Reviews

Bernardus Winery Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard

Unfortunately all of the four 2013 Pinots tasted in this lineup were forgettable for the most part and hovered in the 87 point range at best. I could not honestly tell you which wine was which. The…

Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Henry Ayrton's Block Rapley Trail Vineyard

What should have been the grand finale of the signature Pinot lineup from Fogarty ended up, not surprisingly, a total dud. Same old song with the watery and diluted flavor profile, even less so when…

Bernardus Winery Pinot Noir Sierra Mar Vineyard

Unfortunately all of the four 2013 Pinots tasted in this lineup were forgettable for the most part and hovered in the 87 point range at best. I could not honestly tell you which wine was which. The…

Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Rapley Trail Vineyard

Probably one of the "best" wines in the Pinot lineup, the Rapley Trail had a little bit of forest floor, mulch, and cedar to assist in attempting to wake up the otherwise diluted and watery black…

Bernardus Winery Chardonnay Soberanes Vineyard

Overtly candied lemon drop and sweet vanilla notes pummeled the heck out of any finesse this wine had hopes of producing. It had an almost vanilla Schnapps aftertaste, with the oak influence…

Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Series Muns Vineyard

Try as I might, I can't for the life of me remember this Pinot at all. I can tell you it was thin and lost on my palate.

Bernardus Winery Chardonnay Rosella's Vineyard

Same as my notes from the day before. This was tasted alongside the 2014 Ingrid's Chardonnay, which was a fuller-bodied wine; however, the Rosella's had a little more complexity and delineation of…

Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Will's Cabin Vineyard

Obviously sounding like a broken record, this wine followed suit with its brethren Pinots in its lost and forgettable profile. Some diluted strawberry, black cherry, and a hint of forest floor (which…

Bernardus Winery Chardonnay Sierra Mar Vineyard

A good Chardonnay, but far overshadowed by the Ingrid's and Rosella's tasted alongside it. Because of the competition, the Sierra Mar was forgettable. It was decently crafted, but I honest to God…

Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Series Vida Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains

Much like the appellation Pinot. Thin, diluted, and weak. I took one sip and dumped the wine. Instantly forgettable and disappointing. Not even lifesaver verbiage like "pretty" or "feminine" or…

Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains

Thin, watery, and pretty forgettable. Some diluted strawberry, pomegranate, cherry, and watermelon? flavors. No sense of body or frame at all. Like many of the Pinots from Fogarty, the low alcohol…

Thomas Fogarty Chardonnay Satsum Langley Hill Vineyard

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Bernardus Winery Sauvignon Blanc Late Harvest Griva Vineyard Monterey

A nice match with seared foie gras. Not too sweet or cloying, and just the right amount of intensity; it came off balanced but nicely viscous. Apricot, peach, and some honey flavors. A solid…

Bernardus Winery Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard

This was a little more interesting and intense than the 2013 Bernardus SLH. Still extremely young, acidic, and primary, the Pisoni managed to push out some high-toned black cherry, strawberry, and…

Bernardus Winery Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

Some basic strawberry, red cherry, and pomegranate notes, with the slightest hint of forest floor. Fairly high-toned and simplistic, especially when served next to the 2014 Bernardus Pisoni Pinot,…

Bernardus Winery Chardonnay Rosella's Vineyard

A pleasantly surprising wine, with the attractive verve and tension from the lemon and citrus fruit flavors nicely intermixed with some vanilla bean and lightly buttered oak influences. Very good…

Odette Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

Same as my previous tasting notes. Others at the table loved this wine, commenting on its smooth and seamless personality. For me, it was certainly good, but it suffered from two things:

Goldeneye Pinot Noir Anderson Valley

Thin mid-palate, a bit watery, and overall a pretty boring experience. Some hints of black cherry and spice, but the diluted personality of this wine overshadowed any true distinguishable flavors.…

Decoy Chardonnay

A good late summer sipper type of a Chardonnay. Your basic lemon and yellow citrus flavors, with some apple, vanilla, and light alkaline notes. Paired fine with some sharper hard cheeses. Nothing I'd…

Kobalt Cabernet Sauvignon

Previous tasting notes apply. This thing played punching bag with a 2012 Odette served beside it. I'm loving the way the Kobalt is showing right now. Right up my alley. Paired incredibly well with a…

Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay

A decent run-of-the-mill restaurant dinner type of Chardonnay. A lot of oak influence and not much distinguishing characteristics outside of the buttered popcorn, vanilla, and rich, round citrus…

Pruett Vineyards Syrah Taylor's Reserve

All previous notes apply. This was tasted next to a 2012 Boich Cabernet GIII and a 2013 Myriad Cabernet, which both bested the Pruett. Not exactly a fair fight.

Boich Family Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Pretty much the same as six months ago. Previous notes apply. A little tight and less giving in terms of the immediacy of fruit. I wasn't getting a whole lot of personality from this little chameleon…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Still solid. 93-94 points. Previous notes apply. This bested a 2012 Boich GIII and a 2012 Pruett Taylor's Syrah by a decent margin. Drink now with no decant really necessary.

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Same as my notes a month ago. 93-94? points. Comes off a little young (understandably); a little bit of a cocktail feel about it after about four+ hours of air. Like the 2013, this is an early…