Reviews

Mending Wall Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard

Very similar to my notes on 10/16/2015. The difference between PnP and a four hour decant was fairly minimal. Blue and black liqueur fruit flavors, with some asphalt, slate, and hints of bitter dark…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

PnP with some alcohol-laced fruit liqueur flavors and a sweet, clipped finish. Uh oh; the Quivet conundrum rears its head again?! This needed about 2+ hours to mellow out a bit, and then...It was…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Witch's Ladder

It's been over a year since my last bottle and time has certainly allowed this wine to evolve into a more interesting animal. The evergreen and pine needle notes were evident (which do add some…

Myriad Cellars Syrah Halcon Vineyard

Extremely hiigh-toned, infantile, primary, and almost impossible to rate given the time allowed for this to try to open up. Decanted in a wide-bottomed decanter for over three hours. It barely…

Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvée Katrina Eileen

Wait, wait, wait! Hold off on popping these little gems for at least another two years. So much potential wrapped up in a completely balled up fist of higher-toned fruit and tannins.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Same as my previous notes last summer. A solid bottle of wine and just what I would expect from a Carter BTK. This bottle was a bit tight and youthfully reserved initially, but it found its glide…

Saxum Booker Vineyard

Surprisingly energetic and a bit overrun by an initial blast of alcohol and tightly coiled tannins. Not sharp, but coming across a bit brash on the PnP. The quality of fruit was evident, but it was…

Mending Wall Cabernet Sauvignon

All of my other previous notes apply. This just feels like sort of a lost wine. Nothing really distinguishing about it. I found it difficult to maintain interest in this throughout consumption. As a…

Pott Wine Cabernet Franc La Carte et Le Territoire

Same as my notes from 8 months ago, except that this was extremely accessible after just a splash decant. No harsh edges and a beautiful, silky mouthfeel from start to finish. Drinking very well at…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The O.G. Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Same as my previous notes from 7-8 months ago. This is indeed becoming a softer, more elegant OG over time. It does seem like the flavors have room to deepen and become more complex with some…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Pellet Vineyard

It's been nine months since I last had this wine. Time in bottle has garnered some improvements on the Pellet, but it is being ever-reluctant to show its maturity. The first hour was still a bit…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Daughters of Earth Goldrock Ridge

Same as my previous notes. This wine was paired with homemade fresh crab beignets with a lemon/chive aioli. The wine was probably a little heavy for the dish (my fault on pairing), but overall the…

Carlisle Syrah James Berry Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Hold until 2018. Came off a little sweet and disjointed initially. Opened up a bit more after a few hours in the decanter, but was still a little too plush and round for my…

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Rita's Crown Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills

Previous notes apply. Hold for another year in hopes the hot, sweet, alcohol-tinged flavors will settle in a more integrated fashion.

Talley Vineyards Pinot Noir Rosemary's Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Wait another year. Still a little thin and linear mid palate.

Bacio Divino Cabernet Sauvignon Janzen Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard

It's been a year since I've last had this wine. My previous notes apply from November 2015. It was a little tight and acidic at first, but unwound nicely after some vigorous swirling in the glass.…

The Debate Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

All of my previous notes apply. WOTN for everyone. Needed a splash decant and was quickly on its way to showing itself off. Quickly disappeared.

Switchback Ridge Anniversary Blend Peterson Family Vineyard

Good. Not astounding. A cedar aftertaste distracted from the core fruit. Time in a decanter for an hour or two helped, but I'm not sure if this will ever really come into a place of real excitement…

Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Could still use 6-12 months to develop its glide a little better. A beautiful 2011 PS for sure. Hold for now.

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Bergfeld

An enticing bottle of wine from start to finish. Drinking extremely well with about a 30 minute decant. Rich and deep, with the perfect kiss of sweet cassis and red and black licorice to compliment…

Bevan Cellars Ontogeny

PnP with surprisingly accessible but still fairly tight and somewhat muted notes of red and black currant, black licorice, a smidgen of blueberry-chocolate liqueur, blue slate, and a faint hint of…

Valdez Family Winery Petite Sirah Landy Vineyard

Same as my previous notes, with earthy funk and olive brine flavors to compliment the otherwise dark core of purple, red, and black berry fruit. Asphalt and some spice on the back end. My girl…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Actaeon Quixote Vineyard

PnP with tightly coiled notes of red and purple berry fruit, red currant, tobacco leaf, and some spice. I let this balled-up little monster unravel in a decanter for two-three hours. What emerged…

Cliff Lede High Fidelity

Some of my previous notes apply, but this was indeed more accessible than six months ago. With a short decant, it was drinking at what I would expect to be close to its apex. It developed over time,…

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Gap's Crown Vineyard

Same as my notes from last month except that I moved this up a point. It was tasted side-by-side with a 2010 KB Gap's Crown. Both were very good, and sort of intersecting each other in their…