Reviews

Arkenstone Cabernet Sauvignon NVD

Same notes as last month. Seems to be falling fairly rapidly. Some odd sweetness on the back end. Flat finish (but not as flat as a Rivers Marie Cabernet served alongside it). This was the less…

Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon

Same notes as last week. My girl liked it more than I did; I found this go-around to be a bit plumy and flat.

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Empyrean Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Unbelievable showing for such a young wine. The first sip forces you to stop what you're doing, take a breath, sit back in your chair, and smile (at least that's what I did). It commands your…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Similar to my previous notes from two weeks ago. A lot of power here. This bottle was slightly more subdued than the bottle I tried on 6/17/2017 (In fact, Mike Smith mentioned it might have even been…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Twins Vineyard

I completely loved this wine. Black cherry liqueur (but not too alcohol laced at all), plum, cacao, cassis, and some gray stone notes that really moved this into the next level. This wine will need a…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Pellet Vineyard

My favorite Quivet Pellet to date (Yes, I'm saying a lot of these wines are my favorite to date.2015 is really delivering some amazing versions of Mike Smith's wines). This was similar to the…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Kenefick Ranch

My favorite Quivet Kenefick to date; grabs ahold of you and gets your attention. It's not a slap in the face, but a nice forward delivery of layered flavors. It was similar to the Myriad NV, but even…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Elysian Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Sophisticated and absurdly silky; a creamy texture that sneaks up on you before the fruit even has a chance to tell you how beautiful it is. This is a texture-first type of wine. A velvety frame…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

As expected, this is a masterfully crafted version of the NV. A lot of Kenefick fruit apparently went into this wine, and it shows with its youthfully fleshy, fruit-forward attack. A quick hit of…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Solid core fruit (I LOVE Crane fruit) housed in a perfectly balanced frame of darker spice and some vanilla bean-laced wood. Red and purple berry and currant fruit (a little blacker possibly than the…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Depth and concentration were most notable here. Not surprisingly, this was my favorite of the Quivet lineup and my favorite LPV that I've had from Quivet. It is certainly a fledgling, but it still…

Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon

A very nice bottle of wine. Pretty much what one would expect from this producer. Deep, rich, and full of black fruit, dark chocolate, and quality wood. Some alcohol on the finish that never fully…

Becklyn Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

PnP was an attack of extra ripe plum and super sweet vanilla bean. The blueberry and blackberry smoothie notes were a bit too extracted and cloying initially.

Lewis Cellars Syrah

Same as previous notes. This was drinking very well about 30 minutes after PnP. Gained some really nice depth in the glass with some swirling. Dark blackberry, huckleberry, boysenberry, black hot…

Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon

I suppose I am admittedly less stoked on this wine than my other CT compadres. I got plum. I got some black cherry. If I tried hard enough I got a little earth. But at the end of it all, I got just…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Wildfoote Vineyard, Vixen Block

Previous notes apply from last year. It was very smooth and inviting; it was significantly better than a 2013 Rivers Marie Cabernet we had alongside it. This Wildfoote had some nice licorice, anise,…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

It's been over a year since I last had this wine. Specific previous descriptors apply. In fact, last year I wrote, "full spectrum of purple, blue, black, and red berry fruit notes, blueberry and…

Realm Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Fidelio

Beautiful and focused notes of white peach and ripe pear rush up on the initial attack. Additional notes of yellow citrus, white pumice, and quince paste follow through to the mid-palate. Some light…

Becklyn Cellars Sauvignon Blanc McGah Vineyard

All previous notes apply. My last bottle. A good SB, but one in which I found myself longing for a little more "oomph" from overall. Crisp, light, and agreeable. A good sipper on a hot day.

The Grade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Kingly Project Winfield Vineyard

A beautifully concentrated and opulent wine. Just a hair more intense and powerful than the standard 2014 Grade Cabernet. Dark blue and black fruit, deeply pitched, and a hint of sweetness on the…

The Grade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Winfield Vineyard

This was the most accessible and giving of the standard Grade Cabernets. It displayed that signature kiss of sweet blue and black fruit that I consider a hallmark of the 2014 vintage. Glycerin and…

The Grade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Kingly Project Winfield Vineyard

As with the standard 2013 Grade Cabernet, the Kingly was also pretty wound tight. Coiled up and ready to pop, but not yet; not for another two years I would estimate.

Sea-Fog (The Grade Cellars) Sauvignon Blanc

A very easy going SB that is smooth and inviting. Not a whole lot of unique flavors to distinguish it from other SBs, but a pleasant sipper nonetheless.

The Grade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Winfield Vineyard

As others have mentioned, this wine still needs some time. It came off a bit linear and tight; higher toned red fruit when compared to the 2012 or 2014 versions. This was the least accessible when…

Carter Cellars Hossfeld Coliseum

A really beautiful Merlot blend, with round and supple core fruit and a mocha-infused flavor that complimented the dark purple fruit notes. A red with very nice focus and craftsmanship.