Reviews

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Actaeon Quixote Vineyard

The first bottle was flawed. This second bottle was not, however my palate seemed to still be stuck in What The Heck mode after previously taking down some hefty sips of the heavily flawed bottle. I…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Actaeon Quixote Vineyard

Strong cedar and white vinegar mixed with a tablespoon of flabby Welch's grape juice. G-Damm*t Simple Jack A** bottle of salad dressing! ��

Greer Cabernet Sauvignon Greer Vineyard

I went for another small pour from the Coravin on this wine. It had some time to open up with air, which was a good thing. I'm starting to understand this wine a little more. Even with the plushness…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

This is turning out to be a very notable version of Dr. Crane. Initially on PnP, a bit of liqueur-esque black cherry and cassis notes dominated; but with a total of two hours+ of air, this really…

Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras

Same as previous notes. I'm going to try to hold remaining bottles until 2019. Just a little round on the mid-palate. Great core fruit flavors and concentration. Wanting a little more complexity and…

Stephen & Walker Trust Winery Limited Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

A somewhat enjoyable sipper (paired fine with some awesome Old Chicago pizza), but seemingly on the decline. Flavors were a little plumy, with muddled black cherry and some cedar-earth notes. A bit…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

This is really coming into a nice drinking window at this point. A much different experience than a year or so ago. A more seamless rush of black and dark red core fruit. A little bit of classical…

The Grade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Winfield Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Same as last month. Lush, ripe (but not over-ripe), and beautifully balanced. A nice rush of dark berry core fruit, with some bitter chocolate and subtle clove and black slate.…

Bevan Cellars Ontogeny

A great showing. One of the best Ontogenys I've had. The 2012 vintage is THE vintage for Ontogeny without a doubt. All previous notes apply. Service was PnP (which was perfect - no decant…

Greer Cabernet Sauvignon Greer Vineyard

Similar to previous notes. Last minute pull. From Coravin. Notes of black cherry, black raspberry, cassis, purple plum, and faint hints of salami and dust (maybe the dust thing is just in my head - I…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Though I usually can't help but blather on about this topic, I don't have to write much on this particular wine because Cristal2000, #1WineLover, and BadMonkey pretty much covered all that needs to…

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Cimarossa Vineyard

Same as previous notes. Usually in that 95-96+ category for me. This was almost there, but developed a bit of a plumy tinge on the back end after a few hours of air. PnP might be better service on…

Blankiet Estate Proprietary Red Wine Paradise Hills Vineyard

Similar to previous note 1.5 years ago. Very smooth and sophisticated. Really nice black and red berry and currant fruit, with a little earth and spice on the back end. Veering more toward a…

D.R. Stephens Cabernet Sauvignon Collateral Napa Valley

Though some at the table thought this was a little too tight and constricted, a number of us (myself included) thought it was firing off some nice flavors quite nicely. Black and blue core fruit,…

O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder

For me, this little bugger did not want to budge one bit throughout consumption. Some tight and linear notes of red and black currant, black rock, cassis, bitter black cherry, and some vanilla laced…

Bacio Divino Cabernet Sauvignon Janzen Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard

A really great showing on this wine. Sifting through the droves of wine at the table, this was probably my WOTN (next to a '13 Bevan McGah that was also performing well). PnP was a little tight with…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Aaaaagh! Mother-lovin' holy dammit all! Horribly corked right out of the gate. On initial "pop" (or rather, "puuhf"), the cedar and vinegar smell launched right out of the bottle. Such the bummer,…

Shafer Relentless

Same as all of my previous notes. Always a solid performer. A bit of air coaxed out some really nice bitter chocolate, tar, railroad tie, and black pebbly flavors to accompany the core black fruit.

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon McGah Vineyard

A very good showing for this wine tonight. It was up there with WOTN among all the other wines at the table (tied with a '12 Janzen Missouri Hopper). This 2013 Bevan McGah was served next to its 2012…

Hunnicutt Cuvée Equite

This was a decent showing with this wine. For me, it unfortunately got lost in the shuffle of some other heavy hitters at the table. Medium-bodied, with a pleasant attack of round darker fruit. This…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon McGah Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Served side-by-side with a 2013 Bevan McGah (and a whole bunch of other wines at the table). A smooth delivery of black (predominantly), blue, and some reddish-purple core…

12c Cabernet Sauvignon G3 Reserve Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

On par with what I've experienced with the 12C GIII Reserve, this 2015 version was displaying some interesting (almost funky and earthy) dark red and black core fruit flavors, laced with cedar and…

Fait-Main Chardonnay Penhoet Toyon Farm

Same as all previous notes. Light and crisp, with good acidity and an overall breadth of flavor that still has its domestic roots in place. This had the most drive compared to the other five whites…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Same as a week or so ago. One of the most elegant and deep versions of BTK I've had recently. Hold 6-12 months just cuz. Otherwise, drinking great now with a little air.

Iter Cabernet Sauvignon

Prune, stewed beef broth, and rotten plum chewing gum.