Reviews

Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Peterson Family Vineyard

Drank alongside a 2009 Lewis Reserve Cabernet, 2010 L'Aventure Estate Cuvée, and a 2012 Bevan Ontogeny. The SBR came in #4 among the competition.

Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

I bumped this up a point to 95 from the last couple of tastings I've had of this wine over the course of the past few months. Really shined nicely this time around. Almost identical tasting notes in…

Bacio Divino Cabernet Sauvignon Janzen Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard

Pnp with tight but wild notes of red and black licorice, red and black currant, red and black raspberry, blackberry, cacao nibs, and a hint of pencil lead. Just faintly chalky tannins, incredibly…

L'Aventure Estate Cuvée

PnP with explosive notes of blackberry liqueur, blueberry, black raspberry, charcoal, tar, and some baking spice. A total hedonistic and voluminous mouthfeel, with dark berries and cacao on the…

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Tasted at Cliff Lede alongside the 2012 Beautiful Generation, Howell Mountain, and High Fidelity. The Beckstoffer To Kalon was #1 of the quartet of wines. All wines were double-decanted with a…

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Beautiful Generation

Similar to my CT notes on 11/3/15.

FEL Chardonnay Savoy Vineyard

Tasted at Cliff Lede; from magnum.

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

PnP with soft, muted notes of creamy strawberry, rhubarb, red plum, raspberry, and only a faint touch of the signature cola flavor often indicative of KB Pinots.

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

Tasted at Cliff Lede alongside the 2012 BTK, Beautiful Generation, and High Fidelity. All wines were double decanted through a Vinturi four hours prior to my tasting.

Cliff Lede High Fidelity

Tasted at Cliff Lede alongside the 2012 BTK, Beautiful Generation, and Howell Mountain. All wines were double decanted through a Vinturi four hours prior to my tasting.

Bevan Cellars Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard

PnP with a very pithy, linear texture. The stemmy bitterness overwhelmed what remained of the tight lemon, unripe pear and apple, dry granite stone, and astringent lilac flavors. There was…

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Petaluma Gap

PnP with tight, acidic high-pitched red berries, pomegranate, strawberry, and a touch of medicinal bay leaf on the alcoholic finish. It seemed like it desperately needed air (and also seemed like…

Odette Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

I bumped this up a point from my last CT note, as this go-around showed some additional tiered fruit complexities and some licorice and spice nuances that added interest.

Ceritas Chardonnay Charles Heintz Vineyard

PnP with notes of lemon, green apple, lavender, granite, flint, and seashell.

Salinia Chardonnay Heintz Ranch

Identical to my CT notes on 10/9/15.

Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

PnP with an overpowering note of stewed plum, and a little bit of a musky, wet cedar taste. Tannins were fairly dead.

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Caves

Decanted over the course of an hour. Cedar-laced notes of red currant, light plum, black raspberry, and wood. A bit hollow on the mid-palate, with the cedar and currant notes repeating on the finish.

Blankiet Estate Proprietary Red Wine Paradise Hills Vineyard

A beautiful red/purple crimson color. On the palate from an initial PnP, notes of plum, red and black currant, and a streak of muddled raspberry. Finished with a faint hint of cardamom and cacao…

Aratas Petite Sirah

Very similar to my CT notes on the 2009 Aratas, with the 2008 coming off just a little more nuanced and complex than the 2009.

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Summit 1376'

On initial PnP, waves of dark red and blue berry fruit flavors accompanied by a medley of baking spice notes coat the palate. Rich raspberry, blueberry, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, roasted almonds,…

Pott Wine Cabernet Franc La Carte et Le Territoire

Similar to my CT notes from July 2015.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Weitz Vineyard

Almost identical to my CT notes on 8/21/15. Great structure and acidic profile, throwing out both dark and high toned purple and red berry fruit flavors.

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

An absolutely stellar wine. Tasted alongside the 2013 Myriad GIII, and 2013 Carter Fortuna, Weitz, and Hossfeld.

Carter Cellars Hossfeld Coliseum

Similar to my CT notes on 8/21/15.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fortuna Vineyard

Similar to my CT notes on 08/21/15 and 09/18/15. Tasted with Mike Smith at Carter Cellars alongside the 2013 Carter Hossfeld Coliseum, Weitz, and 2013 Myriad GIII and Dr. Crane.