Reviews

L'Aventure For Her

An even more integrated and overall improved animal than when I last had this wine two years ago. This took a couple of hours of decanting to open up, but once it did it kicked out beautifully deep…

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Platt Vineyard

Eeeeeesh.... This was unfortunately a little tough for me to get on board with in its current state; not the most inviting or expressive... or complex example of the varietal or the site. I'm not…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

A serious wine indeed, perhaps even a bit too serious in its present state, with a Jack Nicholson "You can't handle the truth" proclamation as soon as it launches its sword-forward attack on the…

Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus

Similar to previous notes. A little rounder and more plush this time around, displaying a beautifully balanced and smooth entry, if not lacking just a bit of verve and grip to best house the gorgeous…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

2014 Quivet LPV and 2014 Schrader LPV side-by-side.

Keplinger Mars

Tight and linear on initial PnP, but quickly opens up to reveal dark kirsch, cassis, purple plum, pulverized granite, and a touch of garrigue and camphor. This stayed pretty locked and loaded…

Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Franc

Black and red cherry, red plum, coffee grounds, cedar, and some bark. A surprising amount of balled-up energy and tension here, indicating even more time in bottle will allow for the flavors to…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

One of my Napa Cabs of the vintage, and a consistent standout every time I pop the cork. This wine simply lays waste to a whole mess of wines when in comparative tastings or as a stand-alone. The…

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon LPV Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

2014 Quivet LPV and 2014 Schrader LPV side-by-side.

Morlet Family Vineyards Chardonnay Coup de Coeur

Why?... Because it's perfect, that's why!...

Ferren Wines Chardonnay Silver Eagle Vineyard

Fresh squeezed lemon juice, yellow pear skin, vanilla, and some glycol-alcohol on the finish. More powerful and a bit more abrasive than the Frei Chardonnay at this stage. Good flavors, but rattles…

Wren Hop Chardonnay Ritchie by Proxy

About an hour of direct air allowed this wine to shake off some of the heavier coconut pie crust and vanilla flavors from its coat, allowing the lemon curd and pear notes to take center stage. Some…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Mortal Coil Phendler

Boy did this perform like a champ! A similar and familiar flavor profile to when I had this last summer, but with even more fascinating flavors prairie-doggin' all over the place on the palate. Black…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Black cherry dominates here, with subtle hints of black river rock, dust, and vanilla. Showing some linearity, with a more horizontal delivery of flavors in its current state. Agreeable and a super…

Arrow & Branch Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Much improved and developed from when I had this last year. Black cherry, black raspberry, cardamom, blackberry seed, and some dust. The initial attack cons you into thinking it is going to be…

Pott Wine Space & Time

2015 Incubo & 2015 Space and Time.

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Incubo

2015 Incubo & 2015 Space and Time.

Ferren Wines Pinot Noir Frei Road Vineyard

Red berry, cherry, cranberry, and some earthy spice lurking on the periphery. More red-fruited, with a depth and richness dropping on the mid-palate with notable intensity, but still light on its…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Shadow Voices Estate

Same as before. 95-97+ points. Showed even better on Day 2. Hold for a few years.

Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Barrel sample. A fresh and vivacious example of Crane, registering a little high and red-fruited at the moment. A great deal of speed and pop here, with notes of bing cherry, red raspberry, cassis,…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Round Pond Vineyard

Red berries on the front end, black cherry and blackberry on the back, the fruit from the 2018 Round Pond really shows a fun swirling of festive red and black fruit flavors. A finish that hits the…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Empyrean Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Darker, smoother, rounder, and seemingly deeper than the 2017 GIII, the fruit on the 2018 GIII (potentially slated for the Empyrean) thrusts on to the palate with resolve and intensity. Much like the…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Red and black cherry, kirschwasser, pomegranate, spice, and vanilla dominate the profile of this sample, with a racy and energetic delivery that hits the upper register of red fruit flavors in its…

Sine Qua Non Syrah Rätsel 16

A solid showing for such an infant. Surprisingly more medium-bodied than I was expecting given its youth (and considering its listed 16.1% ABV - which probably means 17%+). Appealing and agreeable…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Twins Vineyard

2017 seems to have been very charitable to the Twins offering this go-around, as this sample displays as a full-throttled, grippy, and endurance-driven specimen of flavor and energy. Intense purple…