Reviews

Realm Cellars The Falstaff

Pushing two years since my last bottle of the 2016 Falstaff, and with the 2018 vintage Realm allocation deadline quickly approaching, I was of course compelled to venture into my stash and see what's…

Realm Cellars The Falstaff

I've been sitting on these bottles for over two years now and decided to check what's under the hood in hopes that this 2015 would nudge me enough to coerce-out my plastic cash to invest in the…

Aubert Chardonnay Sugar Shack

Less of a viscous and oily texture than my previous bottle two years ago. Honeyed yellow citrus, pineapple, subtle exotic waves of flavor, and some creamy vanilla undertones. This took some time and…

Quivet Cellars Sauvignon Blanc McGah Vineyard

Crisp and fresh, with a great body and weight distribution along the palate. A bit of power on the back end that drives the fruit through the finish. Lightly tropical flavored, with yellow citrus,…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Eeeeeeesh... What happened to my precious prefect Scarlett?!?!?!

Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon

Red and black raspberry, vanilla, red currant, and hints of scorched earth and espresso powder. A floral note briefly appears but then quickly dissipates. Smooth and fairly balanced on entry, but…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Pretty notable performance considering it was out of a plastic cup right before the 2020 countdown. :)

12c Cabernet Sauvignon G3 Reserve Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Red fruit driven with deeply pitched red raspberry and cassis notes. Finishes sweet and savory, with red currant and cedar flavors adding nuance. 91-92 points.

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Showing even more ripeness than when I last sampled it in August, the 2018 GIII shows the familiar ripeness of the Myriad GIII fruit vintage after vintage; round, ready, and fairly sweet. An…

12c Cabernet Sauvignon G3 Reserve Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Almost indistinguishable from the 12C, the 12C G3 Reserve displayed a same red and black fruit interlaced with cedar and dry, dusty soil notes; exhibited nearly-identical weight distribution and…

12c Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Red and black fruit, and seemingly the most light-footed of the 2017s in the tasting. As is typical with the 12C, a cedar and earth element rides throughout the delivery. A much daintier example of…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Round Pond Vineyard

Similar as I recall from barrel, but ultimately the Round Pond was somewhat of an enigma for me. There is purple fruit intermingling with tobacco leaf and earth, but I was getting a Pine-sol note…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

My notes on this wine started out with "WAIT," as the first sip displayed a walled-off demeanor fortified with tannins and an almost bitter clamp that initially stomped on the fruit. Luckily, with…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Purple and red fruit. Initially an unassuming and straightforward delivery, but the Scarlett picks up some weight mid-way through and pushes its fruity character on through the medium finish. A much…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Empyrean Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Similar to the GIII with its red and black cherry and subtle chocolate-spice, but much more linear and clamped-down in its current state. It has sophistication and the potential stuffing for a…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Big fruit upfront, with a redder profile than the more gothic-hot-tattoo-chick 2018 GIII. The 2017 shows some of its traditional black cherry and earthy notes, but to a lesser degree when compared to…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Round Pond Vineyard

The most plush and round of the 2018 offerings, the Round Pond delivers well in the blackberry and plum department, flaunting its commodities without giving up the whole farm. Fun and pleasurable…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Dear Lord in Heaven, this is a WIIIIIDE open book in its current state, splaying out all the goods right on the front end and making no excuses for it. Those familiar with GIII are no strangers to…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Empyrean Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Tight and locked-up from the very first sip, but not so much that it doesn't offer the insatiable consumer some flavor gratification in the form of black currant, black pebbles, plum skin, and…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Equally dark as the regular sample, the Reserve fires-off with a serious streak of minerality and a tannic backbone that immediately frame-out and control the electric fruit just waiting to explode.…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Super expressive! This version of Scarlett may be the best rendition of the standard McGah offering yet. Much like the 2015 in its infancy, this 2018 delivers a gushing attack of an array of fruit…

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Star Vineyard

Uber plush and fruity, with black cherry syrup surrounded by cinnamon and nutmeg spices washing over the palate in a round, plump delivery. Finishes with the sweet spice note swirling around the…

Staglin Family Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

Wonderful black currant and crunchy blackberry notes, with a bit of a hardened minerality streak that kept the delivery fairly linear and somewhat primary. There is definitely sophistication and…

Greer Cabernet Sauvignon Greer Vineyard

This rendition of Greer carries the signature Pott black cherry compote and pummeled ripe strawberry core, with some nice dust and cassis notes to balance it all out. More focused and framed-out than…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Almost a year since I've had this. Followed over three days. I've posted way too much in this wine as it is, but it's worth saying that there is stuffing to last a number of years. Notable focus…