Reviews

Aubert Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard

Inviting and agreeable, with a moderate sex appeal and soft porn-esque delivery. Overall, fairly smooth; less glycol after 2+ hours in the decanter. Notes of lemon curd, lemon verbena, vanilla, and…

Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Impériale

Linear and tight on PnP as expected, with some higher toned red and purple berry fruit flavors managing to elbow their ways to the front line on the initial attack. A bit of a bite on the finish,…

Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Champagne Blanc de Noirs Cote de Bechalin

A very intriguing effort, with invigorating notes of chalk and mineral inflected yellow citrus, raspberry water, and melon (grapefruit, honeydew rind), bruised lemon peel, sea foam/saline, and…

Justin Vineyards & Winery Sauvignon Blanc

Lemon water and 9V battery. Otherwise flavorless, flat, and thin. Even at $12........Nope...

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

My prior notes from last year apply. PnP was fine, with some nice dark chocolate and rich black soil notes complimenting the dark, earthy black cherry core. Rich and seemingly low in grip and frame.

Aubert Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard

Previous notes apply. I still recommend holding this particular wine well into 2019. Decanting and vigorous swirling brought out more depth of flavor. PnP was initially pretty tight and linear. After…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon Block 6

A massively endowed wine, much akin to the 2014 Block 6 with its dark berry and rich chocolatey profile. A lot of power and sappy concentration here, with the melted dark chocolate notes singing the…

Alexana Pinot Noir Block 7 Revana Vineyard

Dubbed the 'best block,' the 7 delivers agreeable and familiar Oregonian flavors of ripe red and black cherry, red plum, and light infusions of cedar, dust, and cinnamon. Medium bodied, with some…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District

Horizontal of the 2015 Estate, Stags, and Howell Cabernets.

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

Horizontal of the 2015 Estate, Stags, and Howell Cabernets. More earthy and funky than the Estate or Stags, this Howell offering from Revana displayed a soil-driven meatiness that was interesting, if…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon

Horizontal of the 2015 Estate, Stags, and Howell Cabernets. Previous notes apply on this wine. My preferred wine amongst the three. This exhibited much more complexity and focus by comparison.…

Revana Chardonnay

Round, fairly ripe, and lemon-curd driven, pushing out hints of popcorn and vanilla as well, this Chardonnay certainly has a decent 'yum' factor going on with it. Smooth and palate-coating, with a…

Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras

Served side-by-side with 2016 Carters Bam and Verdad. The FM was more purple fruited and displayed a softer grip than the Carters. Less intensity and concentration mid-palate from the FM by…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Carter

Exact same as all previous notes as before. Great body, flavor, and depth. A big swirling of cassis and purple-red core fruit. Wonderful candied black raspberry and black cherry notes shoot across…

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

If the OG is a perfect wine, then the GTO is a perfect-er wine. Previous notes apply.

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

All previous notes apply. With the exception of the GTO, this OG is a darn-tootin', kick a** and take names kind of Black Bart fella that stands up at the saloon, skins its pair of smoke-wagons, and…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Power and flavor all wrapped into one big hunk of spicy sexiness. A true athlete on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition (but like a for-real athlete...not just…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

As before, fruit and spice dominate, with likely the most baby fat still present when compared to others in the lineup. It is just so darn flavorful right now though...total yum factor. It will…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon La Verdad Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

In a side-by-side with the 2016 La Bam and a 2015 Fait Main LPV, the 2016 Verdad delivered as one (at least I) would expect... It dominated on all levels. The fascinating cassis note was indeed…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon La Bam Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Still rockin' and rollin', the 2016 La Bam continues to impress with its ability to rocket-out a ton of red-purple fruit, spice, and cassis, while still maintaining poise and focus. More fruit-driven…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fortuna Vineyard

Previous notes apply. A clean and focused representation of the site, with terrific purity of fruit. A wine that promises to develop over the coming year or so and in need of a little short term…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Weitz Vineyard

Even more compelling than the last couple of times I had this wine, the 2016 Weitz popped on the palate with extraordinary drive and complexity. Same as my previous notes in terms of its overall…

Carter Cellars Hossfeld Coliseum

Previous notes apply. Still amongst the big boys in the 2016 Carter lineup, this beautiful wine manages to keep pace and hold interest with its wonderfully inviting dark red and purple core fruit.…

Flint Knoll Royal Appointment

A supple and approachable wine, with a fun and unpretentious profile that offers round red and black berry fruit. The Merlot component softens the edges, allowing the Cabernet Sauvignon to show its…

Riverain Syrah Cardiac Hill Bennett Valley

A very nice example of what can be accomplished out of Bennett Valley with this varietal. Blackberry and charcoal notes, with added flavors of meaty black olive and creosote. I appreciated the…