Reviews

Tusk Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

Opulence is the word of the day here folks. Expressive and fruit-forward, the 2014 washes over the palate with velvety, lush black berry fruit. The hallmark slice of red fruit interjects briefly, but…

Tusk Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

The clear standout and undeniable best of the Tusk lineup was indeed the complex and sophisticated 2015 Tusk. As seemed to be the case for most everyone at the table, the progressive vintages…

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…

Lutum Chardonnay Gap's Crown Vineyard

This is certainly a lemon curd, popcorn, vanillin California Chardonnay, but luckily it doesn't totally collapse under the confection-weight of the barrel treatment, still allowing the core yellow…

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Cimarossa Vineyard

This was pretty balled-up this go-around. Before it finally got around to delivering some of its more familiar flavors, it had spent at least an hour or two in the decanter unbundling itself. Still,…

Lutum Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard

This took some time to get over a bit of a flat affective response on the palate on initial PnP. Similar in flavor profile to the 2012 and 2013 served next to it, this 2014 started out with some…

Lutum Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard

The most accessible and giving in the flavor department compared to its 2012 and 2014 siblings served beside it, this 2013 impresses for its ripe red cherry, red raspberry, orange rind, pomegranate,…

Lutum Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard

Decidedly tight and a little unforgiving in the early onset of PnP. Some swirling coaxed out crunchy cranberry, red cherry, pomegranate, and butter pulverized stone notes. Finished linear and…

Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Drinking much younger than it would seem for a 12-year-from-vintage Napa Cabernet, this initially fools you into thinking it's 5-6 years younger. Started out a little tight, yet bold and…

Donelan Chardonnay Nancie

Still performing near the apex of its window, perhaps a bit rupee and more rounded than a year and a half ago. Lemon curd and yellow citrus fruit driven. Drink now and over the next year or so before…

Cruse Wine Company Valdiguié Pétillant Naturel Deming

Dry, sharp, and fairly empty overall. Some floral elements inject a bitterness that adds insult to injury. Finishes hollow and vapid. Not sure what the overall intent of this wine is. Seemed to carry…

Ultramarine Blanc de Noirs Heintz Vineyard Sonoma Coast

The sparkler of the evening, this installment of Ultramarine impresses for its instant gratification delivery of open knit yellow citrus flavors, banana peel, wet limestone, seafoam, and salt lick…

DuMOL Viognier Wild Mountainside

Both crisp and fulfilling, delivering a nice dollop of white and yellow fruit wrapped up in a grippy, tangy housing that presents medium speed and weight. Finishes a little round (not sure of the…

Roam Vineyards Xaga St. Helena

From Glass Mountain comes a thrilling wine that I had never heard of before. A one-off side project involving a handful of kinda-celebrity-ish type Napa starlets deciding to concoct yet another…

Liquid Farm Chardonnay White Hill

Lemon, rock, vanilla, and faint vegetal notes. Simple, medium-bodied, and round. Some alcohol makes for a more obtuse delivery. Decent flavor, but no fireworks. 87-88 points.

The Third Twin Graciano The Third Twin Vineyard

A massive blast of dark, ripe black and purple-blue fruit unloads on the palate with huckleberry, olallieberry, blackberry, pine cone sap, garrigue, olive brine, creosote, and bitter dark chocolate…

Harbison Sauvignon Blanc

Zing. Pow. Smack. Hold on to the handrails at all times when attempting to sip this slammin' palate slap of a Sauvignon Blanc. A Vulcan Minigun of yellow citrus, grapefruit juice, nectarine skin,…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Elysian Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Structure and tannins lead the attack here, with some hot-off-the-presses, racy red and black fruit flavors that are pushed rapidly over the palate with significant heft and energy. Stops in time to…

Steltzner Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District

Cotton candy confection is at the forefront of this wine at the moment. Some purple and red berry fruit notes, laced with vanilla and whipped cream. Hold for 3-5+ years so it can hopefully shed some…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

The standard Myriad Crane offers well-balanced flavors of black cherry yogurt, red and black licorice, and some gravelly earth notes. Faint dirt and soil notes can also be found running around in the…

Becklyn Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Pangkarra Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper

Ah, the "Supa Hoppa!"... As expected, this is the super-duper-uber Becklyn Missouri Hopper 2.0, and it shows accordingly. Take everything you know about the Hopper, add more wet soil, more roast…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Steltzner Vineyard

Red and purple berry fruit, pulverized granite, and some subtle spice. Much less black and intense this go-around than from when I had it out of barrel. A very satisfying and complete wine, though…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Blackberry, black cherry, and ripe purple fruit compile the core fruit, with scorched earth, wet cedar, and obsidian framing the general profile. This is displaying a bit of a reduced and macerated…

Becklyn Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper

Creosote, blackberry, damp black earth, fresh turned soil, and some charcuterie notes cut in line before the frame eventually catches up with its semi-sweet, rich tannins. A bit of an onslaught on…