Reviews

Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras

Served side-by-side with 2016 Carters Bam and Verdad. The FM was more purple fruited and displayed a softer grip than the Carters. Less intensity and concentration mid-palate from the FM by…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

Horizontal of the 2015 Estate, Stags, and Howell Cabernets. More earthy and funky than the Estate or Stags, this Howell offering from Revana displayed a soil-driven meatiness that was interesting, if…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Weitz Vineyard

Even more compelling than the last couple of times I had this wine, the 2016 Weitz popped on the palate with extraordinary drive and complexity. Same as my previous notes in terms of its overall…

Carter Cellars Hossfeld Coliseum

Previous notes apply. Still amongst the big boys in the 2016 Carter lineup, this beautiful wine manages to keep pace and hold interest with its wonderfully inviting dark red and purple core fruit.…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The G.T.O Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

If the OG is a perfect wine, then the GTO is a perfect-er wine. Previous notes apply.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The O.G. Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

All previous notes apply. With the exception of the GTO, this OG is a darn-tootin', kick a** and take names kind of Black Bart fella that stands up at the saloon, skins its pair of smoke-wagons, and…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Power and flavor all wrapped into one big hunk of spicy sexiness. A true athlete on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition (but like a for-real athlete...not just…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

As before, fruit and spice dominate, with likely the most baby fat still present when compared to others in the lineup. It is just so darn flavorful right now though...total yum factor. It will…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fortuna Vineyard

Previous notes apply. A clean and focused representation of the site, with terrific purity of fruit. A wine that promises to develop over the coming year or so and in need of a little short term…

Flint Knoll Royal Appointment

A supple and approachable wine, with a fun and unpretentious profile that offers round red and black berry fruit. The Merlot component softens the edges, allowing the Cabernet Sauvignon to show its…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District

Horizontal of the 2015 Estate, Stags, and Howell Cabernets.

Revana Chardonnay

Round, fairly ripe, and lemon-curd driven, pushing out hints of popcorn and vanilla as well, this Chardonnay certainly has a decent 'yum' factor going on with it. Smooth and palate-coating, with a…

Riverain Syrah Cardiac Hill Bennett Valley

A very nice example of what can be accomplished out of Bennett Valley with this varietal. Blackberry and charcoal notes, with added flavors of meaty black olive and creosote. I appreciated the…

Salinia Chardonnay Heintz Ranch

Starting to tank pretty fast at this juncture, even for those passing this off as a Jura "style" white. Drink yesterday.

Maxem Chardonnay UV Vineyard

Followed over two days. Same notes as earlier in the month. This passed the "at home" test with flying colors. A more cerebral Chardonnay than some others in this category in that it shows refinement…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2015 and 2016 are killer vintages for the Quivet offerings, as this NV is a testament to true "affordable" winemaking at an appellation level. Young but lusciously approachable, with dark, dark black…

Maybach Family Vineyards Pinot Noir Irmgard

A fascinating wine, and ironically one I would have potentially mistaken for a twenty-year-old 1st Cru Burgundy had it not been for the perception of higher alcohol here, especially on the finish.…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon La Verdad Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Coravin pour. Previous notes apply, except to note that this round displayed a little heavier on the deeply-pitched red cassis and red licorice notes. A little bit of alcohol on the back end needed…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Just as solid from bottle as it was from barrel. Previous notes apply. There is certainly some wonderful oak influence going on with this wine at the moment, with further integration to come with…

Favia Syrah Quarzo

Previous notes apply. This bested a '13 Carlisle Sonoma Syrah served next to it, as the Favia had a greater breadth overall, especially in regards to its complexity of flavors. Medium mid-palate,…

Carlisle Syrah Sonoma County

This wine showed pretty flat compared to April 2018 when I last had it. This was also served next to a '12 Favia Quarzo, which bested it by a margin. It was fine, but nothing memorable here. Some…

Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Estate Vineyard

Previous notes from last year apply. A stunning Chardonnay, and likely one that will merit a perfect score in another year or so. Just some subtle hits of sulphur that need some time to blow off.…

Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Silver Eagle Vineyard

Black cherry, black/red plum, currant, earth, wet mulch and tobacco, and soil. Subtle spice. Round and straightforward. Decent depth, medium bodied. Not super complex. Notably satisfying but not…

Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Red and black currant, red and black cherry, spice, and some sweet cedar notes make up the 2012 SBR Reserve Cabernet. A fine wine all the way around, with a super smooth, polished entry as soon as…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Bergfeld

Black/red fruit dominated, with a ripe, spicy, and chocolate-driven profile. With air, this became black fruited, with scorched earth and char rounding out the back end. Healthy hits of richness, but…