Reviews

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson Vineyard

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Tusk Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

So...for the few of you actually taking notes on this wine, there are two obvious things I would advise not doing - that I of course was bamboozled into doing by a partner in wine crime (you know who…

Bevan Cellars Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard

It's been about a year since I last had this wine, which now shows noticeable smoothing-out and an elevated sophistication that was not fully resolved back in mid-2017. Though part of me misses the…

Tusk Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

...Killed the remainder of the bottle. About an hour+ of air prior to consumption served it well, balancing out the flavors nicely and enabling it to find a steadier glide across the palate (less of…

Fait-Main St Emilion Todeschini Asteria

Another Coravin pour from the same bottle as last month. Gave it a few hours of air. Still not enough. Previous note applies. This didn't budge much. Some identifiable unripe purple plum, currant,…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon The Magnificent Seven

Last week's note on this wine was a Coravin pour. This evening was a PnP from the remainder of the bottle. With some additional air, this wine really hit a stride that speaks to certain promise if…

Realm Cellars The Falstaff

This is a follow up from my note from last week, which was a Coravin pour. This time was a PnP with a couple of hours of air. Previous notes apply, except that the additional O2 really brought out an…

Launois Pere et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Veuve Clemence Brut Blanc de Blancs

Same as my notes from a couple of months ago. An easy-going sipper that has some elevated flavor elements and is wonderfully balanced (not too much of the bubbly going on to distract from the…

Tusk Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

2013 Tusk vs. 2015 Vice Versa Magnificant 7.

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon The Magnificent Seven

2015 VV M7 vs. 2013 Tusk.

Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard

Saturated black and red raspberry, wild blackberry, boysenberry, black cherry, camphor, green olive, railroad tie, earth, cinnamon, and limestone. A little funkified and exhibiting a heavier red…

Keplinger Diamond Bar

How in the name of all that's holy is anyone getting any flavor or semblance of the varietal out of this wine is beyond me. Constricted, astringent, and bitter as the day is long. This needs more…

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Gap's Crown Vineyard

Red raspberry, bing cherry, cola, earth, Christmas spices, and hints of wet cedar and pine needles. A very balanced and "good" Pinot, but at times flat and unremarkable. Everything was in perfect…

Pott Wine Cabernet Franc La Carte et Le Territoire

A fascinating and cerebral wine, with notes of dark red core fruit (and some purple), red and black currant, red and black raspberry, crimson plum, black cherry, cassis, red dirt, iron, dusty…

Realm Cellars The Falstaff

Well hot damn if this wasn't one of the best examples of a Cab Franc/Merlot blend (88/12) that I've had in a long while. Just when I've been all keyed-up in a recent grumpy rant over the doughy…

L'Aventure Estate Cuvée

Same notes as last week. The most accessible and hedonistic of the bunch. Drinking great now as a PnP.

The Grade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Winfield Vineyard

Open for business right on PnP. Drink now and over the next few years. Not a long terms ager by any means, but enjoyable for what it is. Good flavor (really nice dark black and blue fruit). Good…

Bevan Cellars Ontogeny

Previous notes apply. This was a PnP and it ultimately did not get enough air. Fairly tight throughout consumption. Either decant and give this the breathing room it deserves, or hold for at least…

Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Notes of black core fruit, earth, fresh black soil, chocolate, and dark spice. Medium-bodied and readily accessible, this exhibits a somewhat standard appellation profile in terms of complexity and…

Viader

Notes of black and dark red core fruit, black currant, dark soil, and cedar. Offers up some decent flavor on the initial attack, but fairly pedestrian overall. Medium and somewhat flat mid-palate.…

Mumm Napa DVX

A fairly resolved and approachable sparkler, with mature yellow citrus, grilled Meyer lemon, yeasty bread dough, brioche, toasted almond, quince, olive oil, and subtle plantain. A super easy sipper,…

Blankiet Estate Proprietary Red Wine Paradise Hills Vineyard

Similar to my previous notes, except that this showed a cedar element that clipped the finish; the fruit was solid, but took a back seat at times. This seems to be transitioning toward its next phase…

Scarecrow Monsieur Étain

Previous note applies. Ideally I'm going to try to give this another 2 years before opening my next bottle. Drinks beautifully after a couple of hours in the decanter, but shows even more potential…

Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Blancs

Previous note applies. A good first-start-sipper kind of sparkler. Simple but flavorful and balanced enough to hold interest and offer pleasure. An "easy does it" beverage.

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Architects & Saboteurs

Previous notes apply. A massive Pinot with a massive attack of ripe black and dark red core fruit, glycerin-laced blackberry and black cherry, saturated black raspberry liqueur, black spicebox,…