Reviews

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.…

Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium

My previous notes apply. The Maybach was a straight PnP from a .375ml. Compared to the Tusk, the Maybach was equally "perfect/near-perfect" but on a whole different plane. The Maybach is delivering…

Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Popped the cork at 3PM and had a small taste. A blast of alcohol, acid, and hi-toned red liqueur flavors instantly numbed the palate. Decanted, poured back in the bottle, corked, and off to dinner to…

Tusk Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

Thanks a million to Cristal2000 for sacrificing this awesome wine for the greater good. Texture, texture, texture! The seamlessness and silkiness on the Tusk was insanely incredible. One sip and you…

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Similar to last year's experience with this wine, with super-plush and fatty black cherry liqueur and purple plum fruit gushing out in an overtly giving display of sexy, posh flavors. Good purity of…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

PnP was a lesson in palate-dodging the initial hit of blasting alcohol and black cherry liqueur. It took over an hour in the decanter to chill out to the point where I could start identifying the…

Aratas Petite Sirah

It's been a year and a half since I last had this. It's good. It's nothing that gets me fired up for anything in particular, but it served its purpose with packaged pasta and red sauce (you get the…

Bevan Cellars Two Dog Knoll

A fine bottle of wine indeed. PnP was a little tight and palate clenching, with a blast of coiled-up black and dark red fruit, asphalt, black slate, black licorice, and a streak of red currant.

The Grade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Kingly Project Winfield Vineyard

An unbelievable showing this go-around. My previous notes apply from last year, except that an extra year in bottle has certainly done wonders for this wine.

Arkenstone Cabernet Sauvignon NVD

Echoing what others have said, I found this wine to be a little blasé in some respects this go-around. My previous notes apply, but this was more accessible than before, maybe too much so. The…

Mark Herold Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Brown Label

This was the second of two bottles. The first was flawed. This bottle was opened two days ago, corked, and allowed to sit upright for 2 days. This was the most finessed I've experienced this wine.…

Mark Herold Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Brown Label

No pop sound or apparent release of pressure on PnP. Crystallized cork bottom. Some sediment. Immediate funk smell. Taste was overly Port-like and reduced. Stewed prune and fertilizer.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

PnP with a tight and youthful display of red and purple fruits, black cherry liqueur, wet granite, and alcohol. A total of three hours in the decanter opened it up...ever so slightly. But still, it…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Le Nouveau Western Star Vineyard

Similar to my notes almost a year ago. PnP was fairly tight, taking almost 3 hours before it opened up. A very interesting wine with all sorts of red and purple berry fruit notes. The dust component…

Saunter Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Eagle Summit Vineyard

Similar to my notes from a year+ ago. This took about 30 minutes in the decanter at 54 degrees before it opened up nicely. A good wine with some nice concentration and depth. Pretty round and soft in…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Twins Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Really drinking nicely after a couple of hours in the decanter. This could use another year or two in bottle to start reaching its full potential. After a couple of hours, the…

Turley Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard

Same as last year. Surprisingly resolved with smooth and approachable tannins, seemingly low acid and alcohol, and a notable concentration of flavors that holds interest throughout consumption.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

A year and a half since I last had this wine. Still a youngster, with some powerful alcohol circling around the purple and red berry fruit on initial PnP. Two hours in the decanter did it well. Some…

TOR Chardonnay Cuvée Torchiana

It's been a year since I last had this wine. Previous notes still apply. I found this wine to be good, but a little out of balance for my tastes. Good acid and energy behind it, but the flavors were…

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

Nose shows immediate promise with a medley of perfectly sweetened fruit and vanilla, like when the best warm cobbler is served at your table and that wave of succulent aromas hits you before it even…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

It's been nearly a year and a half since I last had the 2013 Crane. This was a PnP at a restaurant. The first thing that grabbed me about this wine was its chiseled core of red and purple berry fruit…

Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Corona Vineyard

As others have noted, this is primary and a bit sour initially on entry. I blame this 100% on youth. Not surprisingly, I opened this WAY too early; my fault. Damn curiosity! I would hold off on this…