Reviews

Donelan Syrah Walker Vine Hill

Exact same as my previous CT notes on 8/11/15. PnP with slow O2 for about an hour; no need for a decant. Ready to drink now and over the next few years.

Bacio Divino Cabernet Sauvignon Janzen Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard

Pnp with tight but wild notes of red and black licorice, red and black currant, red and black raspberry, blackberry, cacao nibs, and a hint of pencil lead. Just faintly chalky tannins, incredibly…

L'Aventure Estate Cuvée

PnP with explosive notes of blackberry liqueur, blueberry, black raspberry, charcoal, tar, and some baking spice. A total hedonistic and voluminous mouthfeel, with dark berries and cacao on the…

Cayuse Syrah Armada Vineyard

Decanted for 30 minutes at 54 degrees. Notes of black cherry, blueberry, beef blood, sanguine, brick, saline, black olive brine, iron, iodine, terra-cotta, and red clay.

FEL Chardonnay Savoy Vineyard

Tasted at Cliff Lede; from magnum.

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

Tasted at Cliff Lede alongside the 2012 BTK, Beautiful Generation, and High Fidelity. All wines were double decanted through a Vinturi four hours prior to my tasting.

Cliff Lede High Fidelity

Tasted at Cliff Lede alongside the 2012 BTK, Beautiful Generation, and Howell Mountain. All wines were double decanted through a Vinturi four hours prior to my tasting.

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Tasted at Cliff Lede alongside the 2012 Beautiful Generation, Howell Mountain, and High Fidelity. The Beckstoffer To Kalon was #1 of the quartet of wines. All wines were double-decanted with a…

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Beautiful Generation

Similar to my CT notes on 11/3/15.

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

PnP with soft, muted notes of creamy strawberry, rhubarb, red plum, raspberry, and only a faint touch of the signature cola flavor often indicative of KB Pinots.

Bevan Cellars Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard

PnP with a very pithy, linear texture. The stemmy bitterness overwhelmed what remained of the tight lemon, unripe pear and apple, dry granite stone, and astringent lilac flavors. There was…

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Petaluma Gap

PnP with tight, acidic high-pitched red berries, pomegranate, strawberry, and a touch of medicinal bay leaf on the alcoholic finish. It seemed like it desperately needed air (and also seemed like…

Odette Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

I bumped this up a point from my last CT note, as this go-around showed some additional tiered fruit complexities and some licorice and spice nuances that added interest.

Ceritas Chardonnay Charles Heintz Vineyard

PnP with notes of lemon, green apple, lavender, granite, flint, and seashell.

Salinia Chardonnay Heintz Ranch

Identical to my CT notes on 10/9/15.

Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

PnP with an overpowering note of stewed plum, and a little bit of a musky, wet cedar taste. Tannins were fairly dead.

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Caves

Decanted over the course of an hour. Cedar-laced notes of red currant, light plum, black raspberry, and wood. A bit hollow on the mid-palate, with the cedar and currant notes repeating on the finish.

Blankiet Estate Proprietary Red Wine Paradise Hills Vineyard

A beautiful red/purple crimson color. On the palate from an initial PnP, notes of plum, red and black currant, and a streak of muddled raspberry. Finished with a faint hint of cardamom and cacao…

Aratas Petite Sirah

Very similar to my CT notes on the 2009 Aratas, with the 2008 coming off just a little more nuanced and complex than the 2009.

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Summit 1376'

On initial PnP, waves of dark red and blue berry fruit flavors accompanied by a medley of baking spice notes coat the palate. Rich raspberry, blueberry, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, roasted almonds,…

Quixote Petite Sirah Helmet of Mambrino

Tasted at the Pott pickup party at the Quixote Winery alongside other 2013, 2012, and 2011 Pott wines, as well as the 2010 and 2011 Quixote Helmet of Mambrino PS.

Quixote Petite Sirah Helmet of Mambrino

Tasted at the Pott pickup party at Quixote Winery alongside other 2013, 2012, and 2011 Pott wines, as well as the 2010 and 2011 Quixote Helmet of Mambrino PS.

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon The Arsenal Greer Vineyard

Tasted at the Pott pickup party at Quixote Winery alongside eight other 2013, 2012, and 2011 Pott wines.

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Actaeon Quixote Vineyard

Tasted at the Pott pickup party at Quixote Winery with eight other 2013, 2012, and 2011 Pott wines.

Pott Wine Cabernet Franc La Carte et Le Territoire

Tasted at the Pott pickup party at Quixote Winery alongside eight other 2013, 2012, and 2011 Pott wines.