Reviews

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Initially, the 2019 To Kalon was a bit reserved (by Napa standards of course) and took a little bit of coaxing after the first pull of the cork. Double-decanted and given over four hours to find its…

Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon

Dusty red berry, purple plum, currant, earth, and some embers. I much appreciated this wine more since my last having it back in January 2020. This bottle takes a short bit of time to open up, but…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

This is round #2 with the 2019 LPV since my last sampling it back in April. Once again, it is unquestionably the star of the show. This is the best LPV Vice Versa has ever produced and is…

Pott Wine Space & Time

It's been over two years since my last bottle. As others have mentioned, this still needs to sleep. However, it was still quite drinkable, delivering fairly lush and round black cherry and purple…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Three 2016 Myriads: GIII, Empyrean, Crane.

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Empyrean Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Three 2016 Myriads: GIII, Empyrean, Crane.

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Three 2016 Myriads: GIII, Empyrean, Crane.

MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon

Another stellar performance from the 2018 MACDONALD. This is my second time sampling this vintage of what I believe to be an absolutely perfect wine. For me it's kinda simple: This is one of the best…

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Black Magic

Black Magic and Pure Magic side by side.

TOR Pure Magic Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard B F D

Black Magic and Pure Magic side by side.

Littorai Pinot Noir One Acre

From magnum. A deep core of black cherry, dark plum, bark, and burnt citrus rind set off a slightly rustic push of moderately intense flavors on the fruit-forward attack that drops deeply into a nice…

Domaine Anne et Hervé Sigaut Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Chatelots

A Chambolle that delivers both acidic energy and a dark, somewhat brooding, depth (eventually). This particular bottle was followed over the course of a few weeks with a Coravin. The first hits of…

Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve

Fresh black and red licorice and deep cassis notes are highlighted by extraordinarily multifaceted and enchanting flavors of creosote, garrigue, spicy pine tar, celery, and railroad tie. I found this…

Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape Sanctus Sanctorum

If the Ex Machina ran through a pile of red raspberry bushes, it would be the Sanctus. Spicy and earthy red and black raspberry, red and black cherry, cassis, and red and black licorice, this…

Château de Vaudieu Châteauneuf-du-Pape Amiral G

You want an extreme sport style of richness? Amiral G. is the answer to all you've been looking for. This is probably the richest wine of the night. However, it is so tasty and charming that its…

Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape Deus-Ex Machina

One of the top wines in the lineup, the Ex Machina inched past the Sanctus by a hair due to the Machina's amazing concentration and complexity, even with its pile of ripe fruit off-loading on to the…

Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Not For You

Upon first sip, notes of bark and earth pinch the palate before the fruit begins to infiltrate the gates. More stemmy than sultry on the front end of the attack, the Not For You tells you right away…

Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Blackberry, black cherry, black licorice, black everything, this brooding cave-dwelling bat boy is ripe and gothic in posture. There is decent flex here as well, with its Emo personality still…

Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de mon Aïeul

Sexy and powerful cassis and licorice notes lead the charge, with deeply pitched red and black berry notes rushing up to fill in the gaps. With air, the flow of flavor is even more expansive and…

Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Party-rockin' and sexy ta-boot, the Clos des Papes struts black licorice, blackberry, spice, and tears of shame like it's not coming back home til the next day. Ripe and ready, the black licorice…

Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Deux Frères

Fresh pine needles on the nose makes for a curious first sip, but the taste is all about succulent blackberry and saturated red raspberry fruit washing over the palate with such juiciness and…

Chimère Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Black raspberry, fresh orange peel, cardamom, plum, and cassis present in a subtly candied and liqueur-like fashion, but stay true to the region from where it is attempting to honor. Does it taste…

Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Le Secret des Sabon

Amongst a number of the CdP beasts in the lineup, the Sabon was a beauty, with a well-orchestrated cadence of delivery and a sauntering flavor expansion, it offers flavors of red and black berry…

M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape Barbe Rac

A funky cold medina, the Barb Rac was one of the more farmy and earthy of the bunch, with plum and red/black raspberry notes playing tug-o-war with the dirty overalls American Gothic (or rather,…

Domaine Saint Préfert Châteauneuf-du-Pape Collection Charles Giraud

This is a total gym rat of a CdP, with power and chewy toughness forming the frame for ripe black and dark red raspberry fruit flavors punching their way through the palate (rather than along the…