Reviews

Arkenstone Cabernet Sauvignon NVD

A 2011 that didn't instantly catapult me into adversity and grumpiness, this Arkenstone NVD actually showed a decent flavor profile that wasn't washed over with bell pepper and wood flavors. Rather,…

Arkenstone Obsidian

Black currant, asphalt, blackberry, black licorice, and subtle dark cassis and violet notes. Drinking very well now, with an accessibility that is indicative of the 2014 vintage. Not as much drive as…

B Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Juliana Vineyard

Standard yellow citrus, mild tropical fruit, and grapefruit notes. Not much grass or mineral notes to elevate it beyond the core fruit flavors. Simple but satisfying. Drink now.

Arkenstone Sauvignon Blanc

Served alongside the 2014 Arkenstone SB, which I preferred for its elevated intensity and push of flavors. This 2013 was good, but it had less verve. The tail end was fairly short, fading off fast.…

Arkenstone Sauvignon Blanc

All of my previous notes apply. This was served side-by-side with a 2013 Arkenstone SB. I favored this 2014 for its elevated intensity and more powerful flavor drive. Nice energy and complexity.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon La Bam Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

A huge step up from the inaugural 2015 vintage of La Bam, this 2016 is a gorgeous representation of the LPV site. Purple and black core fruit with gravel and rocks swirling all around.…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fortuna Vineyard

Red and black core fruit, with a medium-bodied push of flavors across the mid-palate; notable fruit flavors that coat the mouth and glide on through the finish.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Carter

A primarily purple core, with some black, and deep, dark red fruit flavors. Black raspberry, black currant, purple plum, bitter chocolate, river rock, and some mocha.

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…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Weitz Vineyard

Black/red and some purple core fruit. Similar in profile to the Fortuna with its black cherry, plum, and currant notes. A little higher register red fruit kicking out at this point (not unlike…

Carter Cellars Hossfeld Coliseum

A great effort; a huge step up from previous vintages and by FAR the best Hossfeld Coliseum I've ever had. A tremendous amount of concentration, especially considering its comparative profile against…

Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon Blueline

Fun to check out and debate-about from an educational perspective, this wine was brought out by our gracious host primarily for that exact purpose. Specific notes typical of those 2011 Napa Cabs I've…

Hourglass 36-24-36 Blueline

My favorite wine in the lineup. This came off as somewhat of a hybrid of the Blueline and the other Estate. It had the deep, black, flavorful core fruit of the Blueline, but a near-perfect frame to…

Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

Blackberry, black cherry, black raspberry, black and red currant, tobacco leaf, and some spice. Less overtly modern and ripe than the Blueline, with a bit more focus and frame. Solid acid, especially…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Wildfoote Vineyard, Vixen Block

A massively powerful and intense wine, packed with black core fruit. Burnt embers, scorched earth, black soil, river rock, pulverized granite, black pen ink, and some dark cassis. The front end is an…

Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon Blueline

Blackberry jam, dark ripe plum, black cherry, dark chocolate, coffee grounds, chocolate covered blueberry, and some spice and stone.

Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon Blueline

Gobs of dark black and blue fruit. Ripe blackberry and blueberry flavors dominating. Heavily toasted notes of oak char, smoke, vanilla, and chocolate cake. A heavy confection aftertaste made for a…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon McGah Vineyard

All previous notes apply. Very compelling blue and black core fruit, with subtle streaks of black asphalt and river rock. A straightforward 2014 type of delivery and execution, medium complexity,…

Hourglass Cabernet Franc Blueline

Black cherry, black raspberry, alcohol, vanilla liqueur, unripe purple plum, and some red/black currant. Vivacious and higher register than the Cabernet Sauvignon dominant wines. Needs time. 93+…

Hourglass Malbec Blueline

Energetic red/black core fruit, with unique Grenache-esque flavors of kirsch, black cherry, cassis, and some wood. A prominent singed eucalyptus leaf dominated the attack, at times offering added…

Hourglass Merlot Blueline

A superb example of the varietal, with beautiful black core fruit; blackberry, black currant, dark chocolate, tar, black coffee, and clove. A va-va-voom sexy body, with notable muscle and frame to…

Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

For a barrel sample, this wine displayed notable focus and frame, especially given how ripe and bombastic the black and dark red core fruit was delivering on the front of the attack. A lot of power…

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

Did you really think this would be anything other than a perfect representation of the BTK site?! In 2015, I thought the GTO was indeed an example of perfection...and I still think that. I will say…

Hourglass Merlot Blueline

Barrel sample. Beautiful dark black and deeply pitched red core fruit, with chocolate, oak char, and tar; a lot of power and push right now, but with a notable depth and body that speak well to where…

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

Previous notes apply. This OG certainly showed the most structure when directly compared to the intensely sexy Three Kings and fruitier Grand Daddy. The OG is exacting, complex, and has a cerebral…