Reviews

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…

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

A beautiful and poised example of BTK; medium bodied and seamless (almost gentle) on the finish. Pure fruit flavors of black raspberry, black cherry, cinnamon, and subtle bitter chocolate. A kiss of…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Leading with gorgeous baking spice notes and a solid push of black, super dark red, and some purple core fruit flavors, this Three Kings was a healthy glass of youthful flavor fun, with just the…

The Debate Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

A captivating bottle of wine. Balanced and exquisitely focused, while still delivering a beautifully concentrated core of black fruit. Signature To Kalon, with powerfully mouth-couting waves of…

Bevan Cellars Petit Verdot Two Dog Knoll

Barrel sample. It really is a shame that this juice won't make its way into a single wine, as it is a sheer phenom as a stand alone. Instead, it will be parsed-out for blending in Bevan's other…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Saunders Vineyard

Barrel sample (from Sylvain). Truly a beguiling wine, swirling with an array of palate-popping flavors, the 2017 Saunders kicks out notes of deep purple plum, red raspberry, coffee grounds, toasted…

Bevan Cellars EE Cuvée Tench Vineyard

This sample was from a day-old opened bottle of EE, which was much more even-keeled and less alcohol ridden than on PnP. Signs of good things to come from this wine after some short term cellaring.…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Calixtro Tench Vineyard

Much in the same lane as its 2015 brother, this 2016 offered similar red and black currant, fruitcake, and spice notes that were undeniably Calixtro. Perhaps a bit deeper, broader, and a little more…

Bevan Cellars EE Cuvée Tench Vineyard

Huge blackberry and black raspberry core fruit, with waves of boozy red and black licorice, black cherry liqueur, currant, and spice. Delivering flavor like a hussie barrel sample from a brothel in…

Bevan Cellars Danger D Cuvée Showket Vineyards

From .750. While the David's Cuvée was noticeably less intense in .750 than from magnum the day before, the Danger D was fairly similar between the two bottling sizes. Possibly a hair less…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon David's Cuvée Showket Vineyards

From .750. Interesting the differences between this bottle and the magnum from the day before. This bottle was just as smooth and beautiful, but noticeably less intense and more medium in its…

Bevan Cellars Merlot Alexis' Cuvée Showket Vineyards

Previous notes apply. A remarkable wine that has so much drive, especially for a decade-old Merlot. Very smooth and inviting, with near-perfect balance across the palate from beginning to end. The…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon David's Cuvée Showket Vineyards

From magnum. The most polished of the three 2008 Bevans tasted (Alexis, Danger D, David's). A little less intense and powerful than the broader-shouldered Danger D, but still displaying wonderful…

Bevan Cellars Danger D Cuvée Showket Vineyards

From magnum. This wine was showing much more power and intensity than when I last had it back in September 2017. I can only assume the magnum effect is what was potentially preserving this wine much…

Château Boswell Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

The most complete of the Boswell reds in the lineup presented, this BTK showed a notable distribution of weight (especially mid-palate) and a medium-bodied flavor profile overall. Holding a bit firm…

Château Boswell Cabernet Sauvignon At Anchor

Black cherry dominated, with somewhat invasive menthol and evergreen notes swirling around additional flavors of forest floor and spice. Medium bodied and somewhat restrained overall, with the core…

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

It's perfect. So shut up already and find some... The GTO is the runway model OG, but also with an MD from Yale. A bucket list wine for the 2016 vintage. Previous notes apply otherwise.

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

Previous notes apply. My third go-around with this wine. Standby for this to be "perfect" in a couple of years. Great grip. Great complexity. Great focus. Great drive.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Previous notes apply. The 2016 GD is not as fueled-up as the Three Kings and not as structured and focused as the OG. Showing a more fruit-driven style, with a slightly sweeter attack on the front…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Jesus H. Christ on a rollercoaster! Strap in boys and girls, because this Three Kings is a "Wow!" wine if there ever was one. Huge, huge fruit. Red and black cherry, rich cassis, licorice, and a fat…

VHR Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch

Coiled-up red currant, red cherry liqueur, black cherry, spice, and peppercorn. Bound up pretty tight, with a spicy/peppery element to compliment the red (and black-ish) core fruit. The purity of…

Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

PnP. An absolutely incredible showing. The best I've experienced with this wine, and probably one of the best 2012 Napa Cabs I've had in recent memory. I almost wanted to hit it with a 100 point…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

A fun addition to the lineup, this VV BTK (labeled as "Napa Valley") is a beautiful example of how these wines can show their maturity while still displaying youthful verve and energy. Black cherry,…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Purity of fruit is evident, as is the overall flavor profile. This still has some fattening-up to do in my opinion. Frame first then fruit, at this stage at least. A wine to…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard

Displaying a wonderful amount of energy and intensity, the 2015 Tench has a captivating pop of black cherry, red and black currant, black raspberry, cassis, bitter chocolate, and some spice. A little…