Reviews

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Previous notes apply, however I did feel like this was displaying in a way that was less concentrated and unctuous than how I had previously experienced this wine (by Purlieu BTK standards at least).…

Buoncristiani Cabernet Sauvignon The Core

Enchantingly backward and spring-loaded with massively concentrated flavors of blackberry, black raspberry, black and red licorice, Baker's chocolate, pastille, cassis, and some earthy stone. There…

Buoncristiani Chardonnay

This Chardonnay strikes a nice balance between the plushness of a domestic white and the restraint of a more classical version of the varietal. Fresh and fairly lively, with decent energy and lift to…

Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras

Barrel sample. Tight and constricted, this reminded me a little of the 2013 Shafer HSS we had earlier in the day. Not surprisingly, this LPV displayed the blackest, most gravelly properties of the AO…

Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Barrel sample. Complex and compelling, concentrated and driven, the '16 AO Crane was the star of the lineup. Black and red core fruit, black raspberry, blackberry, black and red licorice, anise,…

Shafer Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch

Notes of green apple, Asian pear, lemon verbena, tropical fruit, acacia, and some sea salt. The initial attack started out smooth and enveloping (characteristically as most rounded-out Nor-Cal…

Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon Stagecoach Vineyard

Barrel sample. The most low-toned wine in the '16 AO line-up, with dark, black core fruit, fresh black soil, espresso, bitter chocolate, char, clove, fresh vanilla bean, and obsidian. The dark spice…

Aubert Chardonnay CIX Estate Vineyard

This is certainly starting to come around even more since last year. Some time in bottle has allowed additional flavors to emerge in a way that further elevates this wine into a more sophisticated…

Greer Cabernet Sauvignon Greer Vineyard

Same as all previous notes. Performed quite well, with a notable accessibility and plushness that is indicative of the vintage. A wild, dusty blueberry note added an elevated interest. Drink now with…

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon

Previous notes from September apply, though I will say that I found it to start shutting down after about 30+ minutes of air. Mid-palate started to show a more linear display, with only the attack on…

Stephen & Walker Trust Winery Limited Chardonnay Late Harvest

Same as my previous notes on this wine. Unctuous and filling without ever being heavy or overly cloying. Candied lemon and orange peel, crystalized honey, dried apricot, and orange marmalade. This…

Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard

I'm still working on trying to understand these RM wines. The notion of them needing a lot of time indeed has merits, but I'm not entirely confident it's only a time issue. The 2013 and 2015 were…

Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard

I'm still working on trying to understand these RM wines. The notion of them needing a lot of time indeed has merits, but I'm not entirely confident it's only a time issue. The 2013 and 2015 were…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Finished off the bottle of a Coravin pour from last month. This took about two hours to really come to life. This was served next to a '15 Vice Versa LPV, which had more…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Same as my notes from last month. A great bottle of wine that stood out from all of the other wines served alongside it. I'll try to hold remaining bottles for another year.

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Night Children

Previous notes apply. I was anxious to see where this wine was knowing full well it was going to still need some time. Confirmed! It indeed needs more time. I'm sticking to my 2020 prediction.

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Rita's Crown Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills

Previous notes apply. Just a big brute of a Pinot. There is pleasure here for sure, but it really is a bit too much of a good-ish thing. A Wren Hop Night Children served next to it showed just how…

Del Dotto Chardonnay Cinghiale Vineyard

Same as my previous notes a couple of months ago. Served next to a 2013 Rivers Marie B. Thieriot Chardonnay, which I thought was much more sophisticated and complex. Still, the Del Dotto performed…

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard

Same as previous notes. This was served side-by-side with a Del Dotto Chardonnay, with the DD coming off more buttery and rich. The RM maintained a much more sophisticated complexity and had an…

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

...Crisis averted from yesterday's strange Coravin experience. Same bottle as yesterday; Coravin pour again. This was not displaying in any sort of disjointed fashion, but I will say it appears to be…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Actaeon Quixote Vineyard

The first bottle was flawed. This second bottle was not, however my palate seemed to still be stuck in What The Heck mode after previously taking down some hefty sips of the heavily flawed bottle. I…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Actaeon Quixote Vineyard

Strong cedar and white vinegar mixed with a tablespoon of flabby Welch's grape juice. G-Damm*t Simple Jack A** bottle of salad dressing! ��

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

A follow-up to a Coravin pour from the same bottle a month ago. It was good, but something seemed a bit off. Displaying some overt alcohol atop the core fruit. It might have just needed more air, but…

Greer Cabernet Sauvignon Greer Vineyard

I went for another small pour from the Coravin on this wine. It had some time to open up with air, which was a good thing. I'm starting to understand this wine a little more. Even with the plushness…

Williams Selyem Chardonnay Lewis MacGregor Estate Vineyard

Previous notes apply, but this needs about an hour or so of decanted air to really come to life. PnP was tight and acidic, with some coiled-up tension that masked some of the pure yellow citrus core…