Reviews

Marcassin Pinot Noir Marcassin Vineyard

Red cherry, raspberry, Cherry Coke (or Original Cherry Coke One, or Coke Zero Cherry, or Coca-Cola Classic Cherry, or Mexican Coke Cherry Cane Azucar), Indian spice, and earth notes resonate clearly…

Allbaer Petite Sirah Un Petit Debut VERSION OOI

At first shy on the nose but eventually presenting faint puffs of freshly washed plums, peonies, and hints of menthol, the aromas on this curious petite sirah signal a fragrantly lifted and refined…

Morlet Family Vineyards La Proportion Dorée

The Sémillon component shows strong from this bottle, with a more serious tone and structure flanking the bruised yellow citrus and olive oil flavors. Kiwi and passion fruit notes bring freshness and…

Morlet Family Vineyards Chardonnay Coup de Coeur

This was best on PnP and served relatively cold. Juicy, luscious, plush, succulent, and all the words that make you want to take a dip in the ocean at midnight in Bora Bora when it's still 100…

Sine Qua Non Syrah "M" Eleven Confessions Vineyard

Creeping up on two years now since I last had a bottle, I can't deny my affection for this wine; it simply commands attention as soon as it hits the glass. Pouring a moonless midnight black-purple,…

B Cellars Cabernet Franc Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Coming off a bit heavy handed and blown out for the first hour or so, this bottle needed significant air to start coming into form. Ripe red and purple berry and plum are washed with spice and…

The Third Twin Nuestra Señora del Tercer Gemelo The Third Twin Vineyard

Saturated red and black raspberry, kirsch, black cherry, spice, toast, forest floor, and stems traipse around in a striking exhibition of confident flavor-parading. The entwining of ripe and ready…

Carlisle Mourvèdre Radiant Ridge

Pouring a translucent purple-crimson, the 2018 Carlisle Radiant Ridge Mourvèdre rockets-up aromas of spring flowers and a medley of freshly washed berries and cherries. The intoxicating color and…

Vangone Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

Over two and a half years since my last sample, the 2015 Vangone is now in quite the agreeable state at this stage in the game. A downshift from its original roaring intensity has made way for a more…

Heritage School Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Missiaen's Hillside Vineyard

Similar to the 2018 Hillside served directly beside it in terms of profile and specific flavor-components, this iteration is more of a hallmark of the affable and smooth-operator 2014 vintage. A bit…

Heritage School Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Select Blend

Always a three-barrel selection from among a combination of any of the three sites (Hillside, Lakeview, Creekside), this Select immediately shows an added layer of concentration and depth when…

Heritage School Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Missiaen's Hillside Vineyard

With a mountain fruit kind of vibe, reminding me instantly of a Pritchard Hill lookalike, the Hillside impresses with its iron-inflected and redder pitched fruit running through its otherwise dark…

Heritage School Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Lakeview

A dark and ripe fruit-filled entry is provided requisite frame and grip by way of a firm chalkiness that quickly whips-up the lush berry core and gives keen direction to the lifted finish. Though the…

Heritage School Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Julie's Creekside Vineyard

Round and ripe berry notes are intermixed with plum and chocolate to make for a front-loaded, fruit forward wine that provides immediate pleasure with a richness that equates to direct accessibility…

Realm Cellars The Falstaff

Right out of the gate, this puppy was off and rolling with fruit, spice, fruit, spice, and fruit. Decanting a few hours helped to fan and fill out its form, but this barely needed to stretch its legs…

Maxem Chardonnay UV Vineyard

Definitely on the curve of its optimum drinking window; in a good place now and will likely be a wine to consume over the next year or so. A solid performance with an agreeable yellow citrus core and…

Double Diamond (Schrader) Cabernet Sauvignon Amber Knolls Vineyard

Funk-keeee funkalicious front-end funkified fruit (like a BDX that got caught in a bayou). This has fruit like a domestic red but is overpowered by wet tobacco and almost muddy fruit to where I…

Addax Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard

Rich blackberry, bitter chocolate, red and black cherry, and embers, this wine showed upfront modernity and couldn't be anything other than a VERY recent version of Napa Cabernet. So, the 2018 Addax…

Aubert Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard

Still holding up after over three years since having my last bottle. No creamy baby fat distracting from the purity of fruit. The yellow citrus flavors are predictable and slightly simple, but…

Hundred Acre Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan

Holy bajankers. This thing has a bigger nose than a Proboscis monkey munching on mound of blackberry pies. An instant expansion of ripe and ready mixed berries on the palate, with a powerful push of…

Double Diamond (Schrader) Cabernet Sauvignon

Black cherry, eucalyptus, plum, and blackberry skin dominate the profile. There is decent tension, with a broad grip housing the flavor carriage wanting to bust out of the frame. The fruit power is…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon La Verdad Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Baby fat popcorn, vanilla, red cherry syrup, mixed berries, and a slathering of sweet cassis, this wine is such a youngster that I am surprised it didn't come from a shiner or a barrel sample, and…

Immortal Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Slope

Plum and blackberry pie flavors present in a monolithic hit of lump-sum, here-ya-go flavors that hit the palate with a considerable thump on the front end, before eventually evening-out.some. It's…

Ghost Block Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

Dark plum, round and rich black cherry, sweet blackberry, and hints of soil, this was immediately identified as New World Napa (or an Aussie Shiraz posing as a Cabernet Sauvignon) crafted for the…

Kapcsándy Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon (Grand Vin) State Lane Vineyard

Spicy black cherry and fig notes present in a simple fashion initially, with a finish that falls a little flat and superficial. The purity of fruit is evident, as is the sophistication and…