Reviews

Murrieta's Well The Whip

A crisp and light white with a simple delivery and light bodied mouthfeel. A nice summer type of sipper with tight acidity. The Orange Muscat component had a little bit of that, "one of these kids is…

Nottingham Cellars Chardonnay Fraser-Howard Vineyard

Yellow citrus, ripe lemon, hazelnut, lamp oil, and some burnt butter flavors competed with each other for center stage. A tad reductive and ripe for such a young Chardonnay. A decent sipper…

Occasio Chardonnay del Arroyo

Round and full with a buttered popcorn flavor that rode a bit over the traditional yellow citrus notes. Purity of fruit was nice, as was the supple finish that rounded out the back end decently.…

Fait-Main Chardonnay Penhoet Toyon Farm

Same as all previous notes. Light and crisp, with good acidity and an overall breadth of flavor that still has its domestic roots in place. This had the most drive compared to the other five whites…

Sine Qua Non The Monkey

Rich and viscous, with a deep amber/gold hue. On the palate, heavier notes of honey, barbecue lemon, burnt citrus peel, lamp oil, and some dried apricot. A bit reductive and overall displaying past…

Kalin Cellars Sémillon

Almost identical to the 2001 Kalin SB at this point, this Semillon strikes the same core flavors of sherry, dried apricot, roasted nuts, apple cider, and torched lemon peel. A little drier on the…

Kalin Cellars Sauvignon Blanc

Oxidative and penetrating on the palate, with a lamp oil texture. Notes of dark candied honey, sherry, dried apricot, roasted salty almonds, and apple cider. Nearly identical to the 2001 Kalin…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Same as a week or so ago. One of the most elegant and deep versions of BTK I've had recently. Hold 6-12 months just cuz. Otherwise, drinking great now with a little air.

Hanna Sauvignon Blanc

Great for pouring into fondue cheese sauce to provide some acid and lift. Not so great for pouring in a glass. Light and crisp tropical fruit flavors meet alkaline battery. Clipped and infantile…

Boich Family Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

The bell curve on this wine was fairly low and quick. Its apex showed some nice purple core fruit, but it had a bit of a plum effect on the back end that sat on the grip and made it taste a little…

Iter Cabernet Sauvignon

Prune, stewed beef broth, and rotten plum chewing gum.

Courtney Benham Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Raisiny and muddled to the point of carrying a dingy flavor profile across the palate. Dirt-dusted plums.

Crimson Ranch Red Wine

Absolute garbage. Twizzlers dipped in apple vinegar. Kill yourself.

Avalon Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Tight, dry, and displaying just enough red currant to keep you interested for about a half-second. Thin, flat, and linear. Bag this up, bring it to your IPOB friend's house, and tell him it is best…

Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection Scarlet Label

Plush and fruity, with blackberry and red raspberry chocolate sauce flavors. Little structure; fairly flabby and muddled.

Ancient Roots Dark Red Blend

Fruity and goofy, but holds enough interest to get you to gulp down a sip or two without throwing up in your mouth. Drink with something spicy so you don't have to taste the actual flavors on this…

Aubert Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard

A beautiful bottle of wine. A little more melted honey, lemon curd, and clarified butter flavors than some of the other more exacting and mineral driven Auberts (i.e.: Eastside). Slightly round on…

Venge Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Jewell Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Better as it warms to cellar temperature (54 degrees). Drink now.

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Served next to a 2015 Carter OG. The OG was much more royal and advanced complexity-wise than the GIII, but this wine held up all of its stacked flavors in spades. Pleasurable…

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

Same as it ever was...which is awesome of course. I gotta stop blowing through these young wines, but they are so delicious right now. Served next to a 2014 Myriad GIII, which was a bit of an apples…

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Cimarossa Vineyard

Similar to all of my previous notes. This is coming back around to the epic showing it had a year ago. A seamlessness continues to develop on this wine that delivers a good combination of pleasurable…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Twins Vineyard

A great showing for this wine. Previous notes apply. This showed a grace and maturity that I have not seen displayed too much from this before. It showed me that it indeed has the ability to age some…

The Debate Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Previous notes apply. This was a very good showing for this wine, reminding me why I like the Crane site so much. This was served next to a 2012 Lewis Reserve Cabernet (which was very good); the…

Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

If you are satisfied with the Lewis house style, then this wine will be the Snickers to your wine consumption. Rich and giving, with dark core fruit, dark chocolate, vanilla bean, and dark spice…

Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

This was an "ok" bottle of wine. Decent acidity, with some black cherry and spice flavors emerging. More light on its feet than I prefer, but much better than a 2013 Donelan Two Brothers Pinot served…