Reviews

Bevan Cellars Ontogeny

Previous notes apply. This was a PnP and it ultimately did not get enough air. Fairly tight throughout consumption. Either decant and give this the breathing room it deserves, or hold for at least…

Scarecrow Monsieur Étain

Previous note applies. Ideally I'm going to try to give this another 2 years before opening my next bottle. Drinks beautifully after a couple of hours in the decanter, but shows even more potential…

Blankiet Estate Proprietary Red Wine Paradise Hills Vineyard

Similar to my previous notes, except that this showed a cedar element that clipped the finish; the fruit was solid, but took a back seat at times. This seems to be transitioning toward its next phase…

Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Blancs

Previous note applies. A good first-start-sipper kind of sparkler. Simple but flavorful and balanced enough to hold interest and offer pleasure. An "easy does it" beverage.

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Architects & Saboteurs

Previous notes apply. A massive Pinot with a massive attack of ripe black and dark red core fruit, glycerin-laced blackberry and black cherry, saturated black raspberry liqueur, black spicebox,…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

PnP was an initial palate pimp-slap of black cherry liqueur, electric purple plum, strong spice, and a decent amount of rocket fuel. Not to worry though...not my first rodeo with this bucking bronco.…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Update from my previous note on 3/4/18 on a Coravin pour of this wine. The remainder of this bottle was consumed as a PnP, and without the 2015 Verdad alongside it. As a stand-alone, this 2014 really…

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon

A month ago I gave this a shot via Coravin and found it to be overly restrained, especially after some open air in the glass. I was (and am still to this day) not exactly sure of the root cause of…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Coravin pour; this was smooth and singing with just a few minutes of swirling in the glass. Black asphalt and gravel led the attack, with astoundingly pure black, purple, and…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon La Verdad Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

100 points. Why?! Because it's friggin' awesome, that's why!

Realm Cellars Moonracer

Captivating and concentrated black core fruit, a fistful of dark spices, and black minerality all pulsate across the palate in a beautifully powerful display of flavor and intensity. This Moonracer…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

Much improved since I last had this wine 6 months ago. More captivating in both the flavor and complexity department, with dark black and blue core fruit, plum, black raspberry, black currant, black…

Realm Cellars Farella Vineyard

Disappointingly mulchy and cedar-driven, with black currant, forest floor, tobacco, wood-paneling, and a bitter leather note on the back end. This felt like something more from the mid-90's than a…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon Terroir Series

Boozy and sweet, with a ripe, cloying plum note overpowering most of the other flavors trying to come through. Some black cherry, currant, and cedar notes eventually emerged, but the attack of the…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon

Interestingly enough, this experience with this wine was strikingly similar to the one I had with it nearly two years ago. Previous note from 2016 still applies. Alcohol, cedar, and a off-sweet plum…

L'Aventure Estate Cuvée

All of my previous notes apply. Drinking very well as a PnP. Drink now and over the next few years.

Larkmead Vineyards Firebelle

Super young, high and tight, this Marine was in bootcamp mode, with a fairly stiff delivery, high-toned red cherry and black raspberry core fruit, and a finish that was washed over by alcohol and…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon

A beautifully concentrated Cabernet, with a core that exhibited both rich and vivacious flavors of black and dark red fruit. Hauntingly dark blackberry and black raspberry, dark chocolate, mocha,…

Dakota Shy Cabernet Sauvignon Ten

Purple and red berry core fruit. The 13% Cab Franc provided a nice lift to the otherwise basic delivery of flavors. Some black and red currant, red licorice, allspice, and subtle minerality rounded…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon

Previous notes apply. A fairly hedonistic experience this time around, with sweet blackberry, blueberry, dark chocolate, red raspberry, spice, mulch, and some blue/black rock. Rich, dense, and a…

Realm Cellars The Bard

Previous notes apply. Sweet blackberry liqueur, blueberry smoothie, dark chocolate chunk, vanilla bean, bread dough, mocha, clove, and anise. Still exhibiting a bit of a clumsy profile, with a fat,…

Revana Chardonnay

A bit of a "flat" meets "fat" profile this time around. This wine screamed domestic Chardonnay, with "fat," buttery flavors of lemon curd, pie crust, clarified butter, movie theater popcorn, and…

Realm Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Fidelio

Traditional SB notes of yellow citrus and white stone core fruit, yellow pear, lemon juice, honeydew melon, mango, pumice, sulfur, and wet pavement. A medium attack with an equally medium-weighted…

Dakota Shy Cabernet Sauvignon Social Currency

Available only in Magnum, the Social Currency is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. A complete standout compared to the TEN and Napa Valley offerings served alongside it, this wine exhibited more complete and…

Dakota Shy Cabernet Sauvignon

Black and purple core fruit. Dark plum, black currant, black cherry, earth, black rock, and cedar. A little more of a display of darker bass tones on the mid-palate when compared to the TEN, with a…