Reviews

Boich Family Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Wall Road

The best of the wines tasted from Boich, the Wall Road inched its way past the Howell Mountain Select. With its more enticing dark bramble berry fruits and elevated vivacity, the Wall Road came off…

Boich Family Cellar Syrah Wall Road Terrace

The first of four wines poured. This was understandably tight and a little lithe for a California Syrah. Some of the mountain fruit was evident, with hints of bramble and minerality surrounding the…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Served side-by-side with a 2008 Rudd Oakville. At first PnP, the Myriad exploded with its typical awesome dark berry fruit.

Boich Family Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Select

The inaugural release of this wine from the Howell Mountain appellation, Boich's Howell Mountain Select is exactly what you might expect from a young Cabernet from the region: bold and dark blue and…

Boich Family Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Second in the lineup, and the first of the trio of Cabernets, the 2014 Boich GIII reminded me of the 2012 in its round fruit and friendly, approachable flavor profile. Still young (bottled in June)…

Rudd Oakville Estate Proprietary Red

What a great showing on this wine! Drank alongside a 2013 Myriad; after 30 minutes in the decanter, the Rudd took off like a rocket. Bursting with dark black raspberry, black cherry, deep red and…

Keever Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

A very enjoyable Cabernet, with just a little more restraint and "middle-of-the-road" flavor profile than I tend to be otherwise drawn to. Classic red and black currant, unburnt cigar/tobacco leaf,…

The Grade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Winfield Vineyard

Same as my previous notes almost a year ago. A solid wine to be sure, with still some youthful restraint keeping it from coming to full fruition. Decanted for a total of three hours. Time/air helped…

D.R. Stephens Cabernet Sauvignon Moose Valley Vineyard

The best of the three wines tasted at the winery. Still high pitched and somewhat tart, but not nearly as acidic as the Walther.

Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Bone Ash Vineyard

It's been about 6 months since I last had this wine. Specific flavors were identical to my notes back then. PnP was an explosion of fruit-forward and dark/ripe blueberry, purple plum, black…

Bevan Cellars EE Cuvée

4 months since I last had this wine. PnP was very tight and a bit boozy. Raspberry liqueur, black cherry, vanilla, and alcohol. Linear and and a little palate-numbing, with a tannic clamp that muted…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall Napa Valley

Identical to my previous notes on 9/23/2016. Smooth, balanced, fairly rich, and drinking beautifully for such a young wine. Tasted well-crafted and "expensive" in terms of the elegant layers of dark…

Bench Vineyards Circa 64

The inaugural release of this project, with winemakers Mike Smith and Bob Pepi. An interesting wine to be sure, but one that came off like it was struggling to find an identity at the moment. It was…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Jack's Masterpiece

As previously mentioned in my notes on 9/23/2016, the Jack's Masterpiece kicked in with a bit more depth than the Eighteen-Seventy-Three. Similar higher-toned red fruit, but hints of some black…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Eighteen Seventy-Three Napa Valley

Similar to my notes from 9/23/2016. I noticed a bit more bramble/mountain berry and bark type flavors on the front end of this wine. Still a bit high-toned and a shade boozy. I really did like the…

The Debate Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

I don't know what it is, but I feel like I'm not supposed to like this wine as much as I do. But...I do. I hate to use the word hedonistic, but it truly is one of those wines that when it races…

Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Olmo

Needed about 30+ minutes to loosen up (and that still wasn't nearly enough time - but we killed the bottle among the four of us by that time). It was a bit tannic and acidic in the beginning. Red and…

Hollywood & Vine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon "2480" Napa Valley

Like the Swagger, this was a "fine" wine, with some decent dark red and purple berry notes. A nice bottle of wine that would do well amongst those who don't think too much about wine. A good…

12c Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Initially (and understandably) a bit tight and unforgiving in terms of fruit, but with some swirling in the glass and a revisit of this wine about an hour later, it started to unwind a bit a deliver…

Saunter Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Swagger

A decent showing given the price-point (around $50+ bucks), with notes of dark red currant, black raspberry, purple berries, wood (cedar), and some earth. Mid-palate was ok, but missing some…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Weitz Vineyard

Extraordinarily smooth and well crafted. Took about two hours to really open up and start showcasing its core purple and red berry fruits, red and black licorice, blue wet slate, asphalt, and some…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Clearly too young to completely get a grasp on evaluating its full potential. PnP was understandably primary and a bit linear in terms of overall complexity. However the core red and purple berry…

Blankiet Estate Proprietary Red Wine Paradise Hills Vineyard

A beautiful example of a Napa blend. This shows awesome purity of fruit, just enough restraint delivered by excellent craftsmanship, and wonderful tiered flavors. The best Blankiet I've had to date.…

Carlisle Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard

Previous notes apply. In a perfect drinking window right now. Decanted for an hour and it was singing. Wonderful interplay of black, blue, and purple berry fruits, tar, camphor, black slate, and…

Herb Lamb Cabernet Sauvignon HL

Somewhat similar to 6 months ago in terms of specific flavors, except I noticed a nice singed eucalyptus note on the back end that elevated this wine...a bit. Started to fade off after about three…