Reviews

Shafer Relentless

Same as all of my previous notes. Always a solid performer. A bit of air coaxed out some really nice bitter chocolate, tar, railroad tie, and black pebbly flavors to accompany the core black fruit.

Ultramarine Blanc de Noirs Heintz Vineyard Sonoma Coast

Baked pear, apple pie crust, fried plantain, brioche, sea foam, and gray slate notes. A little ripe and heavy mid-palate, with a more voluptuous mouthfeel overall; somewhat funky on the finish,…

Bacio Divino Cabernet Sauvignon Janzen Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard

A really great showing on this wine. Sifting through the droves of wine at the table, this was probably my WOTN (next to a '13 Bevan McGah that was also performing well). PnP was a little tight with…

Steven Kent Winery Cabernet Sauvignon The Premier

A bit past its prime for my palate, but still displaying some familiar notes for the varietal. Dark plumy fruit core with earth and cedar notes.

Hunnicutt Cuvée Equite

This was a decent showing with this wine. For me, it unfortunately got lost in the shuffle of some other heavy hitters at the table. Medium-bodied, with a pleasant attack of round darker fruit. This…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Wente Vineyards Chardonnay Nth Degree

This wine struck a nice balance between voluptuousness and verve, with deep lemon citrus, lemon curd, toasted marshmallow, and some ripe pear notes. A little rich and heavy, especially on the back…

Murrieta's Well Zarzuela

I couldn't get a good read on this wine. Black cherry and plum flavors came forward, but there were other flavors that came up on the back end that caused it to come off a little over-ripe and bitter…

Sine Qua Non Syrah Stock

Notes of blackberry, funky earth, wet hay, limestone, black pepper, hard salami, campfire, and garrigue. A little furry on the palate, with the flavors finishing a bit gritty and fuzzy. Some air…

Murrieta's Well Merlot Small Lot

A classic example of Merlot, with plum, black cherry, and cocoa powder dominating the delivery of flavor. Straightforward, but with some nice acidity that cut through what could have been an overly…

Murrieta's Well Tempranillo Los Tesoros

Notes of black cherry, dark rhubarb, muddled blackberries, bitter coffee powder, and plum. An interesting take on the varietal, which I think was a little complicated by the addition of other…

Murrieta's Well Chardonnay Small Lot

A nice example of the varietal, with classic yellow citrus and light lemon and pear flavors. Some vanilla on the back end. Paired well with lemon chèvre.

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon McGah Vineyard

A very good showing for this wine tonight. It was up there with WOTN among all the other wines at the table (tied with a '12 Janzen Missouri Hopper). This 2013 Bevan McGah was served next to its 2012…

Murrieta's Well The Whip

A crisp and light white with a simple delivery and light bodied mouthfeel. A nice summer type of sipper with tight acidity. The Orange Muscat component had a little bit of that, "one of these kids is…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon McGah Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Served side-by-side with a 2013 Bevan McGah (and a whole bunch of other wines at the table). A smooth delivery of black (predominantly), blue, and some reddish-purple core…

Nottingham Cellars Chardonnay Fraser-Howard Vineyard

Yellow citrus, ripe lemon, hazelnut, lamp oil, and some burnt butter flavors competed with each other for center stage. A tad reductive and ripe for such a young Chardonnay. A decent sipper…

12c Cabernet Sauvignon G3 Reserve Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

On par with what I've experienced with the 12C GIII Reserve, this 2015 version was displaying some interesting (almost funky and earthy) dark red and black core fruit flavors, laced with cedar and…

Occasio Chardonnay del Arroyo

Round and full with a buttered popcorn flavor that rode a bit over the traditional yellow citrus notes. Purity of fruit was nice, as was the supple finish that rounded out the back end decently.…

Kalin Cellars Sémillon

Almost identical to the 2001 Kalin SB at this point, this Semillon strikes the same core flavors of sherry, dried apricot, roasted nuts, apple cider, and torched lemon peel. A little drier on the…

Steven Kent Winery Lineage

Tasted as part of the 2011-2014 Lineage lineup.

Kalin Cellars Sauvignon Blanc

Oxidative and penetrating on the palate, with a lamp oil texture. Notes of dark candied honey, sherry, dried apricot, roasted salty almonds, and apple cider. Nearly identical to the 2001 Kalin…