Reviews

Mending Wall Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard

Very similar to my notes on 10/16/2015. The difference between PnP and a four hour decant was fairly minimal. Blue and black liqueur fruit flavors, with some asphalt, slate, and hints of bitter dark…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

PnP with some alcohol-laced fruit liqueur flavors and a sweet, clipped finish. Uh oh; the Quivet conundrum rears its head again?! This needed about 2+ hours to mellow out a bit, and then...It was…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Witch's Ladder

It's been over a year since my last bottle and time has certainly allowed this wine to evolve into a more interesting animal. The evergreen and pine needle notes were evident (which do add some…

Myriad Cellars Syrah Halcon Vineyard

Extremely hiigh-toned, infantile, primary, and almost impossible to rate given the time allowed for this to try to open up. Decanted in a wide-bottomed decanter for over three hours. It barely…

Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvée Katrina Eileen

Wait, wait, wait! Hold off on popping these little gems for at least another two years. So much potential wrapped up in a completely balled up fist of higher-toned fruit and tannins.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Same as my previous notes last summer. A solid bottle of wine and just what I would expect from a Carter BTK. This bottle was a bit tight and youthfully reserved initially, but it found its glide…

Saxum Booker Vineyard

Surprisingly energetic and a bit overrun by an initial blast of alcohol and tightly coiled tannins. Not sharp, but coming across a bit brash on the PnP. The quality of fruit was evident, but it was…

Mending Wall Cabernet Sauvignon

All of my other previous notes apply. This just feels like sort of a lost wine. Nothing really distinguishing about it. I found it difficult to maintain interest in this throughout consumption. As a…

Lewis Cellars Chardonnay Reserve

Almost a year ago to the day since I last tasted this wine. Previous notes apply. Not much has changed. Possibly a little softer on the attack. Round, vanilla-tinged, buttered popcorn. Almost too…

Pott Wine Cabernet Franc La Carte et Le Territoire

Same as my notes from 8 months ago, except that this was extremely accessible after just a splash decant. No harsh edges and a beautiful, silky mouthfeel from start to finish. Drinking very well at…

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

Same as my previous notes from 7-8 months ago. This is indeed becoming a softer, more elegant OG over time. It does seem like the flavors have room to deepen and become more complex with some…

Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Estate Vineyard

Lemon, quince, stone, and the faintest hint of alkaline and alcohol on initial PnP. Air time didn't change this much, except that the fruit flavors fanned out a little more with some extra swirling…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Pellet Vineyard

It's been nine months since I last had this wine. Time in bottle has garnered some improvements on the Pellet, but it is being ever-reluctant to show its maturity. The first hour was still a bit…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Daughters of Earth Goldrock Ridge

Same as my previous notes. This wine was paired with homemade fresh crab beignets with a lemon/chive aioli. The wine was probably a little heavy for the dish (my fault on pairing), but overall the…

Cascina Ca'Rossa Langhe Brachetto Birbét

This was part of a 4 wine side-by-side taste-off with other Brachetto and bubbly "purple drinks." This was the WOTN among the competition in everyone's opinions. The sweetness was right on point…

Bersano Brachetto d'Acqui

This was part of a 4 wine side-by-side taste-off with other Brachetto and bubbly "purple drinks." This was the #2 wine, with just a hit of an off-dry finish that clipped the back end a bit and stole…

Patrick Bottex Bugey Cerdon "La Cueille" Methode Ancestrale

This was part of a 4 wine side-by-side taste-off with other Brachetto and bubbly "purple drinks." This wine was the driest of the four wines, with an extra brut quality that drew the sweetness away…

Terredavino Agricole - Conte Di Gropello Brachetto d'Acqui

Same as my notes from three months ago. This was part of a 4 wine side-by-side taste-off with other Brachetto and bubbly "purple drinks." This was my last bottle (and discontinued for further…

Bacio Divino Cabernet Sauvignon Janzen Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard

It's been a year since I've last had this wine. My previous notes apply from November 2015. It was a little tight and acidic at first, but unwound nicely after some vigorous swirling in the glass.…

The Debate Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

All of my previous notes apply. WOTN for everyone. Needed a splash decant and was quickly on its way to showing itself off. Quickly disappeared.

Switchback Ridge Anniversary Blend Peterson Family Vineyard

Good. Not astounding. A cedar aftertaste distracted from the core fruit. Time in a decanter for an hour or two helped, but I'm not sure if this will ever really come into a place of real excitement…

Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Could still use 6-12 months to develop its glide a little better. A beautiful 2011 PS for sure. Hold for now.

Carlisle Syrah James Berry Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Hold until 2018. Came off a little sweet and disjointed initially. Opened up a bit more after a few hours in the decanter, but was still a little too plush and round for my…

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Rita's Crown Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills

Previous notes apply. Hold for another year in hopes the hot, sweet, alcohol-tinged flavors will settle in a more integrated fashion.

Talley Vineyards Pinot Noir Rosemary's Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Wait another year. Still a little thin and linear mid palate.