Reviews

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…

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…

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…

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…

Realm Cellars The Bard

Unripe blackberry and a decent force of tannin and frame present good persistence if but a bit angular in its present form. There is a lot to like here, with a modern hit of fruit flavor served on a…

Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve

A rustic and funkfied showing, with citrus rind and old dust infecting the "fruit" trying to poke through. The only saving grace for this wine was that it followed a 2013 Silver Oak, which was.um.…

Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Rosso Vineyard

Plum and booze rush up the front end of the palate before they are consumed by a bitter green note that squashes the expansion of flavor. With air, this becomes a bit more affable, but it still…

Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Creosote, funk, blackberry skin, and cedar. A wine to which I immediately made "that face" when I took a sip. A rough go here. I thought this was a flawed Bordeaux. Turns out it was just a terrible…

Kenzo Estate Cabernet Franc Asuka

Big fruit. Big power. Big Big. The drive on this puppy is super intense and concentrated, with a dump truck-load of blackberry and black cherry fruit that lap around the palate multiple times before…

Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red

Funky and cedary, this was a battle among ping-ponging alcohol, dusty plum, and cedar flavors. This was definitely not a 2012-recent vintage wine (as was the original intent of this blind tasting).…

Aesthete Wines Sauvignon Blanc Barrel Aged Dry Stack Vineyard

Still performing well, carrying slightly weightier yellow stone fruit, melon, and citrus notes complimented by some focused mineral and grass flavors. This compelled me to buy the 2017. Looking…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Harbison Vineyard

A textural dream, with a smooth and enveloping mouthfeel that is Bevan at his best. The flavor profile is straightforward and fruity, with black and red cherry creme, black raspberry, and some spice.…

Arkenstone Cabernet Sauvignon Heimark Vineyard

Another outstanding showing on this wine, with meaty black berry, dark earth, char, embers, unsmoked cigar, and spice captivating the palate immediately upon first sip. The attack is strong but…

Realm Cellars The Bard

Much improved since my last bottle 2.5 years ago, this Bard is full of dark berry, bitter chocolate, allspice, asphalt and black soil notes that present initially as somewhat brooding and heavy, but…

Sine Qua Non Grenache The Duel

Kirsch, earth, spicebox, pine needles, and black cherry elements ride slightly higher toned and on a thin layer of alcohol before a two-hour decant allows for the flavors to file in proper line and…

Bevan Cellars Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard

Three years since I've last had this wine. The good news is that the booze blows off with some time in the decanter. The "other" news is that it's become even more lush and fruity. It kind of reminds…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Pouring a dark purple-black color, with a nose that instantly rockets up the nostrils with fresh wet muddled black cherries and wild blackberry aromas, the 2016 Vice Versa LPV lets you know way ahead…

Realm Cellars The Falstaff

A 40/40 split of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with the remaining fifth composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2014 Falstaff is flaunty and flirty with its mélange of red, black, and blue fruit…

Fairchild Estate Chardonnay Stones Russian River Perrarus Block A3

Another solid performance, with an all-around sophisticated mouthfeel and texture that defines high-end Chardonnay out of California. Stylistically, this has both its Burgundian moments and its…

Vice Versa Beatrix Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Similar to my experience with this wine back in April, the Beatrix showed a healthy dollop of red berry, cassis, earth, dry flowers, and an almost-Grenache-garrigue element that provides an herbal…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Initially, the 2019 To Kalon was a bit reserved (by Napa standards of course) and took a little bit of coaxing after the first pull of the cork. Double-decanted and given over four hours to find its…

Promontory

Refined and acutely polished, the 2015 Promontory showed even better than when I had it back in April. Sophisticated red berry fruit and tobacco notes initially load the front end with classicism and…