Reviews

Saxum Booker Vineyard

PnP with notes of ripe blackberry, stewed plum, asphalt, and some charcuterie. More ripe than expected. Tannins had integrated well, with layers of deep black and ripe red fruit flavors. Reminded me…

Aubert Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard

PnP with red and purple berry fruit flavors; black raspberry, ripe bing cherry, spice box, and orange rind (the kind of flavors that remind me of a Rivers-Marie Silver Eagle Pinot). A little hot…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Le Nouveau Western Star Vineyard

Beautiful brambly notes of black raspberry, blackberry, wild blueberry, black cherry, and purple berry fruit notes. A welcome Rutherford dust component cut through the back end, framing the fruit…

Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard

Pretty much identical to my notes almost a year ago in August 2015. Specific flavors are identical. This was a PnP and was prefect as such. No need to decant.

L'Aventure Optimus

Same as all my other previous notes. Good stuff. No decant. Served at a cooler 54 degrees, which I preferred (an earlier pour made it to room temperature, but I found that a little too warm). The…

Eric Kent Wine Cellars Chardonnay Russian River Valley

PnP with ready-to-go flavors of lemon, pear, popcorn, vanilla, and a little limestone. More buttery than mineral-driven, but not overdone or over-oaked so that it distracted from the overall fruit…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon BDB French Oak Connoisseurs Series SO/NO

Dusty cedar, red and black currant, and plum. This started to become fruity fairly rapidly. The intensity was good, but the plushness of this wine was a little distracting. Tasted more like an…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Connoisseurs' Series MGX Style Nevers & Allier Alain Fouquet

Red currant, heavy cedar, earth, and some clove. A nice sprinkling of dust added interest and elevated this wine somewhat. 91-92 points.

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon BDB French Oak Connoisseurs Series SO/NO

Served from a 12L Balthazar bottle. This was the best of the three wines when compared to its 2013 and 2014 siblings.

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon BDB French Oak Connoisseurs Series SO/NO

Red/black currant, mulch, and cedar. The least interesting of its 2012 and 2014 siblings. This one lacked the dusty finish that would have held a little more interest for me had it shown a little…

Del Dotto Pinot Noir Family Reserve Cinghiale Vineyard

Red, blue, and black fruit, dark black and red raspberry, earth/loam, and some wood. A little mellow overall, with a round, plush mouthfeel. But again, what made this wine was the food paired with it.

Del Dotto Chardonnay Cinghiale Vineyard

Served fairly chilled (close to refrigerator temperature), which muted the flavors initially. Warmed up a little in the glass to reveal pleasant notes of lemon citrus, pear, wet stone, and faint…

Del Dotto Dolores

Typical Port with a stewed plum and brandy-like vanilla bean and chocolate note. Not too rich, sweet, or syrupy (which was a good thing). Paired well with the dessert.

Del Dotto The David Napa Valley

I had this again after having it at the bar earlier. Same notes except for the fact that I noticed a bit more cedar this time around. Still, a wine that was overshadowed by some of the other…

Del Dotto Giovanni's Tuscan Reserve

Very notable depth of flavor. Just a nice hit of cedar and spice to add to the red and black berry notes. The wine was indeed "good," but what really elevated this was the food it was paired with.…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon The Beast

Barrel sample tasted in the cave.

Del Dotto Chardonnay Family Reserve Cinghiale Vineyard

A very fine example of the varietal. The difference between this wine and the standard Chardonnay was indeed noticeable. Deeper, richer, and with a pleasant viscosity that coated the palate. Notes of…

Villa Del Lago Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill

Barrel sample tasted in the cave.

Del Dotto Sauvignon Blanc Caves

A nice, refreshing SB. Straightforward and crisp. Some notes of melon, quince, lemon, and some stone.

Del Dotto The David Napa Valley

Barrel sample tasted in the cave.

Del Dotto Rosé Sonoma Coast

Notes of watermelon, strawberry, and rhubarb. Light and straightforward. Not overly watery or too thin; mid-palate was light-to-medium bodied, filling in somewhat on the back end. Acidity was…

Del Dotto Giovanni's Tuscan Reserve

Barrel sample tasted in the cave.

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Lot M Orion French Oak

Barrel sample tasted in the cave.

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Estate Family Reserve

Barrel sample tasted in the cave.

Piazza Del Dotto Sangiovese

Barrel sample tasted in the cave.