Reviews

Ferren Wines Chardonnay Frei Road Vineyard

Spritely yellow citrus, fresh lemon juice, grass, white stone fruit, bitter unripe pear, and some pumice. A slightly pithy and bitter delivery, with a hint of spritz that further cuts the core fruit…

Aubert Pinot Noir CIX Estate Vineyard

Ripe red raspberry, earthy and saturated red and black cherry, candied red licorice, forest floor, and some faint rock. Round and plush on the front end push, with a hoard of fruit that drops on the…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Blackberry, blueberry, black asphalt, black currant, and dark spice. Medium-bodied weight-wise, but pushing forward with a formidable drive that provides energy and verve. Finishes dry and rocky,…

Patz & Hall Chardonnay Dutton Ranch

Yellow citrus, vanilla, honey, and melon. Round and a bit sweet, with a vanilla glycerin-laced finish that stomps on the citrus, taking away some of the energy behind the acid. Drink now.

Paul Bara Champagne Grand Cru Special Club

I still continue to enjoy this Champagne. A nice balance between saline and brioche, with yellow citrus and pear flavors carrying the weight of the core. Medium bodied, but with a cut that keeps…

Realm Cellars Moonracer

As Cristal2000 mentioned, this is likely the best Moonracer to date. Far more complex and expanding in the palate than the 2014, and a worthy follow-up to the 2015, this 2016 Moonracer delivers…

Realm Cellars Farella Vineyard

Black and red cherry syrup, ripe bruised strawberry, bitter chocolate (similar to the 2016 Bard but with a bit less confection), and Indian spices. Additional notes of rust, iron, and an upper…

Realm Cellars The Bard

Chocolate covered red cherries, raspberry truffle, Amarena black cherry syrup, and chocolate covered chocolate. Chewy, meaty, and encircled by some confection-heavy flavors. The delivery comes off…

Realm Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Fidelio

Grapefruit, lemon grass, melon, and yellow citrus. A guava-meets-grapefruit flavor repeats throughout the delivery as well, with faint hits of pear and peach on the tail end. Finishes smooth and…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Carter

2015 & 2016 Carter-Carter Cabernets side-by-side.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Carter

2015 & 2016 Carter-Carter Cabernets side-by-side.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Darker and a bit more powerful than the 2014 Grand Daddy served beside it, this version of the Kings impresses with its black and purple berry, licorice, and cassis core. Rich but amazingly focused,…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Blackberry and black cherry dominate, with a flowing delivery that washes over the palate with beautiful fruit flavors. Cassis, plum, and some river rock round out the profile. A touch dry on the…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Barrel samples: 2017 Carter OG, Verdad, Grand Daddy, and Weitz.

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

Barrel samples: 2017 Carter OG, Verdad, Grand Daddy, and Weitz.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon La Verdad Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Barrel samples: 2017 Carter OG, Verdad, Grand Daddy, and Weitz.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Weitz Vineyard

Barrel samples: 2017 Carter OG, Verdad, Grand Daddy, and Weitz.

Arkenstone Estate

Barrel sample. Young and vibrant, with a fruit-forward attack that pushes out blackberry pie, purple plum, black raspberry, and bitter chocolate. Well balanced and mouthwatering, with the fruity…

Arkenstone Syrah

And the headline reads... "Herd of hairless yogurt-fed Moroccan goats fatally entangled in a summer-ripened blackberry patch in the scorching 120-degree Sahara. 'Goat Parfait' becomes new Moorish…

Vangone Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

Barrel sample. So the only reason I didn't just jump straight to 100 points on this phenom was because I have had no experience with this wine label and had never even heard of Vangone until this day…

Vangone Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

Barrel sample. Dark and dense, rich and concentrated, this Vangone is a stellar example of a decidedly monstrous fruit core encompassed by a formidable but amazingly flavorful robe of sweet tannins.…

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras

Barrel sample. Enticing and brooding blackberry and obsidian flavors lead the way on the front wave of the attack. Swiftly tannic and mineral-driven within seconds of delivery, skirting across the…

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Barrel sample. Much in line with the 2016, the 2018 Memento Mori Crane seems to be headed on a trajectory that highlights gorgeous, dark black and red core fruit, most especially in regards to…

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch

From two separate barrel samples (Clone 4 and 337), the VHR is slated to be a new SVD from Memento Mori starting in 2017. This is an extremely exciting edition to the already mind-blowing bad-assery…

Arkenstone Estate

Black raspberry and black cherry dominate here, with cinnamon, anise, and some faint cedar filling out the overall profile. Determined tannins, with a grippy frontal attack. Hyper-focused, with the…