Reviews

Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus

2016 Materium and 2016 Amoenus side-by-side.

Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium

2016 Materium and 2016 Amoenus side-by-side.

Hartford / Hartford Court Pinot Noir Seascape Vineyard

Black and red cherry, muddled overripe strawberry, pomegranate juice, peat smoke, tobacco leaf, sea foam, and hints of citrus rind. Nicely focused, with a cut that is deliberate but somewhat subtle…

Tusk Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

As soon as the juice hits the glass, the nose cons you into thinking you made a big mistake, with crushed ripe blackberry and Grey Goose slithering up the nostrils. It's not a full-on Everclear…

B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Followed over three separate days - divided (March 18, 21, and 28) via Coravin and finally open-air on the final day. The initial Coravin pours were certainly flavorful, but with a bit of a…

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Summit 1376'

Ultra-ripe blackberry, boysenberry, huckleberry, black cherry, cinnamon stick, wet mulch, and huge blasts of alcohol. Even after 3+ hours of decanting and trying to cool this way down…

Bacio Divino Cabernet Sauvignon Janzen Cloudy's Vineyard

Delivered as expected given last year's performance, the 2014 Cloudy's continues to kick out a solid bevy of dark/black flavors; black raspberry, blueberry, black currant, asphalt, black soil, and…

L'Aventure For Her

An even more integrated and overall improved animal than when I last had this wine two years ago. This took a couple of hours of decanting to open up, but once it did it kicked out beautifully deep…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

A serious wine indeed, perhaps even a bit too serious in its present state, with a Jack Nicholson "You can't handle the truth" proclamation as soon as it launches its sword-forward attack on the…

Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus

Similar to previous notes. A little rounder and more plush this time around, displaying a beautifully balanced and smooth entry, if not lacking just a bit of verve and grip to best house the gorgeous…

Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Franc

Black and red cherry, red plum, coffee grounds, cedar, and some bark. A surprising amount of balled-up energy and tension here, indicating even more time in bottle will allow for the flavors to…

Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

2014 Quivet LPV and 2014 Schrader LPV side-by-side.

Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon LPV Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

2014 Quivet LPV and 2014 Schrader LPV side-by-side.

Keplinger Mars

Tight and linear on initial PnP, but quickly opens up to reveal dark kirsch, cassis, purple plum, pulverized granite, and a touch of garrigue and camphor. This stayed pretty locked and loaded…

Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

One of my Napa Cabs of the vintage, and a consistent standout every time I pop the cork. This wine simply lays waste to a whole mess of wines when in comparative tastings or as a stand-alone. The…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Mortal Coil Phendler

Boy did this perform like a champ! A similar and familiar flavor profile to when I had this last summer, but with even more fascinating flavors prairie-doggin' all over the place on the palate. Black…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Black cherry dominates here, with subtle hints of black river rock, dust, and vanilla. Showing some linearity, with a more horizontal delivery of flavors in its current state. Agreeable and a super…

Arrow & Branch Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Much improved and developed from when I had this last year. Black cherry, black raspberry, cardamom, blackberry seed, and some dust. The initial attack cons you into thinking it is going to be…

Pott Wine Space & Time

2015 Incubo & 2015 Space and Time.

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Incubo

2015 Incubo & 2015 Space and Time.

Ferren Wines Pinot Noir Frei Road Vineyard

Red berry, cherry, cranberry, and some earthy spice lurking on the periphery. More red-fruited, with a depth and richness dropping on the mid-palate with notable intensity, but still light on its…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Shadow Voices Estate

Same as before. 95-97+ points. Showed even better on Day 2. Hold for a few years.

Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Barrel sample. A fresh and vivacious example of Crane, registering a little high and red-fruited at the moment. A great deal of speed and pop here, with notes of bing cherry, red raspberry, cassis,…

Château Léoville Las Cases

Light red and black cherry water, tobacco, cigar box, soil, orange peel, and some green peppercorn. Held up nicely over the course of the evening considering its age. Hold for another 40 years.

Mount Eden Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

10-X in the head. Past its prime and shot, with some apparent flaws/corked issues also surfacing as it gained more air. Watery cranberry, tomato leaf, and soil, with a damp dishcloth aftertaste that…