PnP was linear and primary, with black and some red berry fruit. Into the decanter it went for a total of three hours. Muuuuuch better... with blackberry, bitter chocolate, black cherry, black…
Red and black cherry, dark wild cranberry, rose pedals, white pepper, and some bitter bark. Keeps the overall delivery at a higher register, with a somewhat bitter plum skin note dominating on the…
Thank the holy Gods of the grape, this 2016 is WAY better than the 2014 I had yesterday. What a difference a vintage makes. Compared to the diluted 2014, this 2016 shows fulfilling red and black…
Soft plum, red cherry, leather, and some cedar. Thin and lithe on the attack, with a watery mid-palate. Finishes fairly flaccid, with the muddled plum note repeating on the back end.
This is certainly a lemon curd, popcorn, vanillin California Chardonnay, but luckily it doesn't totally collapse under the confection-weight of the barrel treatment, still allowing the core yellow…
Black currant, blackberry, deep black cherry, earthy black plum skin, fresh wet dark soil/mulch, Pessac-Leognan truffle, clove, and a subtle, beautifully brooding (almost smokey) minerality that you…
Drinking much younger than it would seem for a 12-year-from-vintage Napa Cabernet, this initially fools you into thinking it's 5-6 years younger. Started out a little tight, yet bold and…
This was pretty balled-up this go-around. Before it finally got around to delivering some of its more familiar flavors, it had spent at least an hour or two in the decanter unbundling itself. Still,…
This took some time to get over a bit of a flat affective response on the palate on initial PnP. Similar in flavor profile to the 2012 and 2013 served next to it, this 2014 started out with some…
The most accessible and giving in the flavor department compared to its 2012 and 2014 siblings served beside it, this 2013 impresses for its ripe red cherry, red raspberry, orange rind, pomegranate,…
Decidedly tight and a little unforgiving in the early onset of PnP. Some swirling coaxed out crunchy cranberry, red cherry, pomegranate, and butter pulverized stone notes. Finished linear and…
Still performing near the apex of its window, perhaps a bit rupee and more rounded than a year and a half ago. Lemon curd and yellow citrus fruit driven. Drink now and over the next year or so before…
Both crisp and fulfilling, delivering a nice dollop of white and yellow fruit wrapped up in a grippy, tangy housing that presents medium speed and weight. Finishes a little round (not sure of the…
Dry, sharp, and fairly empty overall. Some floral elements inject a bitterness that adds insult to injury. Finishes hollow and vapid. Not sure what the overall intent of this wine is. Seemed to carry…
From Glass Mountain comes a thrilling wine that I had never heard of before. A one-off side project involving a handful of kinda-celebrity-ish type Napa starlets deciding to concoct yet another…
The sparkler of the evening, this installment of Ultramarine impresses for its instant gratification delivery of open knit yellow citrus flavors, banana peel, wet limestone, seafoam, and salt lick…
A fairly serious Champagne, with a hyper-focused delivery of white stone fruit, chalk, white melon, lemon seed and white lemon rind, travertine, and some bark notes. The no dosage shows at the…
An easy drinker with some nice yellow citrus foam and sea salt. Displayed slight metallic notes on the finish. Otherwise an enjoyable wine. I preferred the 2011 Terre de Vertus served beside it.
A tense and nervy showing, even after 3 hours in the decanter. Linear and primary, but pure and fresh, the delivery on this youngster is lock-jawed at the moment. Red berry notes dominate, with…
Spritely lemon and white stone fruit core, with hints of banana peel, pumice, quince, and olive oil. Effervescence was a bit aggressive, masking some of the would-be layering of fruit, but the PnP…
Yellow citrus, chalk, 9V battery, lemon rind, lemon seed, chamomile, varnish, and some twig notes. Slight oxidative notes on the attack, finishing bitter with an alkaline aftertaste. Not a ton of…
Lemon, rock, vanilla, and faint vegetal notes. Simple, medium-bodied, and round. Some alcohol makes for a more obtuse delivery. Decent flavor, but no fireworks. 87-88 points.
Zing. Pow. Smack. Hold on to the handrails at all times when attempting to sip this slammin' palate slap of a Sauvignon Blanc. A Vulcan Minigun of yellow citrus, grapefruit juice, nectarine skin,…
A massive blast of dark, ripe black and purple-blue fruit unloads on the palate with huckleberry, olallieberry, blackberry, pine cone sap, garrigue, olive brine, creosote, and bitter dark chocolate…
