Wine Doctrine
Every tasting note

Reviews

3,775 notes

2013

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley · Rutherford

Well, YACKMAN called it (no surprise). This wine has certainly continued to transition into something noteworthy over the last 4 months. I kept saying I was going to wait until the Fall, but hey, I…

Reviewed 29 August 2016
2014

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon East Meets West

California · Napa Valley

As with the majority of Tor's high end Cabernets, the East Meets West was a very well done wine. However, I'm not sure it was ultimately the best use of the vineyards necessarily, as two great…

Reviewed 27 August 2016
2014

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Black Magic

California · Napa Valley

Though the Black Magic was undeniably an incredible wine (essentially a "Reserve" offering of the BTK Cabernet), I much preferred the BTK over the Black Magic. For certain, the Black Magic was…

Reviewed 27 August 2016
2014

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Cimarossa Vineyard

Napa Valley · Howell Mountain

Surprisingly, this was served after the 2014 BTK Cabernet. Even though I was still experiencing the finish from the BTK, I was able to hitch a ride right on to the Cimarossa flavor train and…

Reviewed 27 August 2016
2014

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Napa Valley · Oakville

Hands down the best wine of the fifteen Tor wines sampled during the tasting event. Even more captivating than the Black Magic (the "Reserve" BTK). Unbelievable intensity and depth, kicking out…

Reviewed 27 August 2016
2014

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson Vineyard

California · Napa Valley

The 2014 Tor Melanson ratcheted up the intensity and was the first wine of the afternoon where everyone looked at each other and collectively began nodding their heads with that notion of, "Now we're…

Reviewed 27 August 2016
2014

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Tierra Roja

Napa Valley · Oakville

This was a little more wild and brambly when compared to the softer and rounder Herb Lamb tasted just before it. Higher-toned red and black fruit-driven at the moment, the Tierra Roja will likely…

Reviewed 27 August 2016
2014

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard

Napa Valley · Oakville

A new offering from Tor using the Herb Lamb Vineyard to source a single vineyard designation Cabernet Sauvignon. A beautifully centered wine, with some nice darker fruits peeking out of it. Showed…

Reviewed 27 August 2016
2014

TOR Proprietary Red Wine

Napa Valley · Oakville

The heavy addition of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot (both 43%, with the Cabernet Sauvignon only accounting for the remaining 14%) with this Oakville blend initially came off a bit angular and…

Reviewed 27 August 2016
2014

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon

California · Napa Valley

This was smartly the first Cabernet (+Cab blends) of the lineup. Medium bodied, and showing a little like a second-rate Cabernet at this stage, this wine struggled to come out of its shell and…

Reviewed 27 August 2016
2014

TOR Syrah Rogers La Herradura

California · Napa Valley

Like the Grenache, this Syrah came off a bit thin mid-palate. Undeniably young, and a step up from the Grenache for sure, this Syrah was in serious need of sleep time. Not astringent or tannic; just…

Reviewed 27 August 2016
2014

TOR Grenache Palisades Vineyard

California · Napa Valley

I know Tor loves his Rhone varietals, but I always seem to struggle with his versions of these wines, especially the Grenache. I've been trying these wines for the last 6 years or so, and quite…

Reviewed 27 August 2016
2009

Saxum Booker Vineyard

Central Coast · Paso Robles

PnP was just a hair tight, but an hour in the decanter did this wonders. Drinking very well right now. Deep blackberry, asphalt, blueberry, and some beautiful minerality. Mid-palate and textural…

Reviewed 26 August 2016
2012

Carlisle Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard

California · Napa Valley

PnP with extraordinarily tight and tart high-toned red and purple berry notes. NUTTY08 noted a prominent pomegranate flavor, which was dead on. Not astringent or biting, but clenched so tight I could…

Reviewed 26 August 2016
2014

Bedrock Wine Co. Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Restrained and a bit muted for a California Zinfandel. Not much going on here at the moment. As a stand-alone wine, this was fairly forgettable. Good vineyard source, but nothing compared to what…

Reviewed 24 August 2016
2014

Cantina del Pino Langhe Nebbiolo

Langhe · DOC

100% concur with CHATTERS note on this wine. Cherry, plum, wet wood/cedar, and mulch, and some funk. The plum note repeated itself on the back end, muddling the flavors a bit. Had a dank mouthfeel…

Reviewed 24 August 2016
2014

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

California · Napa Valley

Quick impromptu tasting with Mike Smith during a pick-up of my Carter/Myriad/Quivet wines. This was poured from Coravin with just a little time to breathe in the glass.

Reviewed 22 August 2016
2013

Clos Solène La Petite Solène

Central Coast · Paso Robles

Same as my previous notes on this wine. Still notably tight. I would hold for another year (mid/late 2017). 91-93 point potential.

Reviewed 21 August 2016