Wine Doctrine
Every tasting note

Reviews

3,968 notes

2012

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon

California · Napa Valley

Previous notes apply, except that I bumped this up a couple of points because it showed absolutely beautifully this go-around. A totally compelling and captivating bottle of wine, especially after…

Reviewed 10 May 2017
2008

Salinia Chardonnay Heintz Ranch

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

Similar to all of my other notes. I'm preferring this wine colder than other Chardonnays (somewhere between cellar and refrigerator temps). I usually prefer Chardonnays at around 54 degrees, but the…

Reviewed 9 May 2017
2012

Fleury Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

Napa Valley · Howell Mountain

PnP delivered immediately captivating notes of black currant, black raspberry, anise, fresh turned mulch, and some spice. A dark expression of Howell Mountain, delivering gobs of black fruit, but…

Reviewed 8 May 2017
2012

TOR Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Napa Valley · Oakville

Same as all of my other notes. PnP was a tad wonky at first, but after about two hours in the decanter, this started to fill out nicely and find its glide.

Reviewed 7 May 2017
2012

Herb Lamb Cabernet Sauvignon HL

California · Napa Valley

Same as all my other previous notes, except that I bumped this up a couple of points. It has really filled out since last time. Solid depth and concentration; an absolutely beautiful, dark expression…

Reviewed 7 May 2017
2013

Thomas George Estates Pinot Noir Starr Ridge Vineyard

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Fairly lean and lithe (bordering on watery), with some pedestrian red berry and subtle wood notes. The thinnest of the Pinots in the lineup; mid-palate was linear and pretty forgettable.

Reviewed 6 May 2017
2015

Trefethen Dry Riesling

Napa Valley · Oak Knoll District

It was simple. It was fine. It served its purpose with some extraordinary fare from Madrona Manor in Healdsburg. Light bodied and fairly crisp. Nothing to object to. Nothing to be drawn to.

Reviewed 6 May 2017
2013

Thomas George Estates Chardonnay Estate Wine Starr Ridge Vineyard

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

I remember this being a "fine" Chardonnay, but in comparison to the other Chardonnays we had throughout the day at Lynmar and Wren Hop, this got lost in the shuffle by the end of the day. I recall…

Reviewed 6 May 2017
2015

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Night Children

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

This was THE wine that caught everyone's attention. Darker and a bit more intense than the Killing Moon, the Night Children reminded me of the 2013 Architects & Saboteurs (gotta love these titles) in…

Reviewed 6 May 2017
2015

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Killing Moon

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Now this is a 2015 Pinot to keep your eyes on. I became more and more a fan of this wine with every sip. PnP was understandably a little tight, but once it was able to breathe a little more, some…

Reviewed 6 May 2017
2015

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Monarchs & Mercenaries

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

For a "second" wine, this presented notably well. Higher toned and a little thin compared to the usual Wren Hop Pinots, but still some nice pleasure to be found here. More medium-bodied, with some…

Reviewed 6 May 2017
2016

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Sainted Maiden

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

A fresh acidic blast of tart strawberry, light cherry, unripe watermelon (like in May, before they become summery sweet), and some citrus peel on the back end. A lot of energy, with some pucker…

Reviewed 6 May 2017
2011

Lynmar Estate Chardonnay Divinity Late Harvest

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Honeycomb and syrup. Bashingly cloying and richly sweet. No real Chardonnay fruit was able to peek out behind the wave of sticky honey and viscous gomme.

Reviewed 6 May 2017
2014

Lynmar Estate Pinot Noir Quail Hill Vineyard

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Similar in profile to the 2013 except that this didn't carry as hearty of a bell pepper note as its older sibling. Some brush and vegetal notes on the back end, but this 2014 was much more focused…

Reviewed 6 May 2017
2013

Lynmar Estate Pinot Noir Quail Hill Vineyard

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Dark red berry, cedar, mulch, stale cinnamon stick, and a strong vegetal note that rushed up on the back end. Bell pepper, earthy cranberry, and cola flavors competed with each other.

Reviewed 6 May 2017
2013

Lynmar Estate Chardonnay Quail Hill Vineyard

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Though I remember liking this wine ok, I honestly can't remember it in comparison to the others in the tasting. Like other CT notes have mentioned, it was more medium-bodied than the others, which…

Reviewed 6 May 2017
2013

Lynmar Estate Chardonnay Old Wente

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

The wine in the lineup I would certainly seek out again was this 2012 Old Wente Chardonnay. Offered up a generous balance of lemon and yellow citrus, vanilla, and plain popcorn, along with just the…

Reviewed 6 May 2017
2009

Lynmar Estate Syrah Sonoma Coast

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

A confusing addition to the tasting. Cranberry, pepper, and fertilizer. No depth or complexity to speak of. Not sure what the goal was here.

Reviewed 6 May 2017
2014

Lynmar Estate Chardonnay Covenant

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Offered up more minerality than the other Chardonnays, making it seem more Burgundian in style than its siblings. Threw off some Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc characteristics that were a little…

Reviewed 6 May 2017
2013

Lynmar Estate Chardonnay Susanna's Vineyard

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

Like the Covenant, the Susanna's had some Burgundian characteristics that made for a more lithe experience overall. Still decent flavors and mineral notes, but I was drawn more to the Old Wente and…

Reviewed 6 May 2017
2013

Thomas George Estates Pinot Noir Cresta Ridge Vineyard

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Drank quickly and without much thought given to its nuances, but not too captivating overall when compared to the other wines served. Red berry and earth. That's about what I can remember. As was the…

Reviewed 6 May 2017
2013

Lynmar Estate Chardonnay La Sereinite

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

#2 - Second of two bottles of this wine poured: This was a PnP version (the other first version had been opened for 24 hours - tasted side-by-side for for comparison).

Reviewed 6 May 2017
2012

Thomas George Estates Pinot Noir Baker Ridge

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

The best of the Pinots offered in the tasting. This was served alongside the 2014 and 2013 versions of the same wine designation. The 2012 was far superior (which possibly shows these wines'…

Reviewed 6 May 2017
2013

Lynmar Estate Chardonnay La Sereinite

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

#1 - One of two bottles of this wine poured: This had been opened for 24 hours (the other was a PnP for comparison).

Reviewed 6 May 2017
2015

Wren Hop Chardonnay Wax & Wane

Sonoma County · Sonoma Valley

A very fine example of a Wente Clone Chardonnay, displaying a nice tension between lemon curd and creme brûlée richness and yellow citrus acidity. Some stone fruit and green fruit (apple, pear)…

Reviewed 6 May 2017