Reviews

L'Aventure Optimus

Similar to my previous note. This needed about two hours to open up and be...well...less stubborn and boring. It kinda reminded me of a pouty little snot kid sitting by himself on a stool in some…

Aratas Petite Sirah

Previous notes apply. This paired fine with smoked beef brisket. Otherwise, it was a pretty simple expression of the varietal. Blasé in most ways. It's the girlfriend you had back in high…

Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

Same as before. 89-90 points. Simple overall but an easy wine with an even easier price point. Don't expect to be "wowed" here...instead, expect to be "fine." Some Pinots demand Riedel stemware,…

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

Same as before. 92-93 points. Developed a faint sweetness on the attack that I don't recall having been there before. Not necessarily distracting, but noticeable among a number of us. I liked it; I…

Morlet Family Vineyards Chardonnay Coup de Coeur

2015 Aubert CIX vs. 2015 Morlet Coup de Coeur - Two RP 100 point domestic Chardonnays side-by-side. Served with homemade pasta and lobster with a white wine and thyme reduction sauce/lobster jus.

Aubert Chardonnay CIX Estate Vineyard

2015 Aubert CIX vs. 2015 Morlet Coup de Coeur - Two RP 100 point domestic Chardonnays side-by-side. Served with homemade pasta and lobster with a white wine and thyme reduction sauce/lobster jus.

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

As expected, this is a biggin' of a domestic Pinot. Dark and haunting core fruit notes of black cherry, black raspberry, and brambly blueberry. Spice box, clove, cinnamon, black pepper, mulch, and…

Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Bone Ash Vineyard

Same as previous notes. The first two hours were filled with huge fruit and some slaps of alcohol (most similar to my last experience with this wine). However, after a few hours of air, this really…

Del Dotto Chardonnay Cinghiale Vineyard

Same as previous notes, except this time it came off a little buttery. A rounder profile than I recall, but the fruit still seemed of good quality. A nice sipper, though I was searching for a bit…

Vice Versa Pinot Noir Platt Vineyard

Spent the whole evening following a bottle of this great wine. Even better than when I had it a few days ago. Progressed beautifully over the course of three hours. For an "incomplete" wine, it's one…

Clos Solène L'Insolent

PnP with tight, somewhat compacted notes of dark black raspberry and vanilla alcohol flavors. After two hours in the decanter, some of the "truer" flavors came out. Dark purple and dark red berry,…

Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Similar to my previous notes from last year. Blackberry, boysenberry, blueberry, black raspberry, black and dark red currant, Baker's unsweetened chocolate, dark baking spices (nutmeg), and clove.…

Favia Syrah Quarzo

Previous notes apply. Not as tight as nearly two years ago, but only moderately as complex or deep as I would have preferred. Some interesting purple fruit flavors, but the floral (Viognier)…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon American Oak Alain Fouquet St Helena Mountain Block 2

Straightforward representation of the varietal. Good balance, with medium-bodied black and dark red core fruit. Not a whole lot else going on here, but a friendly delivery of flavor. An average grip,…

Vice Versa Pinot Noir Platt Vineyard

Notes of beautiful black cherry, black raspberry, currant, forest floor, evergreen, and faint spicebox, tobacco leaf, and burnt orange rind flavors. Elegant but concentrated, with a cooler climate…

Becklyn Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Moulds Vineyard

Coravin pour. A bit of a whirlwind of flavors, with blackberry, black and red currant, black and red licorice, black raspberry, blueberry, vanilla bean, and hints of spice. Some Twizzlers notes…

Vice Versa Chardonnay Platt Vineyard

A stunningly phenomenal Chardonnay with a captivating precision and focus that is rarely found in any domestic version of the varietal. Still giving in the core fruit department, but with a…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Steltzner Vineyard

A formidable punch of predominantly black core fruit; black currant, black raspberry, dark black plum, black slate, cassis, and some scorched earth. A notable pick-me-up as the attack drove toward…

Caterwaul Cabernet Sauvignon Regusci Vineyard

Coravin pour. Mid-weight push of black and dark red core fruit; blackberry, black and red currant, wet earth, processed vanilla extract, and black slate notes. A fairly level attack, with a…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper

Opened the night before, gassed, re-corked, and tasted at 11AM the next day. Fairly tight and clipped on the back end. However, youth aside, this wine seems to show some of the most agability over…

Selah Cabernet Sauvignon

Much like TRB's Caterwaul, the Selah (one of TRB's 45+ other ventures) is also a fairly straight-forward, walk-in-the-park version of the varietal. This is certainly NOT a "mountain fruit" rendition…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Round Pond Vineyard

Barrel samples (Cabernet Sauvignon):

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Empyrean Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Barrel samples (Cabernet Sauvignon):

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Barrel samples (Cabernet Sauvignon):

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Opened the night before, gassed, re-corked, and tasted at 11AM the next day. A not-too-surprising representation of the GIII site. Plush, fruit-driven, and flavorful, with fairly soft edges and an…