Reviews

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Estate Family Reserve

Plum, black cherry, currant, and alcohol. Similar to the 887 previously sampled in that it came off a little abrasive, especially on the finish. Tannic and linear. At best, needs time.

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon American Oak Carved & Grooved Alain Fouquet Vineyard 887 SO/FR St. Helena

Plum, black cherry, wood, torched brown sugar, chocolate, and some spice. A decent depth here, with a ripe fruit-giving style; luckily it's not overly ripe or mushy in its overall profile.

Piazza Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve Oakville Estate

From barrel. As with the 887 sample, this Oakville presented with a strong plum component that dominated the profile. Its edges were soft, fruity, and overtly Merlot-esque in presentation. A bit of a…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Connoisseur's Series Vineyard 887 Family Reserve St. Helena

From barrel. A difficult wine to get a read on, with a plummy aftertaste that dominated the overall profile. Black cherry and unripe blackberry notes were also present. Some astringency on the back…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon American Oak Carved & Grooved Family Reserve Alain Fouquet South Oakville

From barrel. Somewhat similar to the Darnajou version of this wine sampled side-by-side, the American Oak was strikingly and surprisingly similar to the how the French Oak was behaving with the…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve Darnajou French Oak North

From barrel. This sample of the Piazza Del Dotto Oakville Estate Darnajou NORTH Family Reserve showed decent black cherry and plum core fruit. Surprisingly, the Darnajou was imparting flavors that…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Connoisseurs' Series Vicard French Oak St Helena Mountain Block 2

From barrel. Energetic and concentrated, the St. Helena Mountain Vicard shows nice depth of flavor and notable intensity that drives the fruit forward without pummeling you over the palate with it. A…

Villa Del Lago Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill

From barrel. Energetic and spritely, this version of VdL was pumping some upper register red and black fruit and currant flavors along with an undercurrent of subtle riper bass notes on the…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon The Beast

From barrel. The best rendition of The Beast I've had over the last couple of years. Seemingly more focused than the 2015 was at this stage, and more akin to the 2014 in its concentration and…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve 887

Higher toned cranberry, red and black currant, unripe red and black cherry, and alcohol. Riding high on the palate, with less depth than some of the other St. Helena offerings. Less giving in its…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Centre Sylvain Block 1 Howell Mountain

Much more accessible and giving than the Howell Single Cluster, this Block 1 is a powerful and tannic animal. Black cherry, plum, and some earth. Medium complexity and depth of flavor, this wine is…

Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Impériale

Linear and tight on PnP as expected, with some higher toned red and purple berry fruit flavors managing to elbow their ways to the front line on the initial attack. A bit of a bite on the finish,…

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

My prior notes from last year apply. PnP was fine, with some nice dark chocolate and rich black soil notes complimenting the dark, earthy black cherry core. Rich and seemingly low in grip and frame.

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon Block 6

A massively endowed wine, much akin to the 2014 Block 6 with its dark berry and rich chocolatey profile. A lot of power and sappy concentration here, with the melted dark chocolate notes singing the…

Flint Knoll Royal Appointment

A supple and approachable wine, with a fun and unpretentious profile that offers round red and black berry fruit. The Merlot component softens the edges, allowing the Cabernet Sauvignon to show its…

Alexana Pinot Noir Block 7 Revana Vineyard

Dubbed the 'best block,' the 7 delivers agreeable and familiar Oregonian flavors of ripe red and black cherry, red plum, and light infusions of cedar, dust, and cinnamon. Medium bodied, with some…

Riverain Syrah Cardiac Hill Bennett Valley

A very nice example of what can be accomplished out of Bennett Valley with this varietal. Blackberry and charcoal notes, with added flavors of meaty black olive and creosote. I appreciated the…

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District

Horizontal of the 2015 Estate, Stags, and Howell Cabernets.

Riverain Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Tench Vineyard

A generous tasting lineup of the 2013, 2014, 2015, and a new 2016 BBS Tench Cabernets.

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

Horizontal of the 2015 Estate, Stags, and Howell Cabernets. More earthy and funky than the Estate or Stags, this Howell offering from Revana displayed a soil-driven meatiness that was interesting, if…

Riverain Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard

A generous tasting lineup of the 2013, 2014, 2015, and a new 2016 BBS Tench Cabernets.

Revana Cabernet Sauvignon

Horizontal of the 2015 Estate, Stags, and Howell Cabernets. Previous notes apply on this wine. My preferred wine amongst the three. This exhibited much more complexity and focus by comparison.…

Riverain Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard

A generous tasting lineup of the 2013, 2014, 2015, and a new 2016 BBS Tench Cabernets.

Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras

Served side-by-side with 2016 Carters Bam and Verdad. The FM was more purple fruited and displayed a softer grip than the Carters. Less intensity and concentration mid-palate from the FM by…

Riverain Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard

A generous tasting lineup of the 2013, 2014, 2015, and new 2016 BBS Tench Cabernets.