Reviews

Lynmar Estate Chardonnay Divinity Late Harvest

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.

Lynmar Estate Pinot Noir Quail Hill Vineyard

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…

Lynmar Estate Pinot Noir Quail Hill Vineyard

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.

L'Aventure Côte-à-Côte Estate

Young but fairly approachable given its youth. Tight purple and red berry, black raspberry, deep black cherry, kirsch, stone, and some alcohol flavors. A lot of potential, but only in third gear at…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

First time having this wine at home in a more controlled environment. All of my previous notes apply. I keep waiting for this wine to shut down, but it delivered great all the way from PnP to three…

Bevan Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Dry Stack Vineyard

Lees, lees, lees! Tart and pithy, with hits of stale lemon, dry grass, alkaline, chalk, pumice, and alcohol. Any real semblance of fruit was instantly hammered by bitter lemon seed and sourdough…

Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Peterson Family Vineyard

It's been over a year since I last had this wine. PnP and it was ready to consume, though I will say that some air in the glass allowed more of the red and black currant and dark black cherry notes…

Lewis Cellars Sauvignon Blanc

Same as my previous notes from 9/26/16, except it has lost some vibrancy and verve that would have otherwise made for some welcomed tension among the flavors. It felt a little flat on the back end.…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Daughters of Earth Goldrock Ridge

Same as all of my previous notes. A beautiful bottle of Pinot drinking just fine as a PnP.

Hall Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc

Similar to my notes from 09/23/16. What I appreciated most about this wine was that it was not too sweet. It was able to push real fruit and honey flavors forward without being marred by a blast of…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Jack's Masterpiece

Ironically, I think I preferred the 2014 Jack's to the 2013 I tasted last month...but not necessarily by too much. It was "ok," with some brush-tinged dark red and black currant, black cherry, dust,…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Eighteen Seventy-Three Napa Valley

I preferred this 2014 1873 to its 2013 older brother served alongside it. The 2014 was a little more giving with its predominantly black cherry and red currant fruit and didn't have such a clipped…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Eighteen Seventy-Three Napa Valley

Similar to my previous notes from 11/26/2016 and 10/15/2016. I especially noticed some thin, dry wood and alcohol notes on the back end that detracted from the overall flavor profile of this wine. It…

Walt Pinot Noir Gap's Crown Vineyard

At first this seemed like it was going to deliver in spades with plush black cherry and spice box notes, but it instantly turned into an ultra-round and ripe plum fruit bomb. Muddled and flabby, with…

Hall Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley

The nose hints at strong tropical fruit and grassy notes. On the palate, alkaline/metallic and dry grass flavors dominate, with some yellow citrus bringing up the rear. A somewhat bitter and…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain

Same as my CT notes from last month. Still in the 94+ range for me. This was a little more wound tight from what I remember in March. Shows a lot of promise. 97+ from Parker seems a little high to…

Walt Pinot Noir Sierra Mar Vineyard

Higher toned and more red fruited than the 2014 Walt Gap's Crown tasted beside it. However, the Sierra Mar offered a welcomed acidic cut and frame to better house its cranberry, red raspberry,…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

It's been a year since I had this wine. I was a little reluctant to open this simply because I know some of these 2013 Carter wines need some time in bottle before they can really stretch their legs.…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District

Similar to my previous notes. 94-95+ points. Started to show more power and intensity than what I last remembered. Concentration was most notable, as was a bit more of its darker fruit profile.

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…

Argot Pinot Noir Bastard Tongue

My first time with this producer. JHIEB's notes are spot on. The BT exhibited wonderfully tiered black cherry, black raspberry, incense smoke, and a wild spicebox note that carried on through the…

Tusk Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

Thanks a million to Cristal2000 for sacrificing this awesome wine for the greater good. Texture, texture, texture! The seamlessness and silkiness on the Tusk was insanely incredible. One sip and you…

Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium

My previous notes apply. The Maybach was a straight PnP from a .375ml. Compared to the Tusk, the Maybach was equally "perfect/near-perfect" but on a whole different plane. The Maybach is delivering…

Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Popped the cork at 3PM and had a small taste. A blast of alcohol, acid, and hi-toned red liqueur flavors instantly numbed the palate. Decanted, poured back in the bottle, corked, and off to dinner to…

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Similar to last year's experience with this wine, with super-plush and fatty black cherry liqueur and purple plum fruit gushing out in an overtly giving display of sexy, posh flavors. Good purity of…