Reviews

Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Bone Ash Vineyard

Definitely more fruit-driven than the Morlets and Rudd served alongside it, with seemingly less backbone and acidic grip. Ripe red and black core fruit, with lush, plush, rounded edges that would be…

MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon

Double-decanted and re-corked in-bottle for approximately 8 hours; then consumed out of a decanter over the course of over four more hours. By hour two, this had presented itself in a way that was…

Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon

Same as my notes on this wine from last month. Black and purple core fruit (with some streaks of dark red), cassis, spice, and some licorice. More frame and grip than the 2015 Outpost Immigrant…

Outpost Immigrant True Vineyard

Served next to the 2015 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon (which I preferred ever so slightly - mainly for its elevated frame and grip). Purple and black core fruit, with black currant, black soil,…

Tusk Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

All previous notes apply. PnP was a little boozy, but that settled down after some swirling in the glass. It was very good, but couldn't fully run away from the liqueur component that was making it…

Bevan Cellars EE Cuvée Tench Vineyard

The only thing that kept this from being 100 points tonight was that the MACDONALD kept coming along and smacking around everything in front of it. All of my previous notes on this EE apply. This is…

Becklyn Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

Same as my previous notes on this wine. This was served to me blind and I identified it correctly as the '15 Becklyn NV, mostly because of the unique array of blue, black, and red fruit notes…

Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Strikingly similar to the 2010 Carter Grand Daddy, except that the Mondavi had a lighter body overall, with a bit of an old-world, earthy quality that made it uniquely stand out when compared to the…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon Block 6

Very similar to the 2012 Block 6 I had the week before. Dark black and some super dark red core fruit, with black currant, chocolate, black soil, and spice to round-out the flavor profile. Dark,…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Somewhat similar to the 2012 Revana Block 6 (served beside it) in terms of its dark, black core fruit. Less chocolate-driven than the Revana, but displaying a nice streak of black soil and earthy…

Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve

A step up from the 2015 Bone Ash, but still leading its attack with a lot of fruit in the mouth all at once. A darker flavor profile than the Bone Ash, with sappy black raspberry, wild blackberry,…

Morlet Family Vineyards Cabernet Franc Force de la Nature

Compared/served directly next to a 2008 and a 2012 Morlet Coeur de Vallee. This Force de la Nature had some notable precision (especially when distinguished from the Morlet Coeur de Vallee wines,…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

All of my previous notes on this wine apply. I've written on and on about my adoration for the 2015 Scarlett Reserve. The best Scarlett ever. The best McGah ever. One of the best Mike Smith wines…

Morlet Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Cour de Vallée

Compared/served directly next to a 2008 Morlet Coeur de Vallee and a 2012 Morlet Force de la Nature. My previous notes apply on this wine. This was 3rd of the 3 Morlets we had, mostly due to its…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon 887

I always have a soft spot in my heart (or palate) for the St. Helena wines from Del Dotto. This 2013 is a medium-bodied animal (when compared to what I remember about the 2014), darker fruit profile,…

Morlet Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Cour de Vallée

Compared/served directly next to a 2012 Morlet Coeur de Vallee and a 2012 Morlet Force de la Nature. This was up there as one of my top wines of the night. I loved the way the Cabernet Franc…

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

A year since I had this wine. Man, I did everything I could think of to spoon-feed this wine into being anything beyond a stern-ass liquid Liam Neeson. No dice. This RBS carried a Klingon furrowed…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Previous notes apply. PnP was an initial punch of red and black cherry liqueur and vanilla extract. Decanted for an hour+, which GREATLY improved the overall delivery of flavor. Black cherry, red and…

Arkenstone Sauvignon Blanc

Same as last month and other previous notes before. A high-functioning SB for sure in my opinion. Weight, intensity, purity, acid, and flavor all hit the right registers with this version of the…

The Grade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Winfield Vineyard

All previous notes apply. An easy-going crowd pleaser for sure. Flavors are always enjoyable from this wine, if not just a touch simple on the back end. It performed similarly to a 2014 Kobalt served…

Venge Vineyards Merlot Oakville Estate Vineyard

This actually performed a couple of steps higher when compared to the last time I had it back in December. Still a little coiled up, but showing some really nice structure and energy throughout…

Kobalt Cabernet Sauvignon

Dark black cherry and some bitter chocolate flavors dominate. Much more medium-bodied than expected. This performed similarly to a 2014 Grade Cabernet served alongside it. Both the Kobalt and Grade…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon Block 6

PnP with dark black and red berry core fruit. Chocolate, black raspberry, black currant, clove, allspice, and some black soil notes beautifully glide across the palate. Mid-palate and overall…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Teucer Vineyard

Previous notes from six months ago apply. PnP was just fine, albeit just a bit tight on the back end. Given a couple hours of air, this wine really opened up nicely with black cherry, dark bitter…

Bevan Cellars EE Cuvée

Previous notes from December 2017 still apply. This is continuing on it path nicely, with seemingly even more room to grow over the next year, as it really started to pick up its pace after a couple…