Reviews

MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon

The best MACDONALD to date, without question. The refinement, polish, and sophistication that shines through in the 2021 vintage is no doubt a next-next level for what is already a storied legacy of…

Colgin Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill Vineyard

Day one under Coravin for this wine made for an angular and a bit boozy showing, with a mechanical delivery that was fairly foursquare from front to back. The fruit wasn't as expressive as I usually…

Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon Aphex Ecotone Vineyard

If you have twenty minutes of your life you feel like burning, go ahead and check out my tasting notes for the 2021 Kaannos and Kodo. You'll get the sense of where my head was at during this recent…

Bella Oaks Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Le Génie

The fruit-friendly Genie is a good warm up to the over-the-moon performance of the 2021 Bella Oaks. The Genie is young and gliding on the lighter side of achieving substantial depth at this juvenile…

Bella Oaks Vineyard Proprietary Red

This is as solid as it ever has been compared to the last sample I was lucky enough to try the year prior. At first, it was a gushing glow of fruit awesomeness all at once, but with some air to…

Kinsman Eades Aisana

I LOVE fresh Sauv Blanc right out of the tap. I've found my interest in SB waning a bit, to be honest; however, when you have the right one, it really hits the spot. I know there are some smoking…

Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon Kodo M-Bar Ranch

Punchline first: And 'the Ks' have it!! Kaannos and Kodo! I know I'm supposed to find beauty in all creatures great and small, and that love is discovered in all forms of doe-eyed unicorns and…

Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon Käännös Vine Hill Ranch

Punchline first: And 'the Ks' have it!! Kaannos and Kodo! I know I'm supposed to find beauty in all creatures great and small, and that love is discovered in all forms of doe-eyed unicorns and…

Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon Hierothesion

The Hiero is a slighter higher riding monkey when compared to the Kaannos, Kodo, and Aphex. Yummy right now and not shying away from letting you know it likes to party, the Hiero is smooth, inviting,…

Sodhani Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

This is an incredibly compelling wine. The spine and pulsating energy unite to make for a perfect juxtaposition to the dark, ripe fruit. There is the slightest touch of pyrazine (which I love) to…

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon GIII Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Vanilla slathered banana chips and dried coconut shavings. All oak and no joke. There is also a spearmint tinge on the finish that, along with the lumber, washes over what would be the expression of…

Sine Qua Non Grenache The Duel

A consistent showing from when I've sampled this wine in 2021 and 2018. Spice box, dark black cherry, ripe black raspberry, soil, cedar, and even more spice (cinnamon stick). Expressive and…

Sine Qua Non Syrah The Duel

Boy has this clamped down on itself since I last had it in 2018. Back then, it was gushing 100 points all day long. This bottle was sleepy and strict. Even with air, it was still kinda angry and in a…

Kinsman Eades Aisana

I'm too dumb for this wine. I mean, I suppose that's not exactly narrowing it down, as most things can seemingly outsmart me these days. However, this particular upper-cruster makes me feel like I'm…

Ultramarine Blanc de Blancs Keefer Ranch Sonoma Coast

Not so sure I'm too stoked on the track record here with some of these sparklers. This one opened up with extremely aggressive bubbles (and yes, it has been resting on its side and treated with kid…

Futo Oakville

Ya, so, I don't want to like this wine at all, but there is no denying this is top shelf stuff right here, so much so that the only reason I'm not jumping to 100 is because I am in one of those moods…

Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium

Ok, so for those who desire a bit more detail, this is a follow up to my last extremely brief note a few days ago.

La Pelle Cabernet Sauvignon Red Hen Vineyard

This really opens up after a couple hours of air, with a more deeply pitched profile quickly coming into form once a healthy dose of aeration allows the flavors to expand. Earthy black fruits,…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Elysian Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

It's been a few years since I last visited this wine. It drinks smooth and plush for the most part, with little bits of air helping it stretch its legs. The profile hasn't changed much, with black…

Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium

Ripe. Sweet. .And ripe.

Kinsman Eades Syrah Aberro Bien Nacido Block Z

Decanted for approximately three hours, which seemed to yield good results considering how impatient I was to crack the cap on this bottle and see what all the fuss was about.

La Pelle Syrah Bien Nacido Block X

Same as before, with perhaps a more saline purple people eater sea monster from from the shores of St Joseph (that is, if St. Joseph had shores). Super spicy, with black and white pepper, bark, and…

La Pelle Sauvignon Blanc

Acid driven and lively. Lemon juice and grapefruit dominate. Too bad it's not August right now. Previous notes from April 2023 apply otherwise. A solid, refreshing sipper!

La Pelle Cabernet Sauvignon Red Hen Vineyard

Red and black cherry flavors, with powdery tannins that provide requisite frame and speed without becoming too constraining or superficial, the 2018 Red Hen is a beautiful wine. I personally am drawn…

La Pelle Cabernet Sauvignon

Offering even more profundity than when I last sampled this in April, the 2019 "standard" Cabernet from La Pelle is comprised of deeply pitched black/red raspberry fruit, chocolate, and plum notes;…