Reviews

Senses Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

Fairly straightforward domestic Chardonnay, veering a little more toward the butter and rounded vanilla flavors. Medium-bodied, but delivering a fuller hit of lemon curd and rich yellow citrus…

Bregon Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie

As a stand-alone wine, this was somewhat pedestrian, but with the flavorful and spicy courses (especially with lobster, soft shell crab, and octopus dishes), it offered up nice acid with an off-dry…

Cave Maurice Bonnamy Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé

A nice refreshing starter for the evening. 100% Cabernet Franc; showed some nice depth to balance the verve and crisp acidity. Strawberry, orange and lemon zest, watermelon, and some subtle brioche.…

Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block

Same as 2+ months ago. Some blasé, medium-bodied flavors of blackberry, plum, black cherry, and faint vanilla. Kinda fruity overall in the initial attack, but faded extremely fast on the back end. A…

Buccella Merlot

Previous notes apply. This bottle came off a little "fruitier" than the Buccellas of the recent past. Showed less verve and a little less nuanced flavor profile than what I remember from before.…

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Summit 1376'

Beautiful notes of black cherry, black raspberry, Chinese five-spice, earth/loam, and a fascinating evergreen note on the back end that provided a phenomenal lift, carrying the finish on for 45+…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Same as all of my previous notes. Though this is drinking really well right now with a bit of a decant (two hours was optimal), I will try to listen to my own advice and wait until 2018+ before…

Müller-Catoir Riesling

Same as previous notes. Great bottle of sweet Riesling.

Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Estate Vineyard

Similar notes to over a year ago, but man did this start out with some serious jet fuel blasting over the palate. This thing went straight into a decanter for a couple of hours before it was truly…

World's End Cabernet Sauvignon CrossFire Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard

I wasn't a fan of this wine at all. Given the Missouri Hopper site, I definitely expected more. Closed off, muted, thin, and a bit tannic. Some black fruit on the attack with a bitter back end.…

Lithology Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

A beautiful label with lovely packaging in a pretty box that would make most wine collectors proud to own a 3-pack...and...a totally forgettable and unfortunate bottle of juice given the players and…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Same as my notes two months ago. A step behind the GTO and OG in terms of Carter's To Kalon wines, but a great showing regardless. Hold until 2020+.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon La Verdad Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Still awesome. Still 100 point potential. Served side by side with La Bam. The La Bam is a very good wine, but this La Verdad is on a whole other level. Superior concentration and complexity.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon La Bam Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Same as my notes from two months ago except that I bumped this up a point. Served with La Verdad side by side. Admittedly La Bam can't match the sheer awesomeness of its superior sibling La Verdad,…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fortuna Vineyard

Same as my notes from two months ago. 10 minutes in the glass and some swirling really brought out some elevated flavors. Not as high toned and overtly red fruited as last time. Verve and acidic…

Michel Gonet Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Prestige Blanc de Blancs

A great way to finish off a tasting of an immensely unctuous lineup of 2015 Vice Versa Cabernets, this Champagne was a welcome delivery of frothy stone fruit, pumice, and light lemon. I could've…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon BBS Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

On the nose, interesting floral aromas, with liqueur and alcohol wafting up through the back of the mouth. On the palate, dark red and black berry notes, black raspberry liqueur, and subtle violets.

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon The Magnificent Seven

A nearly flawless example of a big "cult style" Napa Cabernet. The attack is a rush of dark black currant, black cherry, black raspberry, dark chocolate, subtle char, and black mulch notes. A…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon BBS Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Close to being on par with the 2015 Magnificant 7, this LPV BBS is packed full of dark, chocolate-covered black berry, black currant, black licorice, black raspberry liqueur, cacao, and pulverized…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon

A Stagecoach (Pritchard Hill side)/LPV hybrid, this Cabernet showed the best of what can become of Stagecoach fruit, with some much elevated flavor assistance from LPV. I wouldn't have been able to…

Eric Kent Wine Cellars Chardonnay Russian River Valley

Similar notes to last year. A very round and inviting Chardonnay, if not a bit too simple overall. Some nice yellow citrus fruit and hints of vanilla and buttered popcorn. Nothing over the top, but a…

Bevan Cellars Ontogeny

Same notes as 5 months ago. Drinking really well with a one hour decant. Impeccably balanced for a wine in this bracket. One of the best sub-$100 Napa reds out there. Drink now and over the next 5…

Weingut Dreissigacker Bechtheimer Hasensprung Riesling

Same notes as last month. A decent amount of verve and energy, but also some bitterness.

Celani Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

PnP with plum, black cherry, and red and black currant core fruit flavors. Some hints of wet cedar. A little funk on the back end. Smooth and plump, with the dark, ripe plum and black cherry notes…

Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon

Shut down and totally constricted, with practically every identifiable flavor showing nothing beyond being completely linear and narrow. As others have noted, the core fruit is especially closed. DRY…