Reviews

VHR Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch

A quartet of VHR wines side-by-side (among 20 other wines that night): 2018 VHR 2018 VHR Extended Barrel Age 2019 VHR 2019 Arrow & Branch VHR

Arrow & Branch Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch

A quartet of VHR wines side-by-side (among 20 other wines that night): 2018 VHR 2018 VHR Extended Barrel Age 2019 VHR 2019 Arrow & Branch VHR

Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon

Tense and coiled up on the initial pass, with crunchy blackberry seed, asphalt, coffee grounds, and gravelly soil. The profile is darker and blacker fruited than how I typically experience young…

Morlet Family Vineyards Chardonnay Coup de Coeur

I've written quite a bit on this wine over the years. I mean, if you want quintessential domestic Chardonnay with all the quality marshmallowy lemon curd citrus peachy honey cream notes you could…

Hubert Lamy Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Clos de la Chateniere Blanc Vieilles Vignes

Though not as strikingly brilliant as previous performances, this bottle still had a nice uptick of energy and tension, with chalky minerality jump-roping with the white and higher-register yellow…

Domaine Henri Boillot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Mouchère

On initial opening, this was not really giving up the goods the way I would have liked. Compared to other showings of this wine (this vintage and others), this particular bottle was a bit linear and…

Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault Clos de la Barre

Showing some advanced nuttiness and demi-sec deep lemon flavors, but certainly not without requisite freshness and energy. There is a nice bead of acidity that keeps it all moving along, with faint…

Aesthete Wines Sauvignon Blanc Barrel Aged Dry Stack Vineyard

Where there are suitable lime, lemon, grass, and kiwi flavors offering a degree of pleasure here, I am just not getting much in the refreshing department. The finish is significant the same way…

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Grand Cru Jolivettes

A more needly showing than the previous bottle just a few months ago, with any complexity or breadth held at bay by the sharp and edgy stone/chalk and twiggy? elements firing off behind the foxhole…

Marie-Courtin Champagne Présence

There is truly a unique succulence that comes from the bowels of this wine when initially you don't think it is going to be anything more than stark and shrill. The first sip is always a little bit…

Jerome Blin Champagne Cuvée Apogée Extra Brut

This is a bristly showing at first pass, with notable tension and energy spitting prickly pear, red apple skin and flesh, copper, bitter lemon rind, lemon zest, black cherry water, and ginger flavors…

Enclos Tourmaline

This bottle took a little more mechanical influencing to get into a state of notable expression. At first, muted and linear, this Enclos Tourmaline was a boring date on the initial pickup. A few…

Christopher Tynan Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines Meleagris Gallopavo

I've written a ton on this wine, so I'll spare everyone even more of my usual drivel and just say that this MG continues to impress. Though it offers upfront, chewy pleasure now (and a decent amount…

Patrick Piuze Chablis 1er Cru Vaulorent "QC"

An improved showing from last year, the QC shows another layer of succulence to match the medium-bodied lemony tang. The delivery is extremely balanced and surprisingly smooth, with a nicely placed…

Henri Germain et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot Les Fairendes

This bottle was subdued and lacked some energy. The flavors were decent but not a lot of excitement. Germain has a bottle variation problem, so I wonder if this fell victim. A blasé performance.

Paul Pernot et ses Fils Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet

Bright and energized lemon and lime citrus, yuzu, white melon rind, travertine, and yellow pear notes make for a Grand Cru entrance that has class-worthy intensity and weight as well as an engaging…

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

2016 Myriad Elysian, 2016 Myriad Empyrean, 2015 Schrader To Kalon, 2015 Schrader GIII

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon GIII Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

2016 Myriad Elysian, 2016 Myriad Empyrean, 2015 Schrader To Kalon, 2015 Schrader GIII

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Empyrean Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

2016 Myriad Elysian, 2016 Myriad Empyrean, 2015 Schrader To Kalon, 2015 Schrader GIII

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Elysian Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

2016 Myriad Elysian, 2016 Myriad Empyrean, 2015 Schrader To Kalon, 2015 Schrader GIII

BOND Vecina

With Bill Harlan's assertions that he is crafting wines from the Bond brand that are designed to age, then the 2002 Vecina makes a compelling argument as to why that is indeed true. Earthy and…

BOND Pluribus

This is the obvious standout for me amongst the 2018 Bonds, with well-delineated blackberry, unripe plum flesh, purple and red plum skin, and red cherry flavors complimented by a meaty element adding…

BOND Vecina

Boy is this a tight and stubborn monkey; a little awkwardness and wonky alcohol surfaced here, further distracting from the would-be flavors hoping to emerge on the delivery. Furry, flinty, and…

BOND St. Eden

Blackberry and plum notes provide the plushest and most rounded profile (by Bond standards) of the 2018 lot. Air becomes somewhat of a weapon here, with extended time in the glass clamping down on…

BOND Quella

Earthy and slightly flat on entry, with the front end giving comparatively less oomph than its siblings. A linear and stemmy execution, with dusty gravel, green peppercorns, blackberry seed, and…