Reviews

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Carter

2015 & 2016 Carter-Carter Cabernets side-by-side.

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Exhibiting a more fruit-driven core when compared to its LPV sibling, this sample of the Crane delivered darker and richer plum and black currant notes, with less of a mineral-driven undertow than…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Darker and a bit more powerful than the 2014 Grand Daddy served beside it, this version of the Kings impresses with its black and purple berry, licorice, and cassis core. Rich but amazingly focused,…

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras

Black raspberry, blackberry, black and purple plum skin, black cherry, asphalt, slate, bitter chocolate, clove, and some incense. The rock elements continue to encompass and drive the rest of the…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Blackberry and black cherry dominate, with a flowing delivery that washes over the palate with beautiful fruit flavors. Cassis, plum, and some river rock round out the profile. A touch dry on the…

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon

Red and black cherry, ripe strawberry, red-purple plum, red currant, sandalwood, leather, and a little vanilla-alcohol on the periphery. Riding a little higher and redder than the LPV and Crane…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Grand Daddy Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Barrel samples: 2017 Carter OG, Verdad, Grand Daddy, and Weitz.

Maxem Pinot Noir UV Vineyard

Black cherry and ripe strawberry cream lead the charge on the front end of the attack, with dark earth, Christmas spice, and rose pedal notes swiftly catching up to the rolling core of beautifully…

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

Barrel samples: 2017 Carter OG, Verdad, Grand Daddy, and Weitz.

Arkenstone Obsidian

Dusty blackberry, black cherry, red and black currant, and Muir Woods forest floor make up the core elements of the 2010 Obsidian (Estate). Showing some age with its earth and saddle leather notes,…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon La Verdad Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Barrel samples: 2017 Carter OG, Verdad, Grand Daddy, and Weitz.

Arkenstone Cabernet Sauvignon NVD

Notes of cranberry, strawberry, red and black cherry, red licorice, and vanilla lead the way in the newest rendition of the Arkenstone NVD. Riding high with a register that currently darts around the…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Weitz Vineyard

Barrel samples: 2017 Carter OG, Verdad, Grand Daddy, and Weitz.

Arkenstone Estate

Barrel sample. Young and vibrant, with a fruit-forward attack that pushes out blackberry pie, purple plum, black raspberry, and bitter chocolate. Well balanced and mouthwatering, with the fruity…

Arkenstone Syrah

And the headline reads... "Herd of hairless yogurt-fed Moroccan goats fatally entangled in a summer-ripened blackberry patch in the scorching 120-degree Sahara. 'Goat Parfait' becomes new Moorish…

Vangone Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

Barrel sample. So the only reason I didn't just jump straight to 100 points on this phenom was because I have had no experience with this wine label and had never even heard of Vangone until this day…

Realm Cellars Moonracer

As Cristal2000 mentioned, this is likely the best Moonracer to date. Far more complex and expanding in the palate than the 2014, and a worthy follow-up to the 2015, this 2016 Moonracer delivers…

Vangone Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

Barrel sample. Dark and dense, rich and concentrated, this Vangone is a stellar example of a decidedly monstrous fruit core encompassed by a formidable but amazingly flavorful robe of sweet tannins.…

Realm Cellars Farella Vineyard

Black and red cherry syrup, ripe bruised strawberry, bitter chocolate (similar to the 2016 Bard but with a bit less confection), and Indian spices. Additional notes of rust, iron, and an upper…

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras

Barrel sample. Enticing and brooding blackberry and obsidian flavors lead the way on the front wave of the attack. Swiftly tannic and mineral-driven within seconds of delivery, skirting across the…

Realm Cellars The Bard

Chocolate covered red cherries, raspberry truffle, Amarena black cherry syrup, and chocolate covered chocolate. Chewy, meaty, and encircled by some confection-heavy flavors. The delivery comes off…

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Barrel sample. Much in line with the 2016, the 2018 Memento Mori Crane seems to be headed on a trajectory that highlights gorgeous, dark black and red core fruit, most especially in regards to…

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch

From two separate barrel samples (Clone 4 and 337), the VHR is slated to be a new SVD from Memento Mori starting in 2017. This is an extremely exciting edition to the already mind-blowing bad-assery…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Carter

2015 & 2016 Carter-Carter Cabernets side-by-side.

Arkenstone Estate

Black raspberry and black cherry dominate here, with cinnamon, anise, and some faint cedar filling out the overall profile. Determined tannins, with a grippy frontal attack. Hyper-focused, with the…