Wine Doctrine
Every tasting note

Reviews

3,968 notes

2014

B Cellars Cabernet Franc Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Napa Valley · St. Helena

Previous notes apply. An alliterative fun, flavorful, fascinating, and focused phenom. A lot going on here that could still use another year or so to elevate even further. The black cherry and cassis…

Reviewed 10 May 2018
2012

Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

California · Napa Valley

It's been over a year since I last had this wine. Notes of blackberry, black currant, mocha, cedar, black pebbles, fresh vanilla bean, and allspice. A really nice depth of flavor; The attack was full…

Reviewed 9 May 2018
2013

Staglin Family Cabernet Sauvignon Booth Bella Oaks

Napa Valley · Rutherford

Finished the bottle from multiple Coravin pours over the course of three months. The best showing of this wine, especially when given a couple of hours to air-out in the glass. A darker profile than…

Reviewed 8 May 2018
2014

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Napa Valley · Oakville

Similar to my notes on 9/9/2017. Beautifully pure and sexy black core fruit. Scorched earth, fresh vanilla bean, fresh asphalt, incense, clove, black tar heroin (kinda like an adult tootsie roll…

Reviewed 7 May 2018
2008

Valdez Family Winery Petite Sirah Landy Vineyard

Sonoma County · Dry Creek Valley

Seems to have faded a bit since I last had this a year or so ago. Nothing wrong with it technically, but exhibiting only some basic notes of red and purple berry, plum, camphor, and some wet wood and…

Reviewed 6 May 2018
2011

Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard

California · Napa Valley

Dark black and purple core fruit, with black raspberry, black currant, black pebbles, railroad tie, and some cedar. Decent grip and some evolution and layering of flavors across the palate from the…

Reviewed 6 May 2018
2015

Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley · Howell Mountain

Finished a bottle that was the victim of a few previous Coravin taps over the past month or so. This was the best showing out of this bottle yet. Allowed some time in the glass to really get some…

Reviewed 5 May 2018
2015

Bacigalupi Vineyards Chardonnay

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Previous notes apply. Lemon curd, vanilla, lime zest, popcorn, and some subtle stone fruit. The lime note (and a tinge of alkaline and alcohol) repeat on the back end. Missing a bit of finesse and…

Reviewed 5 May 2018
2014

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Le Nouveau Western Star Vineyard

Napa Valley · Rutherford

PnP, tasted, and then decanted for about an hour at 54 degrees; small pours from the decanter, which remained in the wine fridge throughout consumption. This seemed to be the most appropriate service…

Reviewed 4 May 2018
2013

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Oracle's Whisper

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

It's been a year and a half since I last had this wine. PnP was a bit reticent, but after two hours of slow O2 and some swirling in the glass, it filled out nicely. Black cherry, black raspberry,…

Reviewed 1 May 2018
2013

Carlisle Syrah Sonoma County

California · Sonoma County

Much improved since I last had this wine 1.5 years ago. Dark purple and black core fruit, with notes of black pepper, camphor, black olive, and some subtle spice. Beautifully balanced with a…

Reviewed 29 April 2018
2012

Favia Syrah Quarzo

Sierra Foothills · Amador County

Previous notes apply, except that after a few hours of air, the Viognier component started to mellow out and seemed to work its way more seamlessly into the Syrah element. Still could use another…

Reviewed 29 April 2018
2013

Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard

Napa Valley · Howell Mountain

Another Coravin pour. Seems to have moved along to a riper stage with some air. I had a Coravin issue with a Quivet LPV at the same time last week when I hit this bottle too; so, maybe there was some…

Reviewed 28 April 2018
2014

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

California · Napa Valley

All previous notes apply. Smooth and accessible on PnP. Served next to a '14 Scarlett, which had a little more concentration and intensity. Drink the Myriad now or hold with confidence for a couple…

Reviewed 27 April 2018
2014

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley · Rutherford

Everyone loves Ms. Scarlett. This intense femme fatale delivers with wonderfully sassy concentration and sex appeal. PnP with around 15 minutes in the glass brought about her buxom flair and…

Reviewed 27 April 2018
2014

Outpost Immigrant True Vineyard

Napa Valley · Howell Mountain

Same notes as before. An hour+ of air brought out some really nice boysenberry and bitter dark chocolate notes. A wine I should leave alone for another year or two. 95-96+ points.

Reviewed 26 April 2018
2015

Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium

Napa Valley · Oakville

These adorable little .375s make it too easy to grab-and-go with one when you're headed to a restaurant and want a crazy ace up your sleeve during dinner. This wine is bringing all sorts of fun with…

Reviewed 26 April 2018
2008

Bevan Cellars Merlot Alexis' Cuvée Showket Vineyards

Napa Valley · Oakville

Previous notes apply. Everyone at the table was surprised this was a Merlot with a decade of age on it. Drank great as a PnP and maintained its beautiful profile over the course of a couple of hours.…

Reviewed 26 April 2018
2013

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District

Napa Valley · Stags Leap District

All previous notes apply. A truly awesome expression of Stags Leap, seamlessly gushing with dark, black berry core fruit; dark chocolate, asphalt, black/blue river rock, scorched earth, and clove…

Reviewed 21 April 2018
2013

Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard

Napa Valley · Howell Mountain

Coravin pour. As others have noted, this needs 2-3 more years to get its full act together. Enticing notes of black core fruit, black licorice, black mulch, asphalt, and some river rock.

Reviewed 20 April 2018