little more heightened frame.…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve Oakville Estate

Black cherry and red and black currant. Tannic and dry, with rustic edges that made for a flat and linear delivery overall. These 2013s seemingly need a ton of time. Cellar for another 3-5+ years and…

Piazza Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve Oakville Estate

From barrel. As with the 887 sample, this Oakville presented with a strong plum component that dominated the profile. Its edges were soft, fruity, and overtly Merlot-esque in presentation. A bit of a…

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

From barrel. Somewhat similar to the Darnajou version of this wine sampled side-by-side, the American Oak was strikingly and surprisingly similar to the how the French Oak was behaving with the…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve Darnajou French Oak North

From barrel. This sample of the Piazza Del Dotto Oakville Estate Darnajou NORTH Family Reserve showed decent black cherry and plum core fruit. Surprisingly, the Darnajou was imparting flavors that…

Riverain Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard

A generous tasting lineup of the 2013, 2014, 2015, and new 2016 BBS Tench Cabernets.

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

If the OG is a perfect wine, then the GTO is a perfect-er wine. Previous notes apply.

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

All previous notes apply. With the exception of the GTO, this OG is a darn-tootin', kick a** and take names kind of Black Bart fella that stands up at the saloon, skins its pair of smoke-wagons, and…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Power and flavor all wrapped into one big hunk of spicy sexiness. A true athlete on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition (but like a for-real athlete...not just…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

As before, fruit and spice dominate, with likely the most baby fat still present when compared to others in the lineup. It is just so darn flavorful right now though...total yum factor. It will…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fortuna Vineyard

Previous notes apply. A clean and focused representation of the site, with terrific purity of fruit. A wine that promises to develop over the coming year or so and in need of a little short term…

Flint Knoll Royal Appointment

A supple and approachable wine, with a fun and unpretentious profile that offers round red and black berry fruit. The Merlot component softens the edges, allowing the Cabernet Sauvignon to show its…

Riverain Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Tench Vineyard

A generous tasting lineup of the 2013, 2014, 2015, and a new 2016 BBS Tench Cabernets.

Riverain Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard

A generous tasting lineup of the 2013, 2014, 2015, and a new 2016 BBS Tench Cabernets.