Just barely better than Hall's 2014 North End Cabernet. The Ellie's was overtly lush and "fruit forward" (trying to be nice here), with not a hard edge to be found... so much so that it came off…
Same as my previous notes. A 94+ bottle of wine, and in the same category (in terms of quality) as the '13 Stags Leap, '14 Howell, and '14 Diamond Cabernets served during the same tasting. Drinks…
The flagship Black Label was a very agreeable sipper. Displayed some nice black core fruit, mocha, and hints of chocolate covered blueberries. A little fat and round (overtly Merlot-esque for my…
Started out with some nice round lemon curd and citrus oil flavors. Some decent intensity and drive on the initial attack. Yet, it became a little thin mid-palate, with the flavors fading off…
Punchline: I have nothing against Turnbull, but Mike Smith elevates the Carter label far more with the Fortuna Vineyard than Turnbull seemed to be able to do with this same site. I really, really…
For a number of reasons, I just couldn't get behind this wine. It was clearly young and came off like it had some serious working out to do in-bottle before a logical conversation about its…
A nice wine, but something that screamed out "standard Cab!" Maybe this is something that will develop with time, but it came off like a typical pounder that one would bring to a dinner at the…
A nice example of the varietal, with a surprisingly tannic and acidic spine that framed out the core fruit. Some black and red fruits, with hints of cedar. The fruit seemed extremely underdeveloped.…
A really nice concentration, with black, blue, and deep red fruit flavors. Expensive vanilla extract and subtle river rock notes. Some dark chocolate chunk to add interest. Probably the best wine in…
A nice starter to the evening. Fairly light on its feet, but with enough body to inject some balanced weight into the equation. Good bubbles and interesting notes of tart cranberry, citrus, light…
Put this in the same camp as every other SB put out by a Cab house. Just another fairly forgettable SB with little behind it to hold any kind of interest. No real minerality. No grass notes. No…
This was the one wine in the lineup that was worth talking about. It had some nice black cherry, currant, blackberry, and dark chocolate notes that seemed to be trying to push through..."trying" is…
Same as my notes from November 2016. Just a hair more interesting than the 2013 Bergfeld served alongside it. The Stags Leap has a really nice concentration, with blue and black fruit notes and some…
A little softer and rounder than the Diamond and Stags, but a deeper concentration. Really nice blue and black fruit. The back end tapers off just a bit, leaving a fuller, more viscous mouthful.…
The wood and cedar sawdust elements of this wine far over-shadowed the red and black currant fruit flavors struggling to pop out. Reminded me of having to clean my hamster cage when I was a little…
Same as all of my other notes on this wine. Decanted for a couple of hours just for the hell of it, but it really didn't even need it. Taking a step back, this really is a gorgeous bottle of wine.…
Well this was quite the surprise (at least in the beginning). Decanted for approximately 30 minutes and it was kicking out some really nice blue and black fruit notes. Blueberry, black raspberry,…
On the heels of just having the 2014 Carter OG the night before, I decided to pop the cork on my other top shelf Mike Smith wine that usually fights the OG for the best of Mike's wines. Not…
PnP was a "wow" moment, but the finish was followed up with a decent amount of heat. Otherwise, my previous notes apply. It took about two hours in the decanter and some significant swirling to blow…
Well made. Skillfully balanced. Beautiful and pure fruit flavors. Nice red cherry, raspberry, and some subtle spice and cola notes. This was decanted for approximately two hours before consumption. I…
Previous notes apply. A smooth and somewhat delicate example, but really interesting and inviting black and deep red fruit flavors. Beautifully sweet tannins and a rounded mouthfeel that makes this…
