Reviews

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

The final wine in the lineup - and for good reason - the Carter Three Kings showed why it can compete with the best in Napa Valley. Though I am still partial to the OG and LPV in 2014 (so far), the…

Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

After a splash decant (through a micro filter to rid it of the sediment it was throwing off initially), this thing was high-kicking better than Paula Abdul (flashback 'Straight Up' '80s Paula; not…

Kobalt Cabernet Sauvignon

As expected after having the 2013 version a few times now (which I really like), the 2012 was rich, full, decadently voluptuous, and lavishly dark. Just a hair less intense and vivacious than the…

Carlisle Syrah Sonoma County

Previous notes apply. A good Syrah for $25, and yes, that qualifier needs to be there. It drinks above its price point in the sense that it is super inexpensive. But it doesn't drink way above its…

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Beautiful Generation

Similar to all of my other previous notes. PnP was a little tight, but it advertised itself right away as a big boy wine. Balled-up black raspberry, black currant, black asphalt, and some bitter…

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Rita's Crown Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills

I really need to leave this wine alone for another year. Same notes as before. Hot, sweet, and jammy. The stuffing is there to hopefully drive this home at some point, but certainly not yet. Hold!

Flowers Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

I wish my friends would stop bringing this wine... zzzzzz...

Neyers Pinot Noir Roberts Road Vineyard

Diluted red berry, cinnamon, and faint earth. Tasted like licking a Christmas pine cone and then drinking a gulp of dirty rag water. Pass.

Rudius Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard

Same as last month. I feel like this is digressing fast. My last bottle. Others at the table preferred it to the 2012 Keever; however, their palates were certainly more aligned with plump, round,…

Keever Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Same as two months ago. 93-94. Drinking fine now; will improve with 6-12 of bottle age. A very good Cabernet, but the QPR isn't that great all things considering.

Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard

It's been about 6 months since my last bottle. Previous notes still apply. An intense, deep, black PS that is drinking really well with a bit of a decant.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Jiminy H. Christmas on a popsicle stick! This wine took quite the journey before it turned into something worth consuming. I honestly don't know what in God's name happened to it initially. I opened…

Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve

Flat, dead, and barely a wine I'd even remember trying the next day. Little-to-no acid, almost no frame to speak of, and a "core" of fruit that maybe resembled diluted black and red currant. 100%…

Lewis Cellars Syrah

Same as my notes 8 months ago. Developed some really nice dark chocolate, earth, black olive, and deep black raspberry notes to frame out the core blackberry fruit flavors.

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Twins Vineyard

Same as my notes from March except that this showed more finesse and a little less intensity this go-around. Beautiful dark black, blue, and purple fruits, black licorice, and a nice subtle hint of a…

Salinia Pinot Gris PG Windsor Oaks Vineyard

I really struggled with this wine. I understand its intent, but this version was so dry it sucked all of the life out of my palate. Its texture was like a deadened/still brut Champagne that had been…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall Napa Valley

Same as previous notes. I'm really liking this wine at the moment. Well crafted, dark, mocha-laced core fruit, with a finesse that is most notable. Beautiful is the word I would use, with a depth and…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District

I was a HUGE fan of this wine. The first sip totally grabbed my attention, and this was after having all of Hall's previous other Cabernets (including the Bergfeld and Kathryn). This was the clearly…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Jack's Masterpiece

A bit more user-friendly than the Eighteen-Seventy-Three, but this time the Jack's masterpiece was really flaunting its small Merlot component in a very noticeable way. It initially presented itself…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Eighteen Seventy-Three Napa Valley

Same as last month and the month before that, except that I did like the energy this wine was kicking out. Still a bit high-toned for me, but my other half really loved it. As previously mentioned,…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Same as 2 months ago. An "Is what it is" type of wine. Akin to the Sauvignon Blanc in terms of its seemingly humdrum delivery. It was "ok," "fine," "not bad," "pretty good"... with that little…

Bevan Cellars Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard

I totally agree with Peter's note on this wine. This Bevan Ritchie was a big, rich CA Chardonnay (which I can usually tolerate and even crave every so often), but this was way too much of a "good"…

Hall Sauvignon Blanc T-Bar-T Ranch

Same as last month and the month before that. A good palate kick-starter, but amongst other local SBs in similar price-points, this is simply "ok." Well made, well balanced, and well...forgettable.

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Bergfeld

Previous notes from two months ago apply, except that I dropped this down a bit because of its seemingly rushed PnP service? I was unable to determine how long this had actually been open, but it…

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Gap's Crown Vineyard

Same as my previous notes. A fairly decent showing. Time seems to be helping out this wine significantly. Some nice evergreen notes to back up the core berry and fruit and cola flavors.