Reviews

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

PnP with extremely tight and restrained notes of high-toned berry and alcohol flavors. I had that "Oh G-Dammit" moment where I felt as if I had opened this bottle WAAAAY too early (which I had).

Morlet Family Vineyards La Proportion Dorée

Bought a half case direct a little while back, so I figured I'd experiment with a bottle to see what all the fuss was about. I was reluctant to even evaluate this wine because it seemed as though Luc…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

This was a great showing in my opinion. PnP was just slightly reserved, but it didn't take long for those plush and forward BTK purple, red, and blue berry fruit flavors to push through. Signature…

Aratas Petite Sirah

PnP with dark and viscous black and blue berry fruit flavors; blackberry, boysenberry, blueberry, and a hint of black cherry and/or black raspberry cutting through the dark core of black/blue fruit.…

Bevan Cellars EE Cuvée

It has only been a month since I last had this wine, so same specific notes apply. This really developed some nice chocolate, espresso, and black raspberry liqueur flavors over the course of a few…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Same as last month. No decant. Didn't need it. A bit of a chalky grip for the first 20-30 minutes, then it was smooth sailing from there. Thick, rich, and round on the finish. Drink now and over the…

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch Vineyard

Same as previous note last year except that there was no hit of alcohol wafting through the mouth on initial PnP. Very smooth and ready to consume. No decant necessary. Drank over the course of three…

Lewis Cellars Chardonnay Russian River Valley

Similar to last week, except I didn't get that distractingly bitter, steely flavor on the back end as much. Served next to a 2013 Rivers-Marie standard Chardonnay, which bested the Lewis by a fair…

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

Same as my previous notes from six months ago. Very user-friendly Chardonnay, medium-bodied, with a decent mid-palate and great mouthfeel. Texture/viscosity are very nice considering it's an…

Saxum Booker Vineyard

PnP with notes of ripe blackberry, stewed plum, asphalt, and some charcuterie. More ripe than expected. Tannins had integrated well, with layers of deep black and ripe red fruit flavors. Reminded me…

Carlisle Syrah Sonoma County

Same notes as 12/25/2015. 88-89 points. Served alongside a 2010 Saxum Booker and 2010 Tor Reserve ROCK Syrah. The Saxum blew the others out of the water for me. Not decanted. Didn't need it. Flat and…

TOR Syrah ROCK Hommage Allan Hudson Vineyard

This was the reserve version of this wine.

Aubert Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard

PnP with red and purple berry fruit flavors; black raspberry, ripe bing cherry, spice box, and orange rind (the kind of flavors that remind me of a Rivers-Marie Silver Eagle Pinot). A little hot…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Le Nouveau Western Star Vineyard

Beautiful brambly notes of black raspberry, blackberry, wild blueberry, black cherry, and purple berry fruit notes. A welcome Rutherford dust component cut through the back end, framing the fruit…

Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard

Pretty much identical to my notes almost a year ago in August 2015. Specific flavors are identical. This was a PnP and was prefect as such. No need to decant.

L'Aventure Optimus

Same as all my other previous notes. Good stuff. No decant. Served at a cooler 54 degrees, which I preferred (an earlier pour made it to room temperature, but I found that a little too warm). The…

Eric Kent Wine Cellars Chardonnay Russian River Valley

PnP with ready-to-go flavors of lemon, pear, popcorn, vanilla, and a little limestone. More buttery than mineral-driven, but not overdone or over-oaked so that it distracted from the overall fruit…

Dominio del Plata Malbec BenMarco

Simple and straightforward. Flat and a little bitter. Not a lot going on here. Made for an ok few sips, but nothing to write home about. Best left forgotten.

Del Dotto Dolores

Typical Port with a stewed plum and brandy-like vanilla bean and chocolate note. Not too rich, sweet, or syrupy (which was a good thing). Paired well with the dessert.

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon BDB French Oak Connoisseurs Series SO/NO

Dusty cedar, red and black currant, and plum. This started to become fruity fairly rapidly. The intensity was good, but the plushness of this wine was a little distracting. Tasted more like an…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon BDB French Oak Connoisseurs Series SO/NO

Served from a 12L Balthazar bottle. This was the best of the three wines when compared to its 2013 and 2014 siblings.

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon BDB French Oak Connoisseurs Series SO/NO

Red/black currant, mulch, and cedar. The least interesting of its 2012 and 2014 siblings. This one lacked the dusty finish that would have held a little more interest for me had it shown a little…

Del Dotto The David Napa Valley

I had this again after having it at the bar earlier. Same notes except for the fact that I noticed a bit more cedar this time around. Still, a wine that was overshadowed by some of the other…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Connoisseurs' Series MGX Style Nevers & Allier Alain Fouquet

Red currant, heavy cedar, earth, and some clove. A nice sprinkling of dust added interest and elevated this wine somewhat. 91-92 points.

Del Dotto Pinot Noir Family Reserve Cinghiale Vineyard

Red, blue, and black fruit, dark black and red raspberry, earth/loam, and some wood. A little mellow overall, with a round, plush mouthfeel. But again, what made this wine was the food paired with it.