A compelling VHR, and one that carries a perfect combination of structure, intensity, and flavor. It's a serious presentation at first pass, but it relaxes enough to allow lovely dark fruit and earth…
Hands down the best white wine Russell Bevan has ever crafted, the Adversity 5 Wells bursts with extraordinary vibrancy and tension. The rippin' acidity provides chiseled and crystalline focus,…
This is much more amalgamated than the 2022 OG (which is pretty brash and loud at the moment). Without question, the F.RED is a biggin' that busts out with black and deep red liqueur driven fruit.…
Loud and proud, with the booze element front and center at the moment. Blackberry liqueur, Chambord, black and dark red cherry, and bitter chocolate. A super flavor bomb that needs time to settle…
Distinctly Tench in style, with black and red cherry, black and red licorice, dust, crushed roses, red rock, and spice, the Calixtro is a young pup for sure, but it is swirling with fun flavors.…
Continuing to come together nicely since my last sample, the 2023 Eastside is still more of a gourmand experience, especially when comparing it to previous vintages. There is certainly adequate…
A solid performance with this particular bottle. Decanted for a few hours, which really allowed the firm tannins to soften and the black fruit and obsidian notes to emerge. No green peppercorn or…
Red and black cherry, cassis, vanilla, and some spice. An interplay of red and black fruit, with some mineral elements to add interest. Fruity and rounded on the finish. A good effort considering the…
Initially served a bit too cold, muting the yellow citrus fruit flavors, but as it comes around to standard cellar temperature, this sample slowly unveils white melon, crème fraiche, lemon curd, and…
Salty charcuterie, olive, red and purple plum, river rock, and red and black cherry notes make for a cooler presentation of flavor. Meaty in style, but not overt or loud in its production and…
Pleasant and tasty, with Pott's restraint and less bodacious style making for a bit of a drying profile in this vintage. I appreciate the balance here, with dusty red and purple plum flavors offering…
Less oaky than the previous bottle a few months ago, this 2018 has a nice glide after being open for a few hours (in bottle). That said, it was next to the mega bomb 2022 OG, which was blasting out…
Broad and ripe, but also focused and framed, this bottle of the 2016 Heintz is full of lemon and yeast flavors that are indeed forward, but balanced and measured in overall intensity and volume.…
Lemon, melon, dough, pear, and yuzu, with that tinge of Hefeweizen yeast that often accompanies young Heintz BdB Ultramarines. Full and a bit fruity, but stays in proper line through the rounded…
Grapefruit, orange spray, crunchy watermelon, unripe strawberry, and red cherry. Finishes taut, with a white melon rind note that ratchets up the linearity of the delivery. A more exacting execution…
Another stab at this wine, and it delivers better than the previous bottle a couple months back. Cool black flavors, with a profile based on restraint and poise, but still offering lovely black…
This is a super beast of a wine, with walls of intensity and structure. Napa power users will be stoked to have these in their cellars, but best to don your trusty riot gear and remain 100 yards from…
A sour apple note leads the charge here, with mandarin spray, Meyer lemon, yellow pear flesh, and barley. Works well with a spicy Asian meatball and coconut broth dish. A good wine, but not a…
Pours a light salmon color. On the palate, notes of orange spray, grapefruit, blood orange, malt, strawberry, dried ginger powder, and hints of travertine. This might be one of the most precise…
This doesn't even need a decant. Silky smooth with a perfect equilibrium, especially for such a potent wine. Dark blackberry and black cherry fruit dominate, with a wonderfully pure but voluminous…
Lemon curd, vanilla, and even some subtle coconut (not ideal for my palate) start off the delivery on the first pop of the cork. Tasty and balanced, but a bit predictable and shy initially, with the…
Big and ripe black fruit and dark soil elements dominate. A rich Napa Oakville bomb that carries enough mineral lift to keep it all in focus. Seems to be getting heavier with time. Drink now.
A one-note dollop of red/black fruit, with a static delivery that moves across the palate with predictable flavor expansion. Lacks personality and a distinct focus. Finishes flaccid and without…
This was the ripest and most fruit-bomby of all the wines in the blind, with a rounded core that was covered in extracted baskets of gushing fruit. It's a cocktail style that is all bachelorette…
