Reviews

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

A serious wine indeed, perhaps even a bit too serious in its present state, with a Jack Nicholson "You can't handle the truth" proclamation as soon as it launches its sword-forward attack on the…

Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus

Similar to previous notes. A little rounder and more plush this time around, displaying a beautifully balanced and smooth entry, if not lacking just a bit of verve and grip to best house the gorgeous…

Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Franc

Black and red cherry, red plum, coffee grounds, cedar, and some bark. A surprising amount of balled-up energy and tension here, indicating even more time in bottle will allow for the flavors to…

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon LPV Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

2014 Quivet LPV and 2014 Schrader LPV side-by-side.

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

One of my Napa Cabs of the vintage, and a consistent standout every time I pop the cork. This wine simply lays waste to a whole mess of wines when in comparative tastings or as a stand-alone. The…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

2014 Quivet LPV and 2014 Schrader LPV side-by-side.

Arrow & Branch Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Much improved and developed from when I had this last year. Black cherry, black raspberry, cardamom, blackberry seed, and some dust. The initial attack cons you into thinking it is going to be…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Black cherry dominates here, with subtle hints of black river rock, dust, and vanilla. Showing some linearity, with a more horizontal delivery of flavors in its current state. Agreeable and a super…

Pott Wine Space & Time

2015 Incubo & 2015 Space and Time.

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Incubo

2015 Incubo & 2015 Space and Time.

Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Barrel sample. A fresh and vivacious example of Crane, registering a little high and red-fruited at the moment. A great deal of speed and pop here, with notes of bing cherry, red raspberry, cassis,…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Red and black cherry, kirschwasser, pomegranate, spice, and vanilla dominate the profile of this sample, with a racy and energetic delivery that hits the upper register of red fruit flavors in its…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Elysian Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Even more intense and powerful than the 2017, and even seemingly more focused than the 2016, the fruit in this 2018 Elysian really shows the potential to be a perfect wine. Purity of fruit is…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Red bing cherry, pomegranate, red raspberry, plum skin, and some blackberry seed. A higher-toned version of the Quivet LPV, and one that begs for time and patience once it hits bottle. Grippy and…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Elysian Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Blackberry, black raspberry, black rock, wild blueberry, purple plum skin, asphalt, scorched earth, and a fascinating BBQ'd brisket bark note that interplayed delectably with the black minerality.…

Morlet Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Cour de Vallée

As before, this CdV displayed notes of black and red raspberry, plum skin, soil, traces of cassis, green peppercorn, tobacco leaf, and some leather. Exquisitely balanced and, inside of an hour of…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Steltzner Vineyard

The blackest, densest, most mineral-driven in the lineup, the 2017 Steltzner impresses with its rocky, black minerality and deeply pitched black fruit core. A truly awesome example of the site and a…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Twins Vineyard

2017 seems to have been very charitable to the Twins offering this go-around, as this sample displays as a full-throttled, grippy, and endurance-driven specimen of flavor and energy. Intense purple…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Round Pond Vineyard

Red berries on the front end, black cherry and blackberry on the back, the fruit from the 2018 Round Pond really shows a fun swirling of festive red and black fruit flavors. A finish that hits the…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Empyrean Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Darker, smoother, rounder, and seemingly deeper than the 2017 GIII, the fruit on the 2018 GIII (potentially slated for the Empyrean) thrusts on to the palate with resolve and intensity. Much like the…

Vangone Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

Well, it's official... I'm digging on this label pretty hard at the moment. After some epic barrel samples of the 2016 and 2018, this 2015 is already showing amazingly well considering I just…

The Grade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Kingly Project Winfield Vineyard

Previous notes apply in terms of this wine's specific flavor profile, except the intensity of this is starting to down-shift as it continues to age in bottle. For some, this is welcomed news, as…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon The Arsenal Greer Vineyard

Dusty cedar, earth, wild purple plum, red cherry, and black currant notes. Beautiful weight distribution on the front end push, with a solid mid-palate drop that settles in nicely before it moves on…

Kobalt Cabernet Sauvignon

Same as before. Black, chocolatey, and chalk full of scortched earth and black rock. A bit thick and grainy on the attack, with a tarry finish. A little crunchy and gritty at times, with the black…

Becklyn Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

Still hitting heavy in the fruity cocktail category, with a flavorful array of red, purple, blue, and black berry fruits, cassis, vanilla, and Twizzlers. Plush and fleshy, with a somewhat protracted…