Reviews

Barbour Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

A much softer and more accessible representation of the 2013 vintage for Napa Cabernet. Purple and black fruit profile, with some nice cedar flecks on the back end. Not overly complex, but extremely…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Bergfeld

Exact same as my previous notes four months ago. Deeply pitched blue and black fruits. Fairly plush and round, but also has a decent amount of tension to keep it from going too far into the "fruity"…

Seven Stones Cabernet Sauvignon

Similar to my previous notes on 1/22/2017. This exhibited beautifully balanced flavors throughout the later courses of dinner. Kobe beef and lamb dishes were certainly friends to this wine. Notes of…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon BBS Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

On the nose, interesting floral aromas, with liqueur and alcohol wafting up through the back of the mouth. On the palate, dark red and black berry notes, black raspberry liqueur, and subtle violets.

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon BBS Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Close to being on par with the 2015 Magnificant 7, this LPV BBS is packed full of dark, chocolate-covered black berry, black currant, black licorice, black raspberry liqueur, cacao, and pulverized…

Vineyard 29 Cabernet Sauvignon 29 Estate

PnP with notes of blackberry, black currant, asphalt, black cherry, cedar, and some spice. Dark and somewhat primary, but delivering an initial attack of black fruit and wood. The finish lacked a…

Morlet Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Morlet Estate

I concur with other CTers (MSU, Rob) that this is a beautifully crafted bottle of wine. PnP was a little tight and higher-toned, but after two hours in the decanter, it developed very attractive…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Orion French Oak South Vineyard 887

My favorite of all the Cabernets we had at Barrels & Beasts, the 887 Orion South struck a nice balance between big black fruit (and hints of deep blue and red) and a nice frame of vanilla-laced oak…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Connoisseurs' Series Centre Sylvain Family Reserve St Helena Mountain Block 2

A bit less blown out by the heavy extracted fruit displayed by the standard 2015 St. Helena Mountain Family Reserve, but this Centre Sylvain still kicked out a bevy of predominantly black fruit…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena Mountain

We started off the barrel tastings jumping right into the back of the caves with this big boy Cabernet. Huge, ripe, blue and black fruits. Mid-palate was immediately rushed with heavy fruit flavors…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Connoiseur's Series Colbert French Oak St. Helena Mountain

This was served from a massive 12 Liter bottle. A really nice showing considering it was served toward to end of a lengthy evening full of huge Cabernets over the course of four hours. By this time,…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard 887 St. Helena

This was served after I had the 2013 version at the bar. I preferred this 2014 to the 2013 mainly because it displayed some nice blue and black fruit and had a touch more concentration. Not…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard 887 St. Helena

Same as last year. Tasted at the bar. This had medium concentration and depth; average display of core fruit. Decent frame, but fell off a bit on the back end. The 2014 version was a little more…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Connoisseur's Series Mo/Fo Blend Vineyard 887 St. Helena

My least favorite of the three 2015 887 BTs. Ripe and rich, but missing some focus on the mid-palate. Came off a little heavier on the back end than the 887 Orion and Colbert.

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Connoiseur's Series Colbert French Oak Vineyard 887 St. Helena

This was another 887 that displayed very nicely overall. I preferred the 887 Orion South a little more, but this North/Front 887 had a similar profile, but had just a little less depth mid-palate…

The Debate Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Similar to all of my previous notes on this wine. The only issue this go-around is that the Debate fell behind the competition when served alongside a whole host of Russell Bevan top flight 2015s…

Pott Wine Cabernet Franc La Carte et Le Territoire

Previous notes apply. Black cherry and black raspberry notes dominated. This was smooth and approachable right out of the gate. Some purple plum flavors emerged after a couple of hours. I didn't get…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Elysian Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Sophisticated and absurdly silky; a creamy texture that sneaks up on you before the fruit even has a chance to tell you how beautiful it is. This is a texture-first type of wine. A velvety frame…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Solid core fruit (I LOVE Crane fruit) housed in a perfectly balanced frame of darker spice and some vanilla bean-laced wood. Red and purple berry and currant fruit (a little blacker possibly than the…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Depth and concentration were most notable here. Not surprisingly, this was my favorite of the Quivet lineup and my favorite LPV that I've had from Quivet. It is certainly a fledgling, but it still…

The Debate Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

It has been six months since I last had this wine. All previous notes apply for the most part. Still in the 94-96 point range for me. Such a balanced and silky version of a Dr. Crane; this is…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Bergfeld

Akin to the 2013, except that the 2014 (indicative of the vintage) is a little more accessible and forward. It showed immense blue and black fruits, with a cut of black slate and river rock. Full and…

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.

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…

Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

Muted, dry, and a little thin mid-palate, this Spottswoode is in need of some serious bottle time before it MIGHT show a more improved hand. 2020 is probably about right, but I'm honestly not…