Reviews

Mending Wall Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard

Very similar to my notes on 10/16/2015. The difference between PnP and a four hour decant was fairly minimal. Blue and black liqueur fruit flavors, with some asphalt, slate, and hints of bitter dark…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

PnP with some alcohol-laced fruit liqueur flavors and a sweet, clipped finish. Uh oh; the Quivet conundrum rears its head again?! This needed about 2+ hours to mellow out a bit, and then...It was…

Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvée Katrina Eileen

Wait, wait, wait! Hold off on popping these little gems for at least another two years. So much potential wrapped up in a completely balled up fist of higher-toned fruit and tannins.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Same as my previous notes last summer. A solid bottle of wine and just what I would expect from a Carter BTK. This bottle was a bit tight and youthfully reserved initially, but it found its glide…

Mending Wall Cabernet Sauvignon

All of my other previous notes apply. This just feels like sort of a lost wine. Nothing really distinguishing about it. I found it difficult to maintain interest in this throughout consumption. As a…

Lewis Cellars Chardonnay Reserve

Almost a year ago to the day since I last tasted this wine. Previous notes apply. Not much has changed. Possibly a little softer on the attack. Round, vanilla-tinged, buttered popcorn. Almost too…

Pott Wine Cabernet Franc La Carte et Le Territoire

Same as my notes from 8 months ago, except that this was extremely accessible after just a splash decant. No harsh edges and a beautiful, silky mouthfeel from start to finish. Drinking very well at…

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

Same as my previous notes from 7-8 months ago. This is indeed becoming a softer, more elegant OG over time. It does seem like the flavors have room to deepen and become more complex with some…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Pellet Vineyard

It's been nine months since I last had this wine. Time in bottle has garnered some improvements on the Pellet, but it is being ever-reluctant to show its maturity. The first hour was still a bit…

The Debate Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

All of my previous notes apply. WOTN for everyone. Needed a splash decant and was quickly on its way to showing itself off. Quickly disappeared.

Switchback Ridge Anniversary Blend Peterson Family Vineyard

Good. Not astounding. A cedar aftertaste distracted from the core fruit. Time in a decanter for an hour or two helped, but I'm not sure if this will ever really come into a place of real excitement…

Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Could still use 6-12 months to develop its glide a little better. A beautiful 2011 PS for sure. Hold for now.

Bacio Divino Cabernet Sauvignon Janzen Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard

It's been a year since I've last had this wine. My previous notes apply from November 2015. It was a little tight and acidic at first, but unwound nicely after some vigorous swirling in the glass.…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Bergfeld

An enticing bottle of wine from start to finish. Drinking extremely well with about a 30 minute decant. Rich and deep, with the perfect kiss of sweet cassis and red and black licorice to compliment…

Bevan Cellars Ontogeny

PnP with surprisingly accessible but still fairly tight and somewhat muted notes of red and black currant, black licorice, a smidgen of blueberry-chocolate liqueur, blue slate, and a faint hint of…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Actaeon Quixote Vineyard

PnP with tightly coiled notes of red and purple berry fruit, red currant, tobacco leaf, and some spice. I let this balled-up little monster unravel in a decanter for two-three hours. What emerged…

Cliff Lede High Fidelity

Some of my previous notes apply, but this was indeed more accessible than six months ago. With a short decant, it was drinking at what I would expect to be close to its apex. It developed over time,…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

As previously mentioned, and quite ironically, this was poured at a private event with around 50 guests. For that, this wine was indeed a safe bet. All of the bottles were ultimately drained and the…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

I really dig this wine. Previous notes apply. I could drink the hell out of this GIII and kill the bottle before I knew what hit me.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

The final wine in the lineup - and for good reason - the Carter Three Kings showed why it can compete with the best in Napa Valley. Though I am still partial to the OG and LPV in 2014 (so far), the…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Weitz Vineyard

After having the Myriad GIII (which was a very giving wine, displaying tons of dark fruit and a hedonistic mouthfeel), the Carter Weitz seemed extra tight. All of the flavors were there (previous…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

In a year's time, I feel like I will like this wine close to as much as its 2013 older brother. The fruit here is unquestionably beautiful, especially for an appellation, "standard" Cabernet. Same as…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Coliseum Block

The 2012 version of this wine is stunning at the moment. This 2014 reminded me of a very young version of the 2012 (no surprise there), but the 2014 seems like it might have a little more spine. A…

Carter Cellars Hossfeld Coliseum

Starting to show a little progress from 6 months ago when I last tried it, the Hossfeld Coliseum displayed some nice Merlot-driven curves and rounded (but a little reserved) richness. Similar to my…

Envy Wines Chenin Blanc

Crisp and a bit dry without totally sucking the moisture out of the palate and sides of the cheeks the way some Chenin Blancs can do. Light and vibrant, with a finish that was surprisingly not bitter…