Reviews

Hollywood & Vine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon "2480" Napa Valley

Like the Swagger, this was a "fine" wine, with some decent dark red and purple berry notes. A nice bottle of wine that would do well amongst those who don't think too much about wine. A good…

Saunter Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Swagger

A decent showing given the price-point (around $50+ bucks), with notes of dark red currant, black raspberry, purple berries, wood (cedar), and some earth. Mid-palate was ok, but missing some…

Bench Vineyards Circa 64

The inaugural release of this project, with winemakers Mike Smith and Bob Pepi. An interesting wine to be sure, but one that came off like it was struggling to find an identity at the moment. It was…

12c Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Initially (and understandably) a bit tight and unforgiving in terms of fruit, but with some swirling in the glass and a revisit of this wine about an hour later, it started to unwind a bit a deliver…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall Napa Valley

Identical to my previous notes on 9/23/2016. Smooth, balanced, fairly rich, and drinking beautifully for such a young wine. Tasted well-crafted and "expensive" in terms of the elegant layers of dark…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Jack's Masterpiece

As previously mentioned in my notes on 9/23/2016, the Jack's Masterpiece kicked in with a bit more depth than the Eighteen-Seventy-Three. Similar higher-toned red fruit, but hints of some black…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Eighteen Seventy-Three Napa Valley

Similar to my notes from 9/23/2016. I noticed a bit more bramble/mountain berry and bark type flavors on the front end of this wine. Still a bit high-toned and a shade boozy. I really did like the…

Walt Pinot Noir Blue Jay

A fairly good Pinot given the price point, with some nice black cherry and baking spice notes. Medium bodied, but a little thin mid-palate; some depth, but not much of a full mouthfeel. Finish was a…

Hall Sauvignon Blanc T-Bar-T Ranch

Similar to my specific tasting notes from 9/23/2016. Nice refreshing glass of SB. Not especially enticing or noteworthy necessarily, but a decent start to the flight.

Booker Vineyard Syrah Fracture

Same as my notes from last year, except that this still needs more time. Drank "fine" after a couple of hours in a wide-bottomed decanter, but was still a little tight. Good purity of fruit. Not a…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Weitz Vineyard

Extraordinarily smooth and well crafted. Took about two hours to really open up and start showcasing its core purple and red berry fruits, red and black licorice, blue wet slate, asphalt, and some…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Clearly too young to completely get a grasp on evaluating its full potential. PnP was understandably primary and a bit linear in terms of overall complexity. However the core red and purple berry…

Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

Same specific flavors as my notes 6+ months ago. This didn't take long to wake up and become a great example of an appellation Pinot. For the price-point, it's no question its ability to deliver.

Alban Vineyards Viognier Alban Estate Vineyard

Wonderful example of the varietal, with a beautiful texture and silky mouthfeel that is often missed in some overtly mineral and alkaline-driven Viogniers. Purity of fruit is evident, as is the…

Blankiet Estate Proprietary Red Wine Paradise Hills Vineyard

A beautiful example of a Napa blend. This shows awesome purity of fruit, just enough restraint delivered by excellent craftsmanship, and wonderful tiered flavors. The best Blankiet I've had to date.…

Carlisle Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard

Previous notes apply. In a perfect drinking window right now. Decanted for an hour and it was singing. Wonderful interplay of black, blue, and purple berry fruits, tar, camphor, black slate, and…

Herb Lamb Cabernet Sauvignon HL

Somewhat similar to 6 months ago in terms of specific flavors, except I noticed a nice singed eucalyptus note on the back end that elevated this wine...a bit. Started to fade off after about three…

Salinia Chardonnay Heintz Ranch

Still a solid version of a Jura-style Chardonnay, but starting its decline. Not as vibrant as 10 months ago when I last had this wine. 93-94 points. The 2008 is much better at this stage.

Francis Ford Coppola Petite Sirah Reserve

Oddly sweet and wonky tasting. Not completely undrinkable I suppose, but a weird rendition of a PS. No real distinguishing PS characteristics identifying it as the varietal. Some strange funk, oak,…

Carlisle Syrah Sonoma County

Same as previous notes. Some ok plum and blackberry notes. Nothing much beyond that. Last bottle.

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Actaeon Quixote Vineyard

Such a beautiful transformation since I last had this wine a year ago. I feel like a broken record lately as I rant on about the superior quality of Aaron Pott's wines.

L'Aventure Estate Cuvée

Similar to my notes from a year ago except that this only took about 30 minutes in the decanter to really fan out. The Syrah component was dominant (which wasn't a bad thing). Full of blackberry…

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

Probably one of the best KB appellation Pinots I've had in a while. After a string of disappointments (enough to make me walk from the allocation list after many years), this wine at least made me…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Elysian Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Well, this was likely one of the best Myriad Cabernets I've ever tasted. I'd even venture to say this was one of the top wines I've ever had in the 2012 vintage. The only thing keeping this from a…

Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard

Not exactly ready for prime time just yet, but surely showing promise of good things to come. I wouldn't recommend touching another one of these bottles for at least a year. Let it fatten up and fan…