Reviews

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Elysian Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Even more intense and powerful than the 2017, and even seemingly more focused than the 2016, the fruit in this 2018 Elysian really shows the potential to be a perfect wine. Purity of fruit is…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Red bing cherry, pomegranate, red raspberry, plum skin, and some blackberry seed. A higher-toned version of the Quivet LPV, and one that begs for time and patience once it hits bottle. Grippy and…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Elysian Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Blackberry, black raspberry, black rock, wild blueberry, purple plum skin, asphalt, scorched earth, and a fascinating BBQ'd brisket bark note that interplayed delectably with the black minerality.…

Morlet Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Cour de Vallée

As before, this CdV displayed notes of black and red raspberry, plum skin, soil, traces of cassis, green peppercorn, tobacco leaf, and some leather. Exquisitely balanced and, inside of an hour of…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Steltzner Vineyard

The blackest, densest, most mineral-driven in the lineup, the 2017 Steltzner impresses with its rocky, black minerality and deeply pitched black fruit core. A truly awesome example of the site and a…

Mount Eden Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

10-X in the head. Past its prime and shot, with some apparent flaws/corked issues also surfacing as it gained more air. Watery cranberry, tomato leaf, and soil, with a damp dishcloth aftertaste that…

Aubert Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard

So this silly chameleon has gone 180 with its flavor profile since I last had it in 2017. What was once a balled-up mineral-first-fruit-second Chardonnay has now become a vanilla tropical Carmen…

Vangone Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

Well, it's official... I'm digging on this label pretty hard at the moment. After some epic barrel samples of the 2016 and 2018, this 2015 is already showing amazingly well considering I just…

The Grade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Kingly Project Winfield Vineyard

Previous notes apply in terms of this wine's specific flavor profile, except the intensity of this is starting to down-shift as it continues to age in bottle. For some, this is welcomed news, as…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon The Arsenal Greer Vineyard

Dusty cedar, earth, wild purple plum, red cherry, and black currant notes. Beautiful weight distribution on the front end push, with a solid mid-palate drop that settles in nicely before it moves on…

Aubert Pinot Noir UV Vineyard

Ripe black cherry, red and black raspberry, and some evergreen and faint earth notes. A nice ride, if not as complex as I might have optimally hoped. Medium-bodied all the way around. A little overly…

Hartford / Hartford Court Chardonnay Far Coast Vineyard

Continuing on its path to increasingly elevated performance, this bottling of the Hartford Far Coast has inched-up a couple of notches since I had it last summer. The focus and flavor are really…

Kobalt Cabernet Sauvignon

Same as before. Black, chocolatey, and chalk full of scortched earth and black rock. A bit thick and grainy on the attack, with a tarry finish. A little crunchy and gritty at times, with the black…

Becklyn Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

Still hitting heavy in the fruity cocktail category, with a flavorful array of red, purple, blue, and black berry fruits, cassis, vanilla, and Twizzlers. Plush and fleshy, with a somewhat protracted…

Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Bone Ash Vineyard

Black, black, black fruit, with black wet burnt cedar, tar, scorched earth, and black rock. Extraordinarily complex, with the best of Venge's often flamboyant style perfectly harnessed by the best…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Architects & Saboteurs

Held up great over the course of two days. A decent amount of power and fortitude, but balances-out with spicy, ripe, and saturated black and red raspberry and cherry flavors that make for a fairly…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

It's big. It's dark. It's awesome.

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Summit 2114

In a perfect spot right now. Black and red cherry, wild raspberry, Creamsicle filling, bark and stems, underbrush, garrigue, rhubarb, limestone river rock, and some clove notes. The overall delivery…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Twins Vineyard

Tight and linear this time around, with the 2013 vintage showing its desire to clamp down on those otherwise beautiful black and red berry fruit notes desperately trying to push their way forward.…

Fait-Main Chardonnay Penhoet Toyon Farm

Previous notes apply, though this behaved a bit more like a Sauvignon Blanc this time around (especially when it was on the colder side). Linear but hyper-clean pure yellow citrus, flint, and chalk…

Vice Versa Pinot Noir Platt Vineyard

Previous notes apply. So much potential and upside to this wine. Purity and drive are most notable here, as is the unbelievable intensity of the fruit - while still holding a textural mouthfeel that…

Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Somewhat similar to my last year's note in terms of specific flavor elements by name, except that every aspect of the flavor profile here has tripled in terms of richness. This has become even more…

Ferren Wines Chardonnay Frei Road Vineyard

Spritely yellow citrus, fresh lemon juice, grass, white stone fruit, bitter unripe pear, and some pumice. A slightly pithy and bitter delivery, with a hint of spritz that further cuts the core fruit…

Aubert Pinot Noir CIX Estate Vineyard

Ripe red raspberry, earthy and saturated red and black cherry, candied red licorice, forest floor, and some faint rock. Round and plush on the front end push, with a hoard of fruit that drops on the…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Blackberry, blueberry, black asphalt, black currant, and dark spice. Medium-bodied weight-wise, but pushing forward with a formidable drive that provides energy and verve. Finishes dry and rocky,…