Reviews

Bevan Cellars The Impetus De Crescenzo and Tench Vineyard

PnP with reserved notes of blackberry, black currant, asphalt, and slate. Muted and a bit clipped on the finish. My other half called it "quiet," and not really enveloping the palate with anything…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Twins Vineyard

PnP with notes of blackberry, black currant, red and black licorice, and some minerality/asphalt. A decent amount of alcohol initially on the back end, creating a wave over the core fruit. Needed…

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Petaluma Gap

PnP with black cherry, red and black raspberry, currant, black tea, allspice, and some mulch. A bit reserved and monolithic at first, but smooth and silky, with a mouthfeel that always lets me know…

Talley Vineyards Pinot Noir Rosemary's Vineyard

Similar to my previous notes. PnP with high toned cranberry, pomegranate, strawberry, clove, and faint earth. 2+ hours in the decanter helped deepen the flavors, but it was still pretty tight. Acid…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon McGah Vineyard

PnP with fun and vibrant red and purple berry fruit flavors; specific notes of ripe satsuma plum, black raspberry, bramble/shrub, limestone, and some spice. Chalky initially on the back end,…

Mark Herold Wines Herold

Similar to previous notes.

Mark Herold Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Stagecoach Vineyard

Similar to previous notes.

Mark Herold Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Brown Label

Similar to previous notes.

Mark Herold Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Brown Label

Similar to previous notes.

Celani Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Ardore

Similar to my notes on the 2012 Ardore, except for the fact that this 2013 had all of the power, depth, energy, and overall quality that I would expect from a high-end Napa Cabernet.

Celani Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Same as my previous note from April 2016. I was able to try this wine as a PnP and also a separate sample that had been open for a couple of days.

Celani Family Vineyards Tenacious

Simple and straight-forward. Something that I think the bachelorette parties of the Valley would definitely enjoy. A medium-to-light bodied red; not too bad on a hot day when you don't want something…

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson Vineyard

PnP and this wine was coiled-up and bit all over the place. Wild red and black berry notes, bramble, ollalaberry, blackberry, chalk, and river rock. At no point was it astringent or tannic, just…

Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes

A deeply pitched core with dark purple and red berry liqueur, dark/deep kirsch, blueberry, earth/loam, spice box, wood, and some green/gray stone. Showing the best of the three varietals, with all…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Harbison Vineyard

Better than the 2012 Bevan Tin Box I had the previous night. The Harbison had the depth I was more looking for. Not only did this deliver in terms of a beautifully textured mouthfeel and a silky…

Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Tin Box Vineyard

Certainly an impeccably balanced and finessed Cabernet, with an elegance and femininity that I was a little surprised by. Soft and round, as the tannins were barely noticeable throughout the entire…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Same as previous notes. Just a down right friggin great Cabernet and a phenomenal QPR. For me, there is no better Napa Cab. for my money.

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

The absolute best of the bunch for me. I had absolutely no problem picking the OG as my favorite in the lineup as soon as I took a sip of this bad boy. That clone 337 just reaches out and slaps you…

Mark Herold Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Brown Label

Still not my thing. This was used simply to juxtapose the 2012 and 2013 Brown Labels...and juxtapose it did. Not even in the same ballpark as the other two vintages, with its distracting vegetal…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Of the BTKs, this was the most reserved at the moment. Sweet and concentrated, with notes of red and purple berry fruits, vanilla, and alcohol. The quality of fruit is again evident, as is the tannin…

Mark Herold Wines Herold

Same as my notes from 4/15/2016 and 3/25/2016. Powerful and youthfully dark, gravely berry fruit. Cool berry notes (but not as cool as the 2012); blackberry, black currant, black licorice, charcoal,…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Phenomenal fruit, with flashy red and purple berry notes, vanilla bean, chocolate, and pencil lead. Where this wine really shows you its presence is in its depth and mid-palate. Huge sexy "oomph" on…

Mark Herold Wines Herold by Mark Herold

Similar to my notes from 4/15/2016. A cool feel about it (more so than the 2013), with dark berries, black licorice, cold river rock, and obsidian. Came off a little more cerebral than the 2013,…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Holy Mary Mother of God. If you've loved previous LPVs from Carter, you're gonna freak out over this wine. If this shakes out right, I can see this wine following its 2013 older brother and becoming…

Mark Herold Wines Herold by Mark Herold

Same as my notes from 4/15/2016. The best of the Herold 2011s, which is still not my jam.