Reviews

Moone-Tsai Vineyards Black List X

The best of the Blacklist wines, the X was comprised of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, a whopping 33% PV, and 2% Merlot. A ton of grip on this wine, but the black fruit still managed to push through. Some…

Moone-Tsai Vineyards Black List IX

This had a very prominent funky railroad tie nose. On the palate, a little bit of the same, with a decent core of dark red/black fruit with some earth and spice. A fairly significant clamp on the…

Moone-Tsai Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Cor Leonis

Much more accessible and showy than its 2013 older brother. Sweeter fruit and a little more blue/black fruit (as contrasted with the 2013 black/red fruit profile). A little more dense and rich, but…

Moone-Tsai Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Cor Leonis

An interesting wine with a lot of flavors going on. Plum, black and red currant, blackberry, dark cranberry, earth, spice, oolong tea, and cedar. A little leathery and raisiny on the back end, with a…

Moone-Tsai Vineyards Hillside Blend

Much like the Napa Cabernet version, this was a fairly simple walk throughout consumption. A bit of an odd interplay between the jammy plum and musty earth notes, with the back end a little clunky.…

Moone-Tsai Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Straightforward and agreeable, with "medium" everything.attack, body, mid, finish. It was an ok wine, if not a bit uninspiring. Fairly soft and round overall. Red and black currant, cedar, and…

Moone-Tsai Vineyards Chardonnay Charles Heintz

From the Charles Heintz Vineyard (one of my personal favorites), Moone Tsai's version flaunts a rich, buttery profile, with pure and plump yellow core fruit, lemon curd, olive oil, subtle pineapple,…

Celani Family Vineyards Chardonnay Napa Valley

This has lost a ton of energy since I last had it a year ago. Good thing no one else on Cellar Tracker is apparently drinking this. My last bottle. Time to venture elsewhere.

Hirsch Vineyards Pinot Noir East Ridge

High register, high toned red fruit core, with verve-filled pomegranate, red cherry, and some citrus rind. A lot of energy and forward drive on the initial attack, with a lithe, lean, and linear…

Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras

As much as I thought the Sleeping Lady was an enjoyable wine (served alongside the LPV), this LPV was notably more complex and driven. PnP displayed immediate gratification, with ripe blue and black…

Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Sleeping Lady Vineyard

Notes blue and black fruit, blue river rock, and some spice. Round, plush, and extremely inviting, this wine washes over the palate with ripe fruit and a medium-bodied delivery.

Fait-Main Chardonnay Penhoet Toyon Farm

A gorgeous effort, with a wonderful combination of core fruit flavors and sleek minerality, all delivered with a cunning precision that charmingly marries opulence with regal elegance. This…

Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Earthy, ominous, and a bit gritty, the 2006 BTK was exhibiting a "Fistful of Dollars" profile of weathered, black soil, grating earth, and antique wood notes encompassing the mature, dark core fruit…

Realm Cellars The Bard

A wine that delivers the hallmark black and purple berry core fruit flavors, with chocolate chunk, black raspberry, and cassis notes. Some vanilla liqueur on the back end. Slightly wonky in its…

Realm Cellars The Falstaff

Another "library" offering, this 2010 Falstaff had a little more verve and energy than the 2009 Tempest served before it. A somewhat tart pop of black cherry on the initial sip gave a first…

Realm Cellars The Tempest

The first of a few "library" wines offered at the tasting. An inviting, if not a bit dark and brooding example of a more mature Merlot-based blend. Dark red and black currant, some wet cedar, cacao…

Abreu Cappella

With the cork pulled a couple of hours before consumption, this Cabernet was given just the right amount of air to allow it to gracefully deliver its black cherry, deep red and black currant, tobacco…

Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Champagne Blanc de Noirs Côte de Val Vilaine

Pure, clean, balanced, and superbly focused without being too linear or biting in any way. Beautiful yellow citrus and white stone fruit, subtle pear, and elegant minerality. Laser-like precision,…

Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Silver Eagle Vineyard

Like with most RM Pinots I've experienced, PnP was tight and high-toned (no surprise). More red fruit driven with notes of cranberry, citrus rind, and pomegranate. After over an hour in the decanter,…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon McGah Vineyard

Served side-by-side with a 2014 Bevan McGah. I favored the 2014 for its more exuberant personality and flavorful delivery of its blue and black fruit. The 2012 was probably a more balanced and…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon McGah Vineyard

Same as my previous notes from last month. Served side-by-side with a 2012 Bevan McGah. I favored the 2014 for its more exuberant personality and flavorful delivery of its blue and black fruit. The…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon Block 6

Crazy intense, concentrated, and delivering so much blue/black fruit that the term 'hedonism' doesn't even come close to aptly describing this wine. It certainly has some sexy stripper pole aspects…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

Tight and restrained, with a more earth-driven profile than the Napa or the Block 6. The mountain fruit was under lock-and-key for the most part throughout the entire consumption. Still, it had a…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon

I was very much drawn to this wine. It had a great combination of focus and concentration. Fairly rich on the initial delivery, with blue/black fruit, dark red raspberry and black cherry, bitter dark…

Corazon del Sol Malbec Gran Reserva Revana Vineyard

First bottle was completely undrinkable. A second bottle offered some reticent red and blue fruit notes, but then some VA crept up and shut down any desirable flavors.