Reviews

Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard

So you all know it's too early to open this bottle of wine. You know that you're supposed to wait a couple of years to let it settle into itself and become this would-be 100 point wine. Some of you…

Outpost Immigrant True Vineyard

Dark black cherry liqueur, plum, ripe black raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, vanilla bean, and hints grey river rock. Immediately accessible and even more giving after a total of three hours in the…

Realm Cellars The Bard

This has integrated and fanned-out significantly since I last had it at Realm on 11/19/2016. Nice purple and black berry fruit notes, plum, black cherry liqueur, dark red and black currant, vanilla…

Phifer Pavitt Sauvignon Blanc Date Night

A fine example of a SB. Certainly a domestic expression. On the sweeter fruit side of the house, as opposed to more grassy or mineral driven styles. Not the most complex rendition, but a pleasant…

White Cottage Ranch Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

Black fruit, with a pebbly, slate aftertaste. A little bitter. A note of cedar crept up after some airtime. Fruit seemed decent, with a frame that slowly appears to be on the downswing. "Not bad,"…

Becklyn Cellars Sauvignon Blanc McGah Vineyard

Same as my previous notes. Not as much tropical nuances and a bit more grass and steel this time (which made it less NZ-esque in its delivery - which I was ok with - but it didn't necessarily elevate…

Sarocka Cabernet Sauvignon

Same as all of my other notes. An hour+ decant served it well. Really nice wild mountain red berry and black currant fruit. 94-95 points all day long.

Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection

PnP was practically undrinkable. Sweet, candied black cherry Jolly Rancher and chocolate chunk notes. Completely cloying and syrupy tasting.

Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard

Wait at least another two years before popping the cork on this. Restrained notes of black currant, river rock, asphalt, and some anise. PACKED with potential but nowhere near ready for prime time.…

Bevan Cellars Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard

Same as my notes a few months ago. This was served alongside a 2013 Buccella (WOTN for 3 of the 5 of us) and a 2012 Saunter Eagle Summit (a distant third place). For me, the Bevan was the overall…

Buccella Merlot

Same as my previous notes on this wine. This was served alongside a 2012 Bevan Sugarloaf and 2012 Saunter Eagle Summit. The Buccella was WOTN for 3 out of 5 of us. The Bevan was WOTN for the other 2.…

Saunter Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Eagle Summit Vineyard

Same as my notes from last month. This was served alongside a 2013 Buccella Merlot and a 2012 Bevan Sugarloaf. The Saunter, though very good, was at the back of the pack. It displayed a softer,…

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon

Previous notes apply, except that I bumped this up a couple of points because it showed absolutely beautifully this go-around. A totally compelling and captivating bottle of wine, especially after…

Fleury Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

PnP delivered immediately captivating notes of black currant, black raspberry, anise, fresh turned mulch, and some spice. A dark expression of Howell Mountain, delivering gobs of black fruit, but…

Herb Lamb Cabernet Sauvignon HL

Same as all my other previous notes, except that I bumped this up a couple of points. It has really filled out since last time. Solid depth and concentration; an absolutely beautiful, dark expression…

TOR Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Same as all of my other notes. PnP was a tad wonky at first, but after about two hours in the decanter, this started to fill out nicely and find its glide.

Trefethen Dry Riesling

It was simple. It was fine. It served its purpose with some extraordinary fare from Madrona Manor in Healdsburg. Light bodied and fairly crisp. Nothing to object to. Nothing to be drawn to.

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

First time having this wine at home in a more controlled environment. All of my previous notes apply. I keep waiting for this wine to shut down, but it delivered great all the way from PnP to three…

Lewis Cellars Sauvignon Blanc

Same as my previous notes from 9/26/16, except it has lost some vibrancy and verve that would have otherwise made for some welcomed tension among the flavors. It felt a little flat on the back end.…

Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Peterson Family Vineyard

It's been over a year since I last had this wine. PnP and it was ready to consume, though I will say that some air in the glass allowed more of the red and black currant and dark black cherry notes…

Hall Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc

Similar to my notes from 09/23/16. What I appreciated most about this wine was that it was not too sweet. It was able to push real fruit and honey flavors forward without being marred by a blast of…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Jack's Masterpiece

Ironically, I think I preferred the 2014 Jack's to the 2013 I tasted last month...but not necessarily by too much. It was "ok," with some brush-tinged dark red and black currant, black cherry, dust,…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District

Similar to my previous notes. 94-95+ points. Started to show more power and intensity than what I last remembered. Concentration was most notable, as was a bit more of its darker fruit profile.

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Eighteen Seventy-Three Napa Valley

I preferred this 2014 1873 to its 2013 older brother served alongside it. The 2014 was a little more giving with its predominantly black cherry and red currant fruit and didn't have such a clipped…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

It's been a year since I had this wine. I was a little reluctant to open this simply because I know some of these 2013 Carter wines need some time in bottle before they can really stretch their legs.…