Reviews

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

This is turning out to be a very notable version of Dr. Crane. Initially on PnP, a bit of liqueur-esque black cherry and cassis notes dominated; but with a total of two hours+ of air, this really…

Stephen & Walker Trust Winery Limited Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

A somewhat enjoyable sipper (paired fine with some awesome Old Chicago pizza), but seemingly on the decline. Flavors were a little plumy, with muddled black cherry and some cedar-earth notes. A bit…

Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras

Same as previous notes. I'm going to try to hold remaining bottles until 2019. Just a little round on the mid-palate. Great core fruit flavors and concentration. Wanting a little more complexity and…

Argot Estate Vineyard Sonoma Mountain

Previous notes apply. A little more alcohol on the back end, washing over some of the core fruit on the last bit of the finish. Still a very good bottle of Chardonnay. Good to drink now, but I think…

Melville Pinot Noir Block M

A totally different experience than when I had it 1.5 years ago. Sure enough, holding until 2018 proved to be a worthy endeavor. This time around, this wine was a succulent and juicy red-fruited…

The Grade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Winfield Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Same as last month. Lush, ripe (but not over-ripe), and beautifully balanced. A nice rush of dark berry core fruit, with some bitter chocolate and subtle clove and black slate.…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

This is really coming into a nice drinking window at this point. A much different experience than a year or so ago. A more seamless rush of black and dark red core fruit. A little bit of classical…

Martinelli Pinot Noir Grace Nicole Zio Tony Ranch

Red fruit a-la-craziness kicking out with this wine. Bright red raspberry, bright red raspberry...and...bright red raspberry. Some red cherry...and...bright [ripe] red raspberry. The one flavor it…

Bevan Cellars Ontogeny

A great showing. One of the best Ontogenys I've had. The 2012 vintage is THE vintage for Ontogeny without a doubt. All previous notes apply. Service was PnP (which was perfect - no decant…

Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Summa Old Vines

PnP with an opaque blood orange hue, with scents of freshly washed cranberries, orange squeeze, and some woody spice. Much of the same on the palate. Red cherry, cranberry, wild red raspberry, orange…

Greer Cabernet Sauvignon Greer Vineyard

Similar to previous notes. Last minute pull. From Coravin. Notes of black cherry, black raspberry, cassis, purple plum, and faint hints of salami and dust (maybe the dust thing is just in my head - I…

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard

Same as previous notes. Nice vanilla, butter, and lemon citrus/curd notes. Traditional in many respects, but truly tasty. It maintained a nice brightness throughout consumption. Good acidity, with a…

Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Still awesome and a little difficult to find much fault with this wine (or most Aubert Chardonnays really). Maybe not my favorite Aubert when compared to CIX or Lauren, but that…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Though I usually can't help but blather on about this topic, I don't have to write much on this particular wine because Cristal2000, #1WineLover, and BadMonkey pretty much covered all that needs to…

Bernardus Winery Chardonnay

"Not too bad" was the phrase we heard most of the night. Certainly some butter and oak on the attack, but some decent yellow citrus notes and some acid to add interest and hold it all together.…

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Petaluma Gap

Better than the last time I had this wine a few months ago. Much less of the muddled, goofy behavior, but still a big a** Pinot with a fistful of fruit and spice rocketing right to your face. Don't…

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Cimarossa Vineyard

Same as previous notes. Usually in that 95-96+ category for me. This was almost there, but developed a bit of a plumy tinge on the back end after a few hours of air. PnP might be better service on…

D.R. Stephens Cabernet Sauvignon Collateral Napa Valley

Though some at the table thought this was a little too tight and constricted, a number of us (myself included) thought it was firing off some nice flavors quite nicely. Black and blue core fruit,…

Blankiet Estate Proprietary Red Wine Paradise Hills Vineyard

Similar to previous note 1.5 years ago. Very smooth and sophisticated. Really nice black and red berry and currant fruit, with a little earth and spice on the back end. Veering more toward a…

O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder

For me, this little bugger did not want to budge one bit throughout consumption. Some tight and linear notes of red and black currant, black rock, cassis, bitter black cherry, and some vanilla laced…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Aaaaagh! Mother-lovin' holy dammit all! Horribly corked right out of the gate. On initial "pop" (or rather, "puuhf"), the cedar and vinegar smell launched right out of the bottle. Such the bummer,…

Wente Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Nth Degree

This was a little difficult for my Napa-trained palate to grasp on to. Some pleasurable flavors of currant, plum, black cherry, and hints of cedar. A little flat and hollow mid-palate, with some…

Fait-Main Chardonnay Penhoet Toyon Farm

Same as all previous notes. Light and crisp, with good acidity and an overall breadth of flavor that still has its domestic roots in place. This had the most drive compared to the other five whites…

Wente Vineyards Syrah Nth Degree

Blackberry, Trader Joe's fig paste, olive, charcuterie, pastrami, and earth flavors dominated. A pretty gamey and earthy Syrah, with a fistful or really ripe fruit. An interesting take on the…

Clos Solène Fleur de Solène

Black raspberry, cranberry, red and black currant, cassis, white pepper, and tart plum. A lot of unresolved flavors going on here. The stuffing is certainly there, but this needs more time. Give it…