Reviews

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

Previous notes from December still apply. A beautiful display of dark fruit flavors, if not lacking just a bit on the concentration side of things. Veers toward a more simple delivery of flavors, but…

Alpha Omega Era

Barrel sample. Red and black core berry fruit, with a healthy dosage of spice. Higher acid provided a significant amount of tension and verve. A little wound up at the moment, but seemingly just…

AJ Pearce Cabernet Sauvignon Massoumi Vineyard

Previous notes apply. This wine is certainly higher registering on the acid and structure spectrums, but has enough flavor (though somewhat restrained and classical in its delivery) to hold interest.…

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon

Previous notes from September apply, though I will say that I found it to start shutting down after about 30+ minutes of air. Mid-palate started to show a more linear display, with only the attack on…

Greer Cabernet Sauvignon Greer Vineyard

Same as all previous notes. Performed quite well, with a notable accessibility and plushness that is indicative of the vintage. A wild, dusty blueberry note added an elevated interest. Drink now with…

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Same as my notes from last month. A great bottle of wine that stood out from all of the other wines served alongside it. I'll try to hold remaining bottles for another year.

Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard

I'm still working on trying to understand these RM wines. The notion of them needing a lot of time indeed has merits, but I'm not entirely confident it's only a time issue. The 2013 and 2015 were…

Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard

I'm still working on trying to understand these RM wines. The notion of them needing a lot of time indeed has merits, but I'm not entirely confident it's only a time issue. The 2013 and 2015 were…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Finished off the bottle of a Coravin pour from last month. This took about two hours to really come to life. This was served next to a '15 Vice Versa LPV, which had more…

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Rita's Crown Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills

Previous notes apply. Just a big brute of a Pinot. There is pleasure here for sure, but it really is a bit too much of a good-ish thing. A Wren Hop Night Children served next to it showed just how…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Night Children

Previous notes apply. I was anxious to see where this wine was knowing full well it was going to still need some time. Confirmed! It indeed needs more time. I'm sticking to my 2020 prediction.

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

...Crisis averted from yesterday's strange Coravin experience. Same bottle as yesterday; Coravin pour again. This was not displaying in any sort of disjointed fashion, but I will say it appears to be…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Actaeon Quixote Vineyard

The first bottle was flawed. This second bottle was not, however my palate seemed to still be stuck in What The Heck mode after previously taking down some hefty sips of the heavily flawed bottle. I…

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

A follow-up to a Coravin pour from the same bottle a month ago. It was good, but something seemed a bit off. Displaying some overt alcohol atop the core fruit. It might have just needed more air, but…

Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Actaeon Quixote Vineyard

Strong cedar and white vinegar mixed with a tablespoon of flabby Welch's grape juice. G-Damm*t Simple Jack A** bottle of salad dressing! ��

Greer Cabernet Sauvignon Greer Vineyard

I went for another small pour from the Coravin on this wine. It had some time to open up with air, which was a good thing. I'm starting to understand this wine a little more. Even with the plushness…

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

This is turning out to be a very notable version of Dr. Crane. Initially on PnP, a bit of liqueur-esque black cherry and cassis notes dominated; but with a total of two hours+ of air, this really…

Stephen & Walker Trust Winery Limited Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

A somewhat enjoyable sipper (paired fine with some awesome Old Chicago pizza), but seemingly on the decline. Flavors were a little plumy, with muddled black cherry and some cedar-earth notes. A bit…

Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras

Same as previous notes. I'm going to try to hold remaining bottles until 2019. Just a little round on the mid-palate. Great core fruit flavors and concentration. Wanting a little more complexity and…

Melville Pinot Noir Block M

A totally different experience than when I had it 1.5 years ago. Sure enough, holding until 2018 proved to be a worthy endeavor. This time around, this wine was a succulent and juicy red-fruited…

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

This is really coming into a nice drinking window at this point. A much different experience than a year or so ago. A more seamless rush of black and dark red core fruit. A little bit of classical…

The Grade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Winfield Vineyard

Previous notes apply. Same as last month. Lush, ripe (but not over-ripe), and beautifully balanced. A nice rush of dark berry core fruit, with some bitter chocolate and subtle clove and black slate.…

Martinelli Pinot Noir Grace Nicole Zio Tony Ranch

Red fruit a-la-craziness kicking out with this wine. Bright red raspberry, bright red raspberry...and...bright red raspberry. Some red cherry...and...bright [ripe] red raspberry. The one flavor it…

Bevan Cellars Ontogeny

A great showing. One of the best Ontogenys I've had. The 2012 vintage is THE vintage for Ontogeny without a doubt. All previous notes apply. Service was PnP (which was perfect - no decant…

Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Summa Old Vines

PnP with an opaque blood orange hue, with scents of freshly washed cranberries, orange squeeze, and some woody spice. Much of the same on the palate. Red cherry, cranberry, wild red raspberry, orange…