Reviews

BOND St. Eden

Not sure the deal here. A strong bitterness, with blackberry seed and an acrimonious pasty finish that paws at the palate and leaves a furry texture in the mouth. A concerning showing.

MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon

The first line on my notes reads, "Of course. Why wouldn't 2019 be epic?! It's like it's not even fair to any other wine on the table." .though, in fairness, I will admit there was a bottle with some…

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon SongBook

I could cut and paste most of my tasting notes for the 2019 Songbook and place them along with the beautiful 2018, with the exception of the slightly dialed-back ostentatiousness displayed with the…

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Rock Block Series Magic Nights

From the Rock Block series, the 2018 Magic Nights is the latest iteration of this compelling succession. Black berry and mineral notes are beautifully weighted, with a mid-palate that brings on the…

Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Initially a red berry and cedar dominant profile, which quickly gave way to vivacious black cherry, spice, gravel, and faint hints of Italian seasoning (dried thyme and oregano). The spice and cedar…

Promontory

12 Promontory - flawed Suuuuuuucks.

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

This continues to perform like the molten mineral-laced black asphalt blackberry bitter-chocolate baby you all know and love. It's as flashy and opulent as LPV can get without sacrificing focus and…

BOND Vecina

With Bill Harlan's assertions that he is crafting wines from the Bond brand that are designed to age, then the 2002 Vecina makes a compelling argument as to why that is indeed true. Earthy and…

BOND Pluribus

This is the obvious standout for me amongst the 2018 Bonds, with well-delineated blackberry, unripe plum flesh, purple and red plum skin, and red cherry flavors complimented by a meaty element adding…

BOND Vecina

Boy is this a tight and stubborn monkey; a little awkwardness and wonky alcohol surfaced here, further distracting from the would-be flavors hoping to emerge on the delivery. Furry, flinty, and…

BOND St. Eden

Blackberry and plum notes provide the plushest and most rounded profile (by Bond standards) of the 2018 lot. Air becomes somewhat of a weapon here, with extended time in the glass clamping down on…

BOND Quella

Earthy and slightly flat on entry, with the front end giving comparatively less oomph than its siblings. A linear and stemmy execution, with dusty gravel, green peppercorns, blackberry seed, and…

Harlan Estate

Ready, giving, luscious, chewy, and a big polar bear hug of black berries and chocolate chunk goodness that doesn't skip a beat in terms of textural dreaminess and seamlessness. The 2012 Harlan's…

BOND Melbury

Unripe red raspberry, sour red cherry, green peppercorn, and plum skin notes present as painfully young, holding the fruit back a thousand yards from expansion. With vigorous swirling in the glass,…

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

I love Tynan's take on To Kalon, with a serious cut instantly reminding me of a MACDONALD-esque physique and intensity that showcase some of the frame and fortitude that is sometimes missing in the…

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon SongBook

Well, this wine is pretty much all sorts of astounding. Especially for a Tynan wine, which typically leads from the frame, this is an expressly gushing specimen. I'm not even sure where it begins and…

Christopher Tynan Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside blocks C. Corbett Family Vineyard

Juicy red raspberry, sour red and black cherry, and damp earth notes flow across the palate with an effortlessness that is instantly appealing. Bright and fresh, with a red licorice note that appears…

Christopher Tynan Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines Meleagris Gallopavo

If you know Tynan's Meleagris Gallopavo, then you don't need too much of me running my mouth with all the praise I have for this 2018, especially considering this will be my third tasting note on…

Harlan Estate

Blind. The Harlan was tied for my second/third favorite out of five. The preferential order for me was Colgin, Eisele/Harlan, Bryant, and Chappellet - with the Chappellet not even close to being in…

Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill Estate Vineyard

Blind. The Chappellet was at the back of the stack.

Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Blind. The Bryant was my fourth out of five. Normally that might create the impression it somehow had a bad showing or failed in some way. This is the problem with comparison tastings. There's always…

Colgin Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill Vineyard

Blind. The Colgin was my favorite out of the five. This was also the hands-down favorite for everyone at the table.

Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Blind. The Eisele was tied for my second/third favorite out of five. The preferential order for me was Colgin, Eisele/Harlan, Bryant, and Chappellet - with the Chappellet not even close to being in…

Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon Anjea Sleeping Lady Vineyard

Big and rich and big and rich, and then at once weightless and expansive, with a latitude that provides a sashay delivery of the mega fruit pumping out of the valves of this skilled "grace under…

Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon Anjea Sleeping Lady Vineyard

Well, well, well. It seems that Anjea in 2019 has some heft going on here. There's a polish in 2019 that is remarkable, but that glaze is varnish for a podium that is stacked, packed, racked, and…