Reviews

B Cellars Cabernet Franc Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Still a hotbox of massive fruit and booze. The berry fruit is unctuous, powerful, and unfurled. The flex on this is all iron fist right now, laying a beat down to the palate; after a few sips it was…

Arrow & Branch Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Similar to my previous notes, with black cherry, cedar, spice, fresh mulch, and subtle minerality present in a medium-bodied chassis that does well to express a more controlled and classic version of…

Fairchild Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Sigaro

Bright red mountain fruit, with beaming acidity that makes for a fresh and brightly styled profile. Finishes with a cedar-meets-spice flavor that dries the back of the palate and keeps the fruit from…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Barrel sample. On the nose, this was notably more austere and muted compared to the others sampled. On the palate, the reservation of flavor parroted the nose, with an overly measured delivery of…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Barrel sample. Anyone who knows me knows that LPV is directly in my wheelhouse, and based on the performance of this LPV, it should be in your wheelhouse, too. Aside from the 2019 M7 (which was just…

Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

At the French Laundry. A mouthful of ripe fruit illustrative of what one might expect from this house and this site. A whopping wine from a big vintage from a vineyard that often produces succulent…

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

A barrel sample, and one that is all about yummy Crane goodness. If you're a fan of this site, then this will not disappoint. Flamboyant and chewy-sweet fruit wash over the palate with notes of…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Juicy plum flavors unfold and become more complex after a slow O2 for about an hour. Black cherry, licorice, and gravel notes emerge to add interest. Became a bit stemmy on the final sips (some…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

2013 and 2014 Quivet LPV side by side.

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

2013 and 2014 Quivet LPV side by side.

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

(Click on the story portion for more information (AKA: me running my mouth) on the samples tasted).

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Elysian Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

(Click on the story portion for more information (AKA: me running my mouth) on the samples tasted).

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

(Click on the story portion for more information (AKA: me running my mouth) on the samples tasted).

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Bourn Vineyard

(Click on the story portion for more information (AKA: me running my mouth) on the samples tasted).

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Two years since my last bottle. I've reviewed this wine a number of times now and it has maintained a steadfast demeanor throughout my experiences with it. With an hour or so decant just to blow off…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

It's been over three years since I've had the opportunity to take a shot at this wine. Homemade pizza on a Tuesday night? What better excuse to dip into the Vice Versa stash and see what's been…

B Cellars Cabernet Franc Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Prepare for straight-up heat and sweet if opening now. In a very awkward place at the moment. Standby to standby for a while; keep this cobbler cocktail horizontal. Signs of promise, but not until…

Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras

Almost two years since my last note on this wine. Unlike a number of 2013s out of Napa that are still a bit prickly and in need of further unfurling, this Fait Main was singing from the first pull of…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Almost four years have past since I last took a shot at this wine (my tasting note on 7/3/16 is vastly different than my experience today). Patience has paid off for sure, as this once spun-up purple…

Young Inglewood Vineyards Right Bank Blend

Plum, ripe black cherry, earthy-chocolate, and some cedar. A pleasant sipper with medium-weight flavors and a quasi-sluggish delivery; a relatively simple expression overall. Not much tension here.

Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras

Blackberry, blueberry, earth, river rock, and pulverized granite. This started off as many 2014s do with a giving amount of fruit and flavor on the front end. Finished plump and ripe (but balanced on…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Much less of the rocket propulsion drive when compared to last year. Instead, this LPV impresses for its chewy black core and namesake minerality that make for a go-go gothic profile that can't help…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon BBS Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Black cherry, blackberry, black rock, deep/dark cassis, and some bitter dark chocolate present a POW-erful unloading on the palate. Back in June when I last sampled this beast, it was behaving more…

Morlet Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Morlet Estate

Red-fruit driven, with red cherry, spice, and earth skipping across the palate in a primary and somewhat washed-over delivery. Some heavy cassis notes (which I'm finding have really been a hallmark…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Not completely unlike the 2018 in that it showed some nice black mineral elements to counterbalance the fruit core, but it certainly is a bit of a tricky comparison when having the vintages…