Reviews

Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Old Vine Block Peterson Family Vineyard

Similar to the standard 2011 SBR PS with its purple and black berry fruit, black raspberry, asphalt, and chocolate notes. However, the Old Vine ratchets up the vanilla bean and oak a tad bit, but…

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Summit 1376'

Same notes as 4/3/2016. Nice depth, spice box, earth, and dark red and black cherry notes. Drink now and over the next few years.

Bevan Cellars EE Cuvée

Not too much different from my CT notes in August 2015. This didn't start to really show its stuff until 2+ hours in the decanter. Raspberry liqueur, chocolate covered cherries (not overly sweet),…

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Gap's Crown Vineyard

PnP wih notes of wild red berry, cola, cinnamon, and some spice. A little hot initially on the back end, which subsided after about 30 minutes.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

I know I should wait a while, but with a case of a wine I've not yet tried staring me in the face, it was a little hard to resist anymore. In the name of science...

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Very similar to my CT notes from 11/7/2015 except I do agree with others that the intensity has shifted a bit, but not much (in my opinion). I was still very much drawn to the core fruit and depth…

Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block

Same as my specific notes from 8/19/2015. My last bottle. Ended up being a good Syrah with a very good QPR. Nothing earth-shattering, but a pleasant drink nonetheless. Papa's Block is consistently…

Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard

Well I was planning on holding this last bottle for a year or so, but it didn't work out that way this time. So...

Realm Cellars The Tempest

As expected, a superb Merlot-based red. I echo previous notes from others on this wine. Still holding a little back on the PnP, but managed to push out some really nice flavors after about three…

Favia Cabernet Sauvignon

PnP with a striking hit to the palate of dark fruit, red and black licorice, pumice/stone, asphalt, and the faintest of clove. Wonderful tension and verve, with an energetic pulse of ripe muddled red…

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard

PnP with energetic notes of lemon curd, lemon zest, pear, popcorn, sourdough, river rock, and a hint of vanilla and spice. More of a crip, acidic Chardonnay than an over-oaked fruit bomb, with the…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Wildfoote Vineyard, Vixen Block

A wonderful expression of a Stags Leap Cabernet. PnP with elegant but dark purple and black berry fruit notes, red and black licorice, black wet slate, red and black currant, and faint baking spice.…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Weitz Vineyard

First bottle of this was flawed (I presume). This second bottle was better, but not overwhelmingly better. Plum flavors, round purple and red berry notes, as well as faint earth and spice. All in…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Weitz Vineyard

Pulled the cork and there was absolutely no "pop" sound; that's sometimes the first sign of "all bad." The smell of the cork wasn't too bad, but it certainly had a bit of a funky smell about it.

L'Aventure Estate Cuvée

Nearly identical to my notes on 8/23/2015. A little smoother and rounder than I remember from almost a year ago, especially after a two hour decant. Has notable finesse and depth that made me keep…

Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard

PnP with amazing ready-to-go flavors of deep, exotic red, purple, and black berry fruit, black raspberry liqueur, beautiful charred oak and scorched earth, olive tapenade (but not the overly salty…

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Similar to my previous notes on this wine 6+ months ago. Hasn't changed too much except that it appears to have softened a bit, which is a little unusual given the BTK pedigree. On PnP it was a…

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

Similar flavor profile as my previous notes, but even less verve than before. This is like a long, drawn out break up... Is it me or is it you?! I have this hopeless thought that someone from KB will…

TOR Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

It has been a year since I last had this wine. The punchline here is HOLD for another year or two at least. Upon PnP, this wine felt both restrained and clumsy, with tight red and purple berry,…

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Beautiful Generation

Similar to my notes on 2/12/2016. Just an amazing bottle of wine and a comparatively good QPR among the realms of high-class Napa Cabernets.

Mark Herold Wines Albariño Acha Blanca

Light, dry, and a little thin. Not undrinkable, and an ok light summer wine I suppose, but totally fell off the map when compared to the Mending Wall Sauvignon Blanc tasted beside it.

Littorai Chardonnay Charles Heintz Vineyard

Same as my notes from last week. Had with friends, who thought it was in the 93-94 point range, citing more depth and viscosity than I thought it actually possessed.

Mending Wall Stone on Stone

Nice tropical fruit, pineapple, lemon verbena, grass, and some mineral notes. Decent acidity and texture, but dropped off a bit on the mid-palate and finish. Would not be able to differentiate this…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon The Arsenal Greer Vineyard

Holy bajeezus! What an amazing ride of a wine. PnP with tight and slightly chalky notes of black and purple berry fruit, slate, granite, asphalt, road tar, dust, bramble, and a hint of black coffee…

Bacio Divino Cabernet Sauvignon Janzen Cloudy's Vineyard

On initial PnP, this wine unloaded with a dense, fully packed punch of dark purple and black berry core fruit. Some red and black currant and black raspberry cut like a spear through the coiled-up…