Reviews

MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon

Double-decanted and re-corked in-bottle for approximately 8 hours; then consumed out of a decanter over the course of over four more hours. By hour two, this had presented itself in a way that was…

Sine Qua Non Grenache Stein

Served side-by-side with the '12 SQN Touché. Decanted over the course of 5 hours, and followed throughout the night. PnP displayed a dark red and black core fruit profile. A little higher-toned black…

Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Bone Ash Vineyard

Definitely more fruit-driven than the Morlets and Rudd served alongside it, with seemingly less backbone and acidic grip. Ripe red and black core fruit, with lush, plush, rounded edges that would be…

Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon

Same as my notes on this wine from last month. Black and purple core fruit (with some streaks of dark red), cassis, spice, and some licorice. More frame and grip than the 2015 Outpost Immigrant…

Marcassin Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard

"A beautiful wine," was the general sentiment among most of the crowd, though some (myself included) felt like it was holding back quite a bit, with the frontal push of flavoring to be reticent and…

Outpost Immigrant True Vineyard

Served next to the 2015 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon (which I preferred ever so slightly - mainly for its elevated frame and grip). Purple and black core fruit, with black currant, black soil,…

Sine Qua Non Syrah Touché Eleven Confessions Vineyard

Served side-by-side with the '12 SQN Stein. Not surprisingly, the Touché was one of the wines of the night, and especially unfortunate for the 2012 SQN Stein, which received a serving up of a good…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Cautionary Tale

Not one ounce of doom and gloom here with this "Cautionary Tale." PnP with wonderful black cherry, saturated and sappy black raspberry, bark, cacao bean, and some incense and cinnamon stick. Most…

Bevan Cellars EE Cuvée Tench Vineyard

The only thing that kept this from being 100 points tonight was that the MACDONALD kept coming along and smacking around everything in front of it. All of my previous notes on this EE apply. This is…

Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Strikingly similar to the 2010 Carter Grand Daddy, except that the Mondavi had a lighter body overall, with a bit of an old-world, earthy quality that made it uniquely stand out when compared to the…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon Block 6

Very similar to the 2012 Block 6 I had the week before. Dark black and some super dark red core fruit, with black currant, chocolate, black soil, and spice to round-out the flavor profile. Dark,…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Somewhat similar to the 2012 Revana Block 6 (served beside it) in terms of its dark, black core fruit. Less chocolate-driven than the Revana, but displaying a nice streak of black soil and earthy…

Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve

A step up from the 2015 Bone Ash, but still leading its attack with a lot of fruit in the mouth all at once. A darker flavor profile than the Bone Ash, with sappy black raspberry, wild blackberry,…

B Cellars Chardonnay Barrel Select

Previous notes apply. I'm a fan. Decanting is actually recommended here in my opinion, allowing it to smooth out and not be obnoxious with its initial hit of flavor and flair. Softened our nicely for…

Argot Chardonnay Simpatico Ranch

Same as previous notes. Notable acidity and grip. A nice Burgundian/domestic hybrid. A lot of energy here, with some green apple and lemon verbena/lemongrass notes. A little less inviting than a '15…

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

A year since I had this wine. Man, I did everything I could think of to spoon-feed this wine into being anything beyond a stern-ass liquid Liam Neeson. No dice. This RBS carried a Klingon furrowed…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Previous notes apply. PnP was an initial punch of red and black cherry liqueur and vanilla extract. Decanted for an hour+, which GREATLY improved the overall delivery of flavor. Black cherry, red and…

Saxum Booker Vineyard

Previous notes from last year apply, except that this was showing quite a bit of hot alcohol on the finish, washing out the initial front-end attack of spicy blackberry core fruit out from underneath…

Argot Estate Vineyard Sonoma Mountain

Some alcohol and glycol on the finish this time around, which somewhat stunted the otherwise beautiful yellow core fruit on this wine. Some nice vanilla notes emerged, but some of the booze pulled…

Arkenstone Sauvignon Blanc

Same as last month and other previous notes before. A high-functioning SB for sure in my opinion. Weight, intensity, purity, acid, and flavor all hit the right registers with this version of the…

Kobalt Cabernet Sauvignon

Dark black cherry and some bitter chocolate flavors dominate. Much more medium-bodied than expected. This performed similarly to a 2014 Grade Cabernet served alongside it. Both the Kobalt and Grade…

Venge Vineyards Merlot Oakville Estate Vineyard

This actually performed a couple of steps higher when compared to the last time I had it back in December. Still a little coiled up, but showing some really nice structure and energy throughout…

The Grade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Winfield Vineyard

All previous notes apply. An easy-going crowd pleaser for sure. Flavors are always enjoyable from this wine, if not just a touch simple on the back end. It performed similarly to a 2014 Kobalt served…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon Block 6

PnP with dark black and red berry core fruit. Chocolate, black raspberry, black currant, clove, allspice, and some black soil notes beautifully glide across the palate. Mid-palate and overall…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Teucer Vineyard

Previous notes from six months ago apply. PnP was just fine, albeit just a bit tight on the back end. Given a couple hours of air, this wine really opened up nicely with black cherry, dark bitter…