Reviews

Harlan Estate

Essentially a younger and more rambunctious version of the 2012, which is a great sign of things to come. Powerful and heady on entry, with blackberry liqueur, charcoal, graphite, and black raspberry…

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras

I've written quite a bit on this wine already. Strikingly similar to the 2019 barrel sample we had two days earlier, the 2016 LPV from Memento Mori busts out of its seams with powerfully ripe black…

Kongsgaard Chardonnay The Judge

A gorgeous wine. For me, my experience here is best explained by a comparison some might find unfair. Nevertheless, here goes nuthin'... Take all of your favorite things about Aubert's best…

Harlan Estate

One of the best wines I've ever had.

Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon Anjea Sleeping Lady Vineyard

A barrel sample to be sure, with all the succulence and flamboyance you'd want from a burst of astound-me juice rocketing to the back of your throat. But again, even with a barrel sample like this,…

Fairchild Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 3 Tench Vineyard

Decidedly Tench, with red and purple fruit and a sack of booze to boot upfront, as a wave of cassis and freshly washed berries play catch-me-if-you-can with a bouquet of dried flowers. The power and…

Christopher Tynan Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines Meleagris Gallopavo

Barrel sample. Outstanding acid and beautifully defined fine-grained tannins fashion a gorgeously fresh and grippy MG. Blackberry seed and freshly popped pomegranate seeds lead the charge, with the…

Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon Anjea Sleeping Lady Vineyard

The best wine I've had from the Sleeping Lady site. I've honestly never been wholly impressed with that vineyard nor convinced it had the ultimate potential to compete with some of the big boys in…

Fairchild Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 2 Pritchard Hill

Pritchard Hill berries baby! Unripe red raspberries, cranberry, red and black cherry, cassis, and iron all culminate to push out higher register tones, finishing youthfully fuzzy and grippy. Treble…

Christopher Tynan Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines Meleagris Gallopavo

Electric and fresh, exhibiting matching sparkle akin to the 2019 MG barrel sample, the 2018 MG is locked-and-loaded with acidic vitality and dynamism. With notable structure and acidic speed, this is…

Fairchild Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 1 Perrarus Block 1

Dark berry fruit with a gravelly Las Piedras-type of demeanor. In fact, I would have guessed this Stones 1 was still carrying the LPV site in its profile. Blackberry, black currant, river rock,…

Christopher Tynan Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines Meleagris Gallopavo

My second time trying this wine (since 12/07/2019), the 2017 MG carries interesting plum and muddled blackberry flavors complimented by red/purple licorice, vanillin black cherry, and some dark spice…

Fairchild Estate Chardonnay Stones Russian River Perrarus Block A3

Take all the notes I just wrote on the 2018 Chardonnay and add an extra layer of delectableness - without sacrificing all of the harmonious zing and energy brought about by the otherwise Burgundian…

Fairchild Estate Stones Longitude - Latitude

Red and black fruits, with the red berry and currant notes ultimately elbowing their ways ahead of the overall march of flavors, this offers slightly more depth than the Sigaro initially, but then…

Christopher Tynan Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines Meleagris Gallopavo

Two years since I've last sampled this juice. One of the most phenomenal wines I've had all year, the 2012 Tynan MG absolutely soars from the glass with aromas of ripe blackberries and earth. On the…

Arrow & Branch Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Similar to my previous notes, with black cherry, cedar, spice, fresh mulch, and subtle minerality present in a medium-bodied chassis that does well to express a more controlled and classic version of…

Fairchild Estate Chardonnay Stones Russian River Perrarus Block A3

On the nose, you think you are in for a creamy and succulent California Chardonnay just waiting to slather your palate with lemon curd gooeyness. But surprise on you silly domestic switcheroo boy,…

Impensata Proprietary Red Wine Engelhard Vineyard

A fun and fruity entry pushes forward with ripe and dark berry fruit that saturates the palate and finishes with a lingering tinge of youthful booze. Less nervy and acidic on initial entry than the…

Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon Rhadamanthus

Well now party people, you can add me to the list of Cellar Trackers who are all about trumpeting the Kinsman label. The hype is real my friends. I know you don't need me to convince you otherwise,…

Accendo Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

Similar in profile to the 2016, this 2017 exhibited the driest of demeanors when compared to its siblings. Mid-palate was a tad hollow initially but began to fill in nicely as air penetrated the…

Promontory

At the French Laundry. Red berry fruit, unsmoked cigar, leather, and additional deeper plum notes make for a more sophisticated delivery of flavor, especially when served side-by-side with the…

Vice Versa Chardonnay Platt Vineyard

It's been nearly two years since I last had this wine. I'm absolutely loving it. The oak influence is so subtle that it's barely detectable over the beautifully proportioned yellow citrus fruit…

La Pelle Chardonnay Bien Nacido - Block I

Bright, clean, and impeccably fresh, this inaugural Bien Nacido Chardonnay from La Pelle impresses for its beautiful and finessed lemon zest, lime rind, unripe yellow pear, stone fruit, oyster shell,…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Juicy plum flavors unfold and become more complex after a slow O2 for about an hour. Black cherry, licorice, and gravel notes emerge to add interest. Became a bit stemmy on the final sips (some…

Realm Cellars The Bard

Well this was a very pleasant surprise. I've written quite a bit about the up-and-down journey of this particular wine, but I'm happy to report that this most recent bottle was fantastic. Whether it…