Saturating, juicy, delectable, and all the superlatives you can conjure up to describe what is indeed the most giving of the bunch. Heightened complexity is temporarily on hold during the initial…
Though the oak here is perceptible, it does not show as aggressively as Harlan on the initial pull of the cork. Earth, eucalyptus (or is it bay leaf?... or is it mint??), grippy unripe blackberry and…
In typical Sine Qua Non fashion, the white in this vintage is a fetching Frankenstein concoction of 32% Roussanne, 26% Viognier, 25% Chardonnay, 12% Gelber Muskateller (so. basically Muscat), and 5%…
This was not part of the blind tasting of 2016 Napa Cabs, but of course, and you know how these things go, due to the continuing graciousness of our hosts, this 2019 MacDonald found its way into the…
An awesome combination of fresh and brooding. I love the interplay of flavors here, with blackberries and purple plums dancing with the black minerality and meaty saline notes. I waffled between…
On first pass, and during the blind portion of this tasting, this presents as somewhat reduced, with muted fruit; it shows as both rounder and drier on the finish (if that's possible?). Shy red fruit…
Black earth, soil, black cherry, blackberry, and a slight vanillin chocolate note, this was the most succulent and deep wine in the lineup. It shows cascading opulence without being overdone. The…
Juicy and rich, with black fruit dominating the profile, the Colgin Tychson was quite the giving specimen. I suspected it might be a Colgin, but went with believing it was the M7 (erroneous as that…
This was the first wine in the tasting that seemed less uptight and unyielding. Here, a plushness and savoriness shows. A bit fruity at first, but with a textual seamlessness that seems to indicate a…
Red and black fruit, expressive but tannic on the back end, finishing dry but not without requisite flavor and length. With air, the layering continued, though it was a bit unresolved and slightly…
Deep and rich, but with a black fruited and mineral cut that starts out angular but quickly moves into a nice combination of grippy and giving. This is an interesting wine in that it starts out…
At the onset, this bottle of Voleuse was like a little Sweetheats candy. "Be Mine. Cutie Pie. Hug Me. XOXO." I was always partial to, "For Shizzle My Nizzle." (Maybe that was a different candy -…
Compared to wine before it in the lineup (which was a red-"fruited" [mostly tannic] Abreu Thorevilos), this was all about black fruit, bitter chocolate, and black minerality. Did I mention black?…
Red, powerful, tannic, and dry, with a woody finish that makes for an arid exit. A salty olive brine note adds to the initial feeling of astringency. With air, menthol, gravel, and unripe red cherry…
There's a noble nose on this Chenin that sports a whiff of the exotic at first, but then rolls right into freshly cut honeydew, warm honey, and even the slightest hint of petrol aromas. It smells…
Barrel sample. Initial impressions focus on super impressive purity of fruit (muddled red raspberry) and an almost surprisingly elegant tannin structure for what one would expect from a thief from…
Another go-around with this wine, which delivered the initial hit of powerful tannins, but was able to find a nice groove once given a healthy amount of air. This bottle kicked out super dark, black…
Revisiting this wine, I can't help but continue to be impressed by the tension and acidity that swarm around the gorgeous yellow citrus fruit. Even as this warmed up in the glass (beyond what I would…
Broad-shouldered and powerful, the T6 launches its attack with copious amounts of cassis, muddled black and red raspberry, red cherry liqueur, and some boozy vanillin flavors, finishing strong and…
A very plush rendering of Sleeping Lady, with mocha, blueberries, blackberry cobbler, milk chocolate, vanilla, and sweet cassis, the 2016 Roam is succulent and round, with an easily accessible…
95% Cabernet Sauvignon/4%Cabernet Franc/1% Petit Verdot. More earth and darker fruit mark the Oakville relative to the RBK served beside it. Once again, the elegance and purity of fruit are on full…
85% Viognier/15% Chardonnay. Strong grapefruit, lemon juice, and rock notes. A vibrant and high-riding yellow citrus white, finishing with a slight pucker factor but also incredible purity. Previous…
How many different versions of wine perfection can one consume in one sitting?! Well, if you're gonna throw down with a 2018 Abreu Thorevilos, then the answer is +1 whatever other bottles of…
A new project by Jack Bittner, with Graeme Macdonald as winemaker, the 2019 001 (double-O[oh]-one) will be the inaugural wine from prime plots on the Ecotone site. Jack was gracious enough to meet us…
75% Cabernet Sauvignon/25% Cabernet Franc. A burst of floral, iron, and bright red berry elements rocket across the palate, but are quickly tamed by riper expressions of black cherry and red and…
