A really nice concentration, with black, blue, and deep red fruit flavors. Expensive vanilla extract and subtle river rock notes. Some dark chocolate chunk to add interest. Probably the best wine in…
Same as my notes from November 2016. Just a hair more interesting than the 2013 Bergfeld served alongside it. The Stags Leap has a really nice concentration, with blue and black fruit notes and some…
Same as my previous notes. A 94+ bottle of wine, and in the same category (in terms of quality) as the '13 Stags Leap, '14 Howell, and '14 Diamond Cabernets served during the same tasting. Drinks…
After having the 2014 North End and 2014 Ellie's, the 2013 Jack's Masterpiece tasted like a 100 point wine. Unfortunately, it's not a 100 point wine; nor is it a 99 point wine (not sure what Parker…
Just barely better than Hall's 2014 North End Cabernet. The Ellie's was overtly lush and "fruit forward" (trying to be nice here), with not a hard edge to be found... so much so that it came off…
This was the one wine in the lineup that was worth talking about. It had some nice black cherry, currant, blackberry, and dark chocolate notes that seemed to be trying to push through..."trying" is…
Maybe in a few years this will be an ok Syrah?...but it tasted a little worrisome to me. Presently, it lacked almost any real depth or concentration. It displayed a clipped, bitter finish, kicking…
For a number of reasons, I just couldn't get behind this wine. It was clearly young and came off like it had some serious working out to do in-bottle before a logical conversation about its…
Same as all of my other notes on this wine. Decanted for a couple of hours just for the hell of it, but it really didn't even need it. Taking a step back, this really is a gorgeous bottle of wine.…
Well this was quite the surprise (at least in the beginning). Decanted for approximately 30 minutes and it was kicking out some really nice blue and black fruit notes. Blueberry, black raspberry,…
On the heels of just having the 2014 Carter OG the night before, I decided to pop the cork on my other top shelf Mike Smith wine that usually fights the OG for the best of Mike's wines. Not…
PnP was a "wow" moment, but the finish was followed up with a decent amount of heat. Otherwise, my previous notes apply. It took about two hours in the decanter and some significant swirling to blow…
Well made. Skillfully balanced. Beautiful and pure fruit flavors. Nice red cherry, raspberry, and some subtle spice and cola notes. This was decanted for approximately two hours before consumption. I…
Previous notes apply. A smooth and somewhat delicate example, but really interesting and inviting black and deep red fruit flavors. Beautifully sweet tannins and a rounded mouthfeel that makes this…
PnP and decanted over two+ hours. Didn't change much over time. Immediately accessible and kicking out great blackberry, olive, mushroom, earth, and streaks of black raspberry flavors.
This is really performing well now. Previous notes apply. I didn't even need to decant it. After a couple of hours of slow O2, it was singing gorgeously. Highly recommended and drinking WAY above its…
Unfortunately I am growing more and more bored on this wine. I popped it along with a number of other FAR superior wines. The Club QPR of the Optimus is indeed decent, but at some point it doesn't…
Pretty much the exact same as my notes a few months ago, except that I thought this really rose up to a level that I rarely have seen in a straight Merlot. Great structure, big, bold, dark fruit, and…
Same as previous notes. Much more of a spicebox element evident this time around. Still a really interesting bottle of Pinot, and one of my favorites of the vintage. Drinking great with a splash…
