Reviews

MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon

Similar in design mostly to the 2013, the 2015 has tension and structure that mirrors its older sibling in all the best ways. The 2015 does relax a bit more after some air, and begins to evolve into…

MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon

Lush and approachable, the 2014 is in a very giving mood. Though the 2012 showed enhanced depth and breadth by comparison, the 2014 is certainly a friendly and affable sipper that, of all the…

MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine is. No. Joke. (Reminds me of when Ngawâ Sherpa told us as we were crossing Khumbu's Cho La Pass, "Cho La.No Joking. No talk. Rocks fall die.") A story for another time perhaps. But this…

MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon

Perhaps the most decadent MacDonald I've ever had (though the 2020 was doing all sorts of look-at-me backflips in the 'I'm rich and fancy' department as well), the 2012 is just soooo darn delicious.…

Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon Rhadamanthus

You want a hot body? You want a Bugatti? You want a Maserati? You better work b*. You want a Lamborghini? Sippin' Rhad-tinis? You better work b*.

Kinsman Eades Cabernet Sauvignon Kodo M-Bar Ranch

The 2022 Kodo hops-skips-and-jumps right over the front end of its execution and immediately settles cozily into a mid-palate density that melts like Ingrid Bergman in the arms of Humphrey Bogart…

Christopher Tynan Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines Meleagris Gallopavo

Ready to go as soon as the cork is popped. A very ripe showing, gushing with black and red raspberry, cassis, dark purple plum, chocolate, and some charcuterie. A richer and heavier version of MG,…

Domaine Michel Lafarge Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes

This bottle exhibited aged traits that signal a wine that ultimately seems to be past its prime. Air helped stretch its legs a bit, but it was fairly short-lived. Over the course of a few hours, it…

Comm. G.B. Burlotto Barolo Cannubi

As others have mentioned, I recognize the rusticity here and also find the overall profile to be a little grainy, but I found the core fruit to be more than satisfying. There is some layering of…

Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

Gently decanted for an hour in a small vessel. Plum, deep and dark red and black muddled cherry, leather, old cigar, torched orange rind, soil, and black currant.

001 Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon Ecotone Vineyard

A quick Coravin pull of this wine on a whim doesn't disappoint. There is a sense of polish and refinement here that really brings it to the next level. It is medium bodied, which I usually hate…

Becklyn Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Moulds Vineyard

This bottle was dialed-in; a more finessed expression of the sometimes touchy 2013 vintage, with friendly red and black berry flavors roped around red cherry, river rock, red licorice, purple plum,…

Adamvs Cabernet Sauvignon Quintvs

This bottle is richy-rich right from the start, but not so heavy that it slows down the flavor wave on entry and carries the chocolate-mulch covered black cherry profile from front to back in quick…

Château Belair-Monange

This fell flat with a 4-5oz Coravin pull. It was next to a 2015 Rauzan-Segla that initially was just as dumb, but managed to wake up and eventually obliterate the Belair-Monange. The B-M displayed…

Château Rauzan-Ségla

It's been five years since last having this wine. I pulled a Coravin glass of this a few months ago and thought it was one of the most boring wines I'd ever tried in my life. Red currant, red cherry,…

Harumph Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon O $#!t

A. STRAIGHT. BIGGIN.

Harumph Cellars Grenache Flora Marie Vineyard

It's big, sweet, chewy, and insanely satiating for those who want instant DJ hoppin' pool party madness in your mouth. Sugar, spice, raspberry bomb, red cherry sucker.and sugar.and spice. Pair with…

Turtle Rock G2

Followed this over 3 days. Man, this is a potent potable for sure. Day 2, into Day 3, it was at its best. No heat. Just gobs of blackberry and blueberry fruit saturating the palate with…

Domaine Launay-Horiot Pommard 1er Cru Les Chaponnières

I haven't had this in four years, and though I find this bottle well resolved and in a balanced drinking window, albeit with a bit of air, I do think it to be less exciting than when I had it back in…

Domaine Taupenot-Merme Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru Rouge

Still chugging along nicely. Decent depth and breadth, with a darker berry profile than I remember. In a good window now, with previous linearity seemingly resolved; quite approachable and appealing…

Kinsman Eades Syrah Aberro White Hawk Vineyard

Both the White Hawk and the mighty Z Syrahs from Aberro (Kinsman) are stellar performers. Whereas the Bien Nacido Z was most defined by a sheeny and silky bubble encompassing the core berry fruit,…

Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Musigny

Tight and linear upon first pass, with a higher-riding and superficial (tannic) red fruit and mineral presentation that signals eye-rubbing sleepiness and a stern, "What do you actually want from me…

Tenuta Guado al Tasso (Antinori) Bolgheri Matarocchio

Tobacco and dusty dark red berries dominate, with a fine(ish) grained texture that provides body and movement on the palate. There is a rusticity here, but it doesn't distract too much from the…

Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Riserva Asili

An alluring wine with notable depth and also a great sense of airiness in delivery of its nicely developed dark plum, black-red cherry, muddled cranberry, damp dust, dark leather, and river rock…

Roagna Barbaresco Crichët Pajé

Darker and old school-er, with intersecting waves of funk and finesse; the overall profile here is one of beauty and beast (though the beast is kinda more of an all bark no bite kind of posture).…