Reviews

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Dear Lord in Heaven, this is a WIIIIIDE open book in its current state, splaying out all the goods right on the front end and making no excuses for it. Those familiar with GIII are no strangers to…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Steltzner Vineyard

Red and purple berry fruit, pulverized granite, and some subtle spice. Much less black and intense this go-around than from when I had it out of barrel. A very satisfying and complete wine, though…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Empyrean Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Tight and locked-up from the very first sip, but not so much that it doesn't offer the insatiable consumer some flavor gratification in the form of black currant, black pebbles, plum skin, and…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

My notes on this wine started out with "WAIT," as the first sip displayed a walled-off demeanor fortified with tannins and an almost bitter clamp that initially stomped on the fruit. Luckily, with…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Blackberry, black cherry, and ripe purple fruit compile the core fruit, with scorched earth, wet cedar, and obsidian framing the general profile. This is displaying a bit of a reduced and macerated…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Purple and red fruit. Initially an unassuming and straightforward delivery, but the Scarlett picks up some weight mid-way through and pushes its fruity character on through the medium finish. A much…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Equally dark as the regular sample, the Reserve fires-off with a serious streak of minerality and a tannic backbone that immediately frame-out and control the electric fruit just waiting to explode.…

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Strawberry water, rhubarb, red currant, citrus rind, tobacco leaf, leather, and cedar notes fill out the delicate profile of this well-balanced and finessed Ducru. An effortless delivery, landing…

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Star Vineyard

Uber plush and fruity, with black cherry syrup surrounded by cinnamon and nutmeg spices washing over the palate in a round, plump delivery. Finishes with the sweet spice note swirling around the…

Château Sociando-Mallet Cuvée Jean Gautreau

The best in the lineup. Blackberry, plum, black (and some red) currant, and some earth. More of a black fruited profile. Medium all the way around. Not especially fascinating or…

Château Brane-Cantenac

I didn't hate this wine, so it had that going for it. Blackberry, black currant, earth, hamster shavings, and a hint of violets. A little bit of an awkward delivery of flavors initially, but air…

Château Langoa Barton

This was being lauded as the wine to try. So I tried it. And so that happened. Wait, what I talking about? Oh yeah, how forgettable this wine was...

Château Cantemerle

CT'er BRADA mentioned "thin and lacking depth" here; I couldn't agree more. This showed some lithe flavoring of plum, blackberry seed, and white pepper, but it instantly went into dustbowl mode and…

Château Le Thil Comte Clary

"Ok, I guess" was the standard mumblings around the table on this one. I've had Le Thils of the past that have also been "ok," as in "fine" and "does the job." I even have a memory of the 2010 being…

Château La Tour de Mons

Perhaps a slightly better Margaux than the disappointing 2015 Baron de Brane, but not by much. The initial push of red currant, strawberry, rhubarb, and red cherry seemed promising, but then it all…

Château de Chantegrive Graves

The '16 Chantegrive and the '15 Baron de Brane served beside it were my least favorites of the day. This was watery and thin from the word go. Barely flavorful, with some strawberry juice, red and…

Château Brane-Cantenac Le Baron de Brane

Simple and short from start to finish. This managed to push out some tobacco and earth-laced red currant and red cherry (with some slight black cherry and strawberry) notes, but was otherwise linear…

Château Fonplégade

This punches way above its price point. Blackberry, plum, black currant, cedar, roast beef bark, and some spice. A bit of alcohol rises up just enough to remind you this is a young wine in need of…

Château Cos d'Estournel Les Pagodes de Cos

Muddled plum, black cherry syrup, and old-school red and black currant flavors dominate. A seamless balance and delivery in conjunction with a familiar, traditional earth and cedar-inflected profile…

Château Dalem

Blackberry, ripe black plum, bitter chocolate, and cloves lead the way here, with a notably solid mid-palate and a drive that carries the finish on for 30+ seconds. A little alcohol on the tail, but…

Château Capbern

Black and red currant, blackberry, cedar, applewood wood chips, blood orange, earth, and some embers. Delivers the cedar and charred wood notes throughout. Finishes dry with a hint of spice, with…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

A huge step up from when I last had this wine almost two years ago, this vintage of the VV LPV has really come into a wonderful drinking window with a little help from a couple of hours in the trusty…

Bevan Cellars EE Cuvée

Decant for a few hours and you will be handsomely rewarded. PnP is, as with many of Bevan's concoctions, a bit of a slutty alcohol laced liqueur experience. However, once some good old fashioned O2…

B Cellars Cabernet Franc Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

A near perfect example of Cab Franc; a much more resolved and less crunchy demeanor than last year's bottle. Notes of blackberry, black cherry, black plum skin, Christmas spice, and violets. Less of…

Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Summa Old Vines

Similar as before. Exceptionally good in terms of exhibiting a nuanced and quasi-complex flavor profile from start to finish. Orange peel, red raspberry, and some bark elements dominate. A touch thin…