Reviews

Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Big and ripe black fruit and dark soil elements dominate. A rich Napa Oakville bomb that carries enough mineral lift to keep it all in focus. Seems to be getting heavier with time. Drink now.

Futo 5500

More graphite and mineral elements here than the 2021 Futo Oakville served next to it (blind), the 5500 carries similar class but with some red fruit notes that make for a higher register delivery…

001 Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon Ecotone Vineyard

This was a tannic tantrum of a bottle. Different than the more approachable bottle I had a few months back, this monkey was tight and strict. Finishes crunchy, with black mineral elements dominating.…

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

This was the ripest and most fruit-bomby of all the wines in the blind, with a rounded core that was covered in extracted baskets of gushing fruit. It's a cocktail style that is all bachelorette…

Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

This still needs time. It was middle of the pack in a blind amongst some compelling Futos and Macdonald. Much more delineated than the Schrader, Realm, Carter, Outpost crew served next to it, the…

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

This came off extremely oaky and almost chocolate milkshake marshmallowy compared to the other competitors in the Napa blind tasting. Gobs of fruit here.

Arkenstone Cabernet Sauvignon Heimark Vineyard

This bottle was a hot, massive, thick monster. Sticky and syrupy, with the high alcohol brambly blackberry cocktail delivery showing a full frontal exhibition of overt heat and power. Finishes like a…

MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon

In a blind of Napa big boys, this thing jumped ahead of the pack with what I consider to be one of the most perfect profiles for my palate. There is that signature olive and saline overlay that…

Futo Oakville

I have to admit to continually being fond of Futo, especially the Oakville offering. Despite the elevated pricing, the wine itself is consistently compelling with its combination of dark fruit and…

Kongsgaard Chardonnay The Judge

A lot of powdered sugar and heavy confectionery elements jumping out at first pass here, with succulent lemon curd and marshmallow saturating the palate. The chewy yellow citrus flavors are a bit…

Joseph Phelps Insignia

A fair amount of funk on the nose gives way to a mild-mannered and sound delivery of cedar, tobacco, macerated cherry and plum, soil, sherry, and caramel notes. Slightly grainy on the finish, but…

Bella Oaks Vineyard Proprietary Red

Blind.

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Side by side next to the 2022 Myriad TK.

Christopher Tynan Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines Meleagris Gallopavo

As before, brooding and almost rustic at first pass, but probably the most interesting Cabernet at the table, this MG impresses with some pyrazine and soil driven elements that help to lift the dark…

Arrow & Branch Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch

Blind.

Bergman Proprietary Red Wine

Blind.

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Blind.

Tusk Estates L'Orange

Blind.

Impensata Proprietary Red Wine Engelhard Vineyard

This is still working itself out, with some heat pushing the otherwise beautifully pure fruit to the side at times. There are moments of glory here, with pockets of textural genius that envelop and…

BOND Vecina

This was tight and tannic, with a stern entry of crunchy berry, rock, and cedar notes. I kept coming back to this wine as it tried to relax its grip, but it wasn't giving up much of the goods. What…

BOND St. Eden

Soft earth-laced berries, red and black currant, plum, a slight kiss of mushroom, and leather notes make for a classical showing from a nicely aged wine. It's drinking time here, and seemingly at the…

VHR Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch

This comes off a bit disjointed at first pass, with an overly heavy and sluggish ripe/dark fruit front end and an angular and bitter tail. It is as if a cooler version is colliding with a hot…

Harlan Estate

Though this shows as a little yesteryear in performance, it is nonetheless an aptly alluring example, and one with which I wish I had spent a little more time. Slightly sluggish on entry, but with a…

Larkmead Vineyards The Lark

It's been eight years since I've had this wine and it appears to be showing its age in anti-Benjamin Button fashion. It feels like another flashy 2007 that is tanking faster than it should (looking…

Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Bella Oaks

Plum, cherry, leather, dust, and some sherry notes. Classical in form all the way around. Past its prime in terms of freshness and tannic structure, presenting with a softness that is pleasant but…