Reviews

Eric Kent Wine Cellars Syrah Kalen's Big Boy Blend

Black cherry, vanilla, cherry cough syrup, Cracker Jack molasses, and blackberry seed. The front end is a simple and linear shot of fruit unable to achieve much depth or complexity (from PnP to…

Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard

Four years ago this wine was strutting it's stuff in all sorts of interesting ways, most notably of course in the full-of-flavor department. This go-around I have to say I feel as though this is a…

Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert

Purple plum, blackberry, and black licorice notes gently push through on the medium delivery, with a pleasurable unfolding of flavor. Somewhat simple on the initial pull of the cork; decanting for…

Château Dalem

Red and black currant, cedar, and a little bit of earth notes make for a predictable but pleasant profile. A medium bodied expression but with a decent amount of flavor still pushing through the…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

2013 and 2014 Quivet LPV side by side.

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

2013 and 2014 Quivet LPV side by side.

Arkenstone Estate

About a year-and-a-half since my last having this wine. Previous notes apply, especially for the first hour of being opened. On PnP this is a beautiful expression of Napa Cabernet with…

Glorious Revolution Cabernet Sauvignon Morris Family Vineyard

So I knew nothing about this wine going into it, but this was an awesome surprise. Still in barrel and scheduled to be bottled in May, the Glorious Revolution is a gorgeous black beauty of a wine.…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

(Click on the story portion for more information (AKA: me running my mouth) on the samples tasted).

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Elysian Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

(Click on the story portion for more information (AKA: me running my mouth) on the samples tasted).

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

(Click on the story portion for more information (AKA: me running my mouth) on the samples tasted).

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

(Click on the story portion for more information (AKA: me running my mouth) on the samples tasted).

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Empyrean Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

(Click on the story portion for more information (AKA: me running my mouth) on the samples tasted).

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Bourn Vineyard

(Click on the story portion for more information (AKA: me running my mouth) on the samples tasted).

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Peterson Family

(Click on the story portion for more information (AKA: me running my mouth) on the samples tasted).

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Kenefick Ranch

(Click on the story portion for more information (AKA: me running my mouth) on the samples tasted).

Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Maison Bleue

Plum, boysenberry, black cherry, and bits of sauvage and saline hit the palate with a smooth but youthfully linear execution. The profile is complete but extremely primary. Medium grip with no…

Bevan Cellars Syrah Moaveni Vineyard

DAY 1: Knock back a few rounds of the dirtiest martinis known to man and then proceed to bury your fat face dead-center into a bubbling blackberry cobbler fresh out of the oven, and you'll have a…

Mas de Boislauzon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Le Tintot

Even more resolved since my last note more than a year ago. Decanting helps to bring out the alluring saline notes and provide heightened seamlessness between the berry fruit and spicy pepper notes.…

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Over two years since my last bottle. Plum, dark berry, spice box, cassis, and vanilla alcohol. A little awkward on the initial pull, with the booze and ripe plum notes battling a bit with each other…

Château Larcis Ducasse

Similar to last year, but seemingly even more spun-up and tense. Unripe red and purple plum, pomegranate, black raspberry, river rock, gravely soil, and even hints of citrus rind make for a…

Château Prieuré-Lichine

This took a little less than an hour of decanting at cool cellar temperature to find a nice glide into its spicebox, black cherry, and bitter chocolate notes. Finishes with fine-grained tannins that…

Quivet Cellars Syrah Hulda Block Las Madres Vineyard

Black raspberry, pomegranate, dried cranberry, plum, peonies, and some dry salami flavors emerge from Quivet's Las Madres Hulda block. With medium-bodied intensity and a smooth cadence of delivery…

Myriad Cellars Syrah 100% Whole Cluster Las Madres Vineyard

If Cote Rotie and Cornas conspired to smuggle overseas and genetically modify the essences of a litter of feral vineyard puppies from Carneros whose only diets consisted of olives and flowers, you'd…

Arrow & Branch Right Bank Blend

An exquisite bottle of wine. Dark fruits and spicebox lead the charge, with unsmoked tobacco, rose water, and some earth following suit. The balance here is undeniable and the overall sense of…