Reviews

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

A serious wine indeed, perhaps even a bit too serious in its present state, with a Jack Nicholson "You can't handle the truth" proclamation as soon as it launches its sword-forward attack on the…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

One of my Napa Cabs of the vintage, and a consistent standout every time I pop the cork. This wine simply lays waste to a whole mess of wines when in comparative tastings or as a stand-alone. The…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Round Pond Vineyard

Red berries on the front end, black cherry and blackberry on the back, the fruit from the 2018 Round Pond really shows a fun swirling of festive red and black fruit flavors. A finish that hits the…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Empyrean Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Darker, smoother, rounder, and seemingly deeper than the 2017 GIII, the fruit on the 2018 GIII (potentially slated for the Empyrean) thrusts on to the palate with resolve and intensity. Much like the…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Red and black cherry, kirschwasser, pomegranate, spice, and vanilla dominate the profile of this sample, with a racy and energetic delivery that hits the upper register of red fruit flavors in its…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon The Arsenal Greer Vineyard

Dusty cedar, earth, wild purple plum, red cherry, and black currant notes. Beautiful weight distribution on the front end push, with a solid mid-palate drop that settles in nicely before it moves on…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Blackberry, blueberry, black asphalt, black currant, and dark spice. Medium-bodied weight-wise, but pushing forward with a formidable drive that provides energy and verve. Finishes dry and rocky,…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Black cherry, red and black currant, dusty leather, earth, and some ginger snap cookie spices. Notable verve and energy here. The dust note is interwoven throughout the profile, adding some…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Red and black cherry liqueur and a fistful of spices dominate the profile of the Purlieu GIII in its current state. A rounder, fruitier expression, especially when compared to the monster Teucer or…

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Star Vineyard

Served side-by-side with the 2016 B Cellars Oakville. Previous notes apply, with a near-identical experience to my last. Redder fruit and "fruitier" than the nicely structured Oakville. The Star has…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon The Arsenal Greer Vineyard

First bottle was a wet dog flawed mess.

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon The Arsenal Greer Vineyard

Another flawed bottle of the Arsenal. Wet newspaper and dog-left-out-in-the-rain mustiness. Fruit was blown and flat, with a bitter, astringent delivery overall.

Realm Cellars The Falstaff

Exquisitely framed flavors of perfectly ripened black cherry, dark cassis, plum skin, black raspberry, dark chocolate, dehydrated blueberries, and some subtle sweet oak char. There is a floral note…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

After a couple of Coravin evolutions, the remaining juice from this bottle was PnP'd and consumed within 30 minutes. Great flavors and energy during this volley.

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Last minute pull. It's been about a year since my last dance with the Scarlett. This showed less "ultra-modern" than last time, which I appreciated. A somewhat medium and pleasantly flavorful attack,…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Coravin pour. Same as before. It's fun. It's flavorful. It's not going to win any Nobel Peace Prizes or ever make it as an answer on Jeopardy, but this is solid juice served with a smile all day…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Super smooth and agreeable. A little round and plush this time around, with a fruity finish that was certainly flavorful. An easy gulper at this stage.

Aubert Chardonnay Sugar Shack

Highly expressive and currently flaunting it's sexy domestic vanillin oak and creamy buttered popcorn profile that I associate with and appreciate about Sugar Shack. Viscous and oily in the mouth,…

Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon

Incredibly viscous and powerful on entry, and still managing to carry out a notable balance across the palate; all the while, its delivery (though intense and driven) was still fairly seamless. Super…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Le Nouveau Western Star Vineyard

Plum and black cherry dominate, with some detectable earth/dust, unsmoked cigar, and RC cola. Mostly on the fruit-forward side of the spectrum, with the plum and black cherry carrying the majority of…

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Star Vineyard

A lot of fruit going on here, with the front end leading the charge with ripe blackberry, deep/ripe black and red raspberry, and some spice. Fuzzy tannins provide some speed bumps in the delivery,…

B Cellars Chardonnay Star Vineyard

Served side-by-side with a 2015 B Cellars Barrel Select Chardonnay, which I thought had a bit more depth and complexity than this Star Chardonnay. The Star had notable tension and energy, with more…

Del Dotto Sauvignon Blanc

More tropical fruit cocktail than Sauvignon Blanc; heavy on the pineapple and melon fruit flavors. Medium-to-light weight; just enough grip to hold it all together. A short, somewhat watery finish.

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Estate Family Reserve

From barrel. The Rutherford became lost in the sea of other barrel samples that were a bit more compelling than this somewhat simple representation of its terroir. I could drink it, and it went fine…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Estate Family Reserve

Plum, black cherry, currant, and alcohol. Similar to the 887 previously sampled in that it came off a little abrasive, especially on the finish. Tannic and linear. At best, needs time.