Reviews

Hartford / Hartford Court Chardonnay Seascape Vineyard

Ripe lemon citrus, bruised lemon and orange rind, olive oil, golden raisin, and some salted caramel. A ripe, somewhat oxidized style, with an overtly aged profile that fakes you into thinking this…

Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Summa Old Vines

Ripe black cherry, dark red raspberry, cranberry, loam, forest floor, evergreen, stems, and some citrus. Medium on the attack, with a ripe core fruit drop mid-palate that added weight and some depth.…

La Crema Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

A migraine Chardonnay all the way through. Steely and astringent alcohol-laced lemon water topped with 9V batteries wrapped in green apple skin. Finishes bitter and hollow.

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard

Initially heavy on the lamp oil, lemontini, and vanilla alcohol flavors, making for an angular entry and less-than-seamless delivery overall. Primary and somewhat hollow yellow citrus and bruised…

Outpost Immigrant True Vineyard

It's been three years on its side since I last stirred awake the wine that is the 2013 Outpost Immigrant. Hey, guess what?! It still doesn't want to be bothered with all of my, "let's see what's…

Aubert Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard

Honeyed yellow citrus, vanilla, meringue, yellow pear, lychee, and faint/light butterscotch notes. Medium-to-full front end and mid-palate weight, with a medium-long finish that tails off with a…

Aubert Chardonnay UV-SL Vineyard

Previous notes from March 31, 2018 are still applicable, with special attention to the notion that a little time in bottle has seemingly elevated this wine even further. PnP was fresh, lively, and a…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Last minute pull. Still a good idea to hold on to these for a couple/few more years in hopes of best capturing the heightened complexity this wine potentially has to offer.

Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Silver Eagle Vineyard

PnP was almost immediately accessible, with a fruit forward attack that also pushed out the requisite acid, grip/tannins, and verve to keep it all moving to the mid and back ends in proper…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

So here I am diligently scanning my CT notes from a year and a half ago that stated I should wait on opening this wine until at least 2019+. I thought to myself, "That's pretty much now, right?!"…

B Cellars Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

Black cherry, bark, spice, and some faint evergreen. Similar to my previous experience with this wine a few months ago, except the core fruit seemed a little more deeply pitched and saturated this…

Aubert Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard

A broad and primary hit of yellow citrus and petrol on the initial pull gave way to a more relaxed profile after about two hours of air. It took every bit of that time to fan out and find some…

Favia Syrah Quarzo

It tasted like Syrah...

B Cellars Chardonnay Barrel Select

Still kicking out energetic yellow citrus oil and lightly honeyed lemon flavors. Some alcohol and vanilla glycol on the initial pull, making for an angular attack initially. Balanced out much better…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Twins Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Flavorful and fun indeed. Shares similar characteristics to the standard Myriad Cabernet, with the Twins exhibiting some additional currant and mineral nuances that add…

Favia Cabernet Sauvignon

A notable showing, with blackberry, red and black currant, cedar, dark cassis, rock, and some faint leather and bitter floral notes working their ways over the palate with purpose and delineation. At…

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Rock Block Series Stardust Heaven

Time in bottle has certainly helped this wine come along beautifully, kicking out fascinating flavors of earthy black raspberry, black cherry, blackberry seed, black rock, scorched earth, black…

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Cimarossa Vineyard

Another solid showing from this wine. Nicely balanced, flavorful, compelling mid-palate concentration while still staying light on its feet, and a good push of energy to keep the good time flavors…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Good black and red core fruit, cassis, and some spice, with a medium distribution of flavor and a rounded, more plush finish. Some alcohol on the tail end showed up initially, but faded fairly…

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

So for those familiar with B Cellars, Venge, and To Kalon, it should come as no surprise that this particular concoction is chock-full of hedonistic and viscous unctuousness that delivers up-front…

Aubert Chardonnay CIX Estate Vineyard

Yellow citrus, peach, yellow apple flesh, lemon oil, honey, vanilla, and some faint hazelnut dust. Well balanced on the front end, with an equally impressive weight distribution on the mid-palate.…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Daughters of Earth Goldrock Ridge

Coming off rich and spicy right out of the gate. Previous notes apply. A dark, ripe, and spice-driven Pinot, with saturated, viscous flavors that you have to chew on a bit to get the full effect.…

Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Silver Eagle Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Some nice red cherry and red raspberry notes. Has lost a little zip. Agreeable and satisfying, if not a bit simple and slower-paced at this stage. Drink now.

Fait-Main Chardonnay Penhoet Toyon Farm

Improving with time (since I last had it in the summer). Previous notes apply, but this was a bit more accessible and giving flavor-wise than before. Promising progression so far. Deeper on the…

Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard

Much improved since I last toyed around with this wine in early Spring. After about an hour of air, this gorgeous Cabernet really started to open up and develop complex flavors, wave after wave over…