Reviews

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch

A gorgeous array of fruit flavors pop out of this wine like Jenna Jameson in a twenty-layered whipped cream birthday cake. Purple, blue, black, red.all just gushing out all over the palate. And just…

Christopher Tynan Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines Meleagris Gallopavo

Red and black cherry liqueur and purple plum skin beautifully explode in a cascade of pure and fresh fruit flavors. Primary and vigilant, but focused and lively, the core delivers a mouthful of…

Vangone Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Block B

From B Block. A higher register animal than the 2015 and 2016 dark earthy beasts, this 2017 hits the palate with red and purple plum skin and red and black raspberry notes. Offers a youthfully…

Arkenstone Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus

From the site that has been known as "Not the Materium, but the other wine that Maybach makes," the Amoenus makes an appearance on the Arkenstone label in 2018. The first sip tells you this thing is…

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon

An initial horizontal attack lends its way to a broader flavor expansion with a good hit of air, jumping into gear and kicking out read and black cherry notes on the front end. Much more red-fruited…

Melka Mekerra

Cabernet Franc-heavy on the front end of the attack, with black and red cherry, embers, and violets kicking off the initial push. The mid and back seem to grab better hold of the Merlot component,…

Arkenstone Cabernet Sauvignon NVD

Saturated black raspberry, leather, blackberry, muddled strawberry, charcoal, and red and black cherry. Considering this is the more "base" model Cabernet from Arkenstone, it performs quite well and…

Aesthete Wines Sauvignon Blanc Barrel Aged Dry Stack Vineyard

Even better than when I had it over a year ago, this is one of the more compelling domestic Sauvignon Blancs out there. Vibrant and uber-flavorful, it delivers a beautifully clean tropical and yellow…

Memento Mori Sauvignon Blanc

Stone fruit and subtle yellow citrus. Some yellow apple skin and faint white apricot flavors. Medium and a bit pedestrian all the way around. Notable smoothness and balance. Drink now and over the…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon La Verdad Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Given all of the xenophobic ribbing and hate emails I've been receiving about my recent espionage and shadow surveillance into Bordeaux and other Eurocentric wine regions, I finally succumbed to…

La Pelle Sauvignon Blanc

Lemon zest, fresh grapefruit, white stone fruit, fresh cut grass, and honeydew. Some white rock shows up on the tail, as well as a repeat of the grass and lemon notes. With some swirling, quince hits…

Bevan Cellars Ontogeny

Either it's in a plummy mood, or I'm in an anti-plummy mood. Maybe a combination of both I guess. So........ it was plummy.

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Cautionary Tale

As it's always been, the Cautionary Tale is a Vegas Bionic Cowgirl machine that pumps out Spice Girl sultry to the nth degree. It's loud and splayed on the toasted spice and saturated and sappy on…

CrossBarn (Paul Hobbs) Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

.....Eeeeeeeesh. Alcohol, yellow citrus something?, powered sugar, and....alcohol. A Lemontini afterbirth that falls face-first into a steaming vat of Land-O-Lakes. A super rough go.

Bevan Cellars Ontogeny

Bordeaux vs. Tuscany vs. USA:

Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Blancs

Aaah the standard Schramsberg BdB... The Caymus of Champagne... or rather, the Caymus of California "sparklers." Doughy, pie crusty, lemon curdy, banana peely, creme brûléey, high dosagey,…

Arrow & Branch Right Bank Blend

The "Right Bank Bordeaux" red blend is the star of the 2016 A&B lineup. A Cabernet Franc dominant (50%) animal, with a 24%/24% additional split of Cabernet Sauvignon, with 2% Petit Verdot. Tasted…

Arrow & Branch Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Dark, earthy red and black berry fruit, soft mulch and cedar, forest floor, and rained-on campfire embers. A pretty sweet kiss of red raspberry fruit on the back end provides lift to otherwise more…

Arrow & Branch Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label

Red current, black cherry, and some spice box lead the classy execution of this medium-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon. Subtle cedar and plum skin notes carry themselves throughout the attack as well. A…

Arrow & Branch Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Black cherry liqueur, smooth cedar, wet mulch, and some black rock. Classy, finessed, and super sophisticated, the execution here is medium and agreeable, with no hard edges to be found. A faint…

Arrow & Branch Sauvignon Blanc Heritage Reserve

A beautiful burst of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, subtle grass, and white stone rush on to the palate with verve and spunk, but with a smooth sophistication that shows class and complexity. A…

Arrow & Branch Cabernet Franc Heritage Reserve Arrow & Branch Coombsville

More serious and firm that the 2015 CF Heritage served beside it, this 2016 has more dark power and grip than its older brother. Black fruit and some burnt embers make up the primary core, with small…

Arrow & Branch Cabernet Franc Heritage Reserve Arrow & Branch Coombsville

More plush and fruity when compared to the 2016 CF Heritage served alongside it, the 2015 impresses for its opulent red berry fruit and floral flavor. Round and plush red raspberry, red and black…

Tusk Estates L'Orange

A limited offering from Tusk with a TBD release/allocation date. 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot. Blackberry, black cherry, dark plum skin, and grippy, bitter chocolate compete for center…

Tusk Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

Blackberry, plum, black cherry pit, blackberry seed, underbrush, and some pyrazine and green peppercorn notes. Medium bodied (at least by Tusk standards), with a back end that tapered down into a…