Wine Doctrine
Every tasting note

Reviews

5,921 notes

2013

Keplinger Sumo

Sierra Foothills · Amador County

Tasted with DJ Warner at Keplinger in Saint Helena alongside the 2013 Lithic and the new 2013 Mars (to be released January 2016).

Reviewed 18 September 2015
2013

Keplinger Mars

Sonoma County · Moon Mountain District

This wine did not exist on CT, so I was compelled to create it. It will not yet be released until January 2016 (bottled in the beginning of 2015). 50% Grenache, 32% Syrah, 18% Mourvedre, from a new…

Reviewed 18 September 2015
2009

Brian Benson Cellars Syrah Glenrose Vineyard

Central Coast · Paso Robles

Over the past few years, this and the 2009 S&M have been a couple of my favorite hedonistic Syrahs. Notes of deep plum, ripe raspberry, blueberry, leather, salami, and a hint of chocolate.

Reviewed 17 September 2015
2010

Donelan Syrah Walker Vine Hill

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Initial impressions were akin to the 2008 Donelan WVH, with notes of plum, black cherry, charcuterie, saline, and faint wood.

Reviewed 16 September 2015
2012

Bomb Wines Pinot Noir

Oregon · Willamette Valley

Nose of muddled raspberries, cola, earth, and spice. On the palate, a decent swath of fruit-forward dark cherry, ripe raspberry, plum, rhubarb, sassafras, and cola. Some baking spices, black tea, and…

Reviewed 15 September 2015
2010

Booker Vineyard Syrah Fracture

Central Coast · Paso Robles

PnP with a tightly wrapped core of black licorice, blackberry, bitter cacao, and chalky tannins. After two hours in the decanter at cellar temperature, it unwound enough to show some of the sweeter…

Reviewed 13 September 2015
2008

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Coliseum Block

California · Napa Valley

A very nice medium-to-full bodied wine (by Carter standards), with a rounded and plush texture. Notes of black fruits, licorice, asphalt, graphite, cedar, and some earth. Some chalk and granite…

Reviewed 12 September 2015
2007

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Kaliholmanok Bel Canto

Napa Valley · Spring Mountain District

Great mountain fruit, with notes of wild, ripe red currant, raspberry, blackberry, boysenberry, marionberry, graphite, red soil, rusty iron, and cloves.

Reviewed 12 September 2015
2008

Donelan Syrah Obsidian Vineyard

Sonoma County · Knights Valley

Notes of dark/ripe raspberry, blueberry, wet slate and granite, black olive, and hints of charcuterie. A softer Obsidian; it continued to become even more delicate with an hour or two in the decanter.

Reviewed 12 September 2015
2012

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Royalty in Exile

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Rich dark berry, black cherry, plum, sappy/ripe raspberry, fig paste, allspice, cloves, anise, charred oak/smokey sweet cassis, and camphor. A deep, nicely complex Pinot, with textual depth and…

Reviewed 10 September 2015
2012

Séléné Cabernet Sauvignon Dead Fred Vineyard

California · Napa Valley

PnP with notes of black and purple fruits, blackberry jam, black licorice, tar, and wet rock. An hour of slow O2 and opening up in the glass rounded out and softened this wine a bit, whereby some of…

Reviewed 9 September 2015
2010

Ramey Syrah Sonoma Coast

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

PnP with tight notes of licorice, black fruit, wet slate, and asphalt. Firm, chalky tannins on entry. Slow O2 for over an hour and some decent swirling in the glass opened up additional notes of…

Reviewed 8 September 2015
2010

Shafer Relentless

California · Napa Valley

PnP with notes of dark purple and black fruit notes, alcohol, and baking spice. Full of energy and just a little bit of initial, unresolved tannins, the 2010 Relentless is an electric, fascinating…

Reviewed 7 September 2015
2009

Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

California · Napa Valley

Similar to my notes on 7/20/15. A profile of chocolate cherry and blackberry liqueur, vanilla, cassis, and chocolate truffle. Not overly sweet like the flavors might first have you believe, but…

Reviewed 6 September 2015
2012

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Twins Vineyard

California · Napa Valley

Tasted at Mike Smith's house in late 2014 and this thing was really screaming with bold, young notes of powerful black and blue fruits, licorice, cassis, and spice. Clearly it was flaunting its youth.

Reviewed 5 September 2015
2010

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

Similar as my notes from 8/1/15. I noticed more of the typical KB cola, rhubarb, and sassafras notes this time around. Drinking well right now, and should sail through the next couple of years.

Reviewed 3 September 2015
2010

Donelan Syrah Cuvée Christine

California · Sonoma County

Medium-bodied with a purple fruit profile, with notes of plum, blueberry, cassis, and wood. An easy drinker.

Reviewed 1 September 2015
2012

Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah In the Rocks

Columbia Valley · Walla Walla Valley

PnP. Notes of purple plum, charcuterie (spiced salumi, prosciutto), iron, hot brick, olive brine (saline), pomegranate, charcoal, and violets. After a two hour decant, the flavors became a touch more…

Reviewed 30 August 2015
2012

The Grade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Winfield Vineyard

Napa Valley · Calistoga

PnP with a bit of a restrained nose of black fruits, black licorice, and stone. Initial palate entry showed notes of tightly coiled-up black and red fruits, blackberry, black and red licorice, and…

Reviewed 29 August 2015
2013

Clos Solène Syrah Cuvée Jean

Central Coast · Arroyo Grande Valley

Tasted at Clos Solene alongside the 2013 La Petite Solene, L'Insolent, Hommage a nos Pairs, and El Toro.

Reviewed 24 August 2015
2013

Clos Solène L'Insolent

Central Coast · Paso Robles

Tasted at Clos Solene alongside the 2013 La Petite Solene, Cuvee Jean, El Toro, and Hommage a nos Pairs.

Reviewed 24 August 2015