Wine Doctrine
Every tasting note

Reviews

3,775 notes

2015

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon

California · Napa Valley

Same as my previous notes on this wine from August. This is both strong and beautiful in its delivery of red and black fruits. An interesting hybrid of sites that ultimately ends up creating a…

Reviewed 3 October 2017
2012

Moone-Tsai Vineyards Black List VII

California · Napa Valley

A Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend with a heavy PV component (and a dollop of Merlot), this Blacklist version presented itself much in the same way of the 2013 Blacklist IX. Dark fruit with some…

Reviewed 3 October 2017
2013

Moone-Tsai Vineyards Black List X

California · Napa Valley

The best of the Blacklist wines, the X was comprised of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, a whopping 33% PV, and 2% Merlot. A ton of grip on this wine, but the black fruit still managed to push through. Some…

Reviewed 3 October 2017
2013

Moone-Tsai Vineyards Black List IX

Napa Valley · St. Helena

This had a very prominent funky railroad tie nose. On the palate, a little bit of the same, with a decent core of dark red/black fruit with some earth and spice. A fairly significant clamp on the…

Reviewed 3 October 2017
2013

Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Napa Valley · St. Helena

Thanks to Cristal2000 for bringing this wine to the party. For me, the Hobbs had an inverse progression than the Carter. The Carter started out fruity and a bit over-lush and then made it's way into…

Reviewed 3 October 2017
2014

Moone-Tsai Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Cor Leonis

California · Napa Valley

Much more accessible and showy than its 2013 older brother. Sweeter fruit and a little more blue/black fruit (as contrasted with the 2013 black/red fruit profile). A little more dense and rich, but…

Reviewed 3 October 2017
2013

Moone-Tsai Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Cor Leonis

California · Napa Valley

An interesting wine with a lot of flavors going on. Plum, black and red currant, blackberry, dark cranberry, earth, spice, oolong tea, and cedar. A little leathery and raisiny on the back end, with a…

Reviewed 3 October 2017
2016

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Napa Valley · St. Helena

This was a barrel sample generously gifted to us for our Las Piedras taste-off at Cook Restaurant in St. Helena, which also included a '13 Carter LPV, '13 Hobbs LPV, '13 Quivet LPV, and a '12 Vice…

Reviewed 3 October 2017
2014

Moone-Tsai Vineyards Hillside Blend

Napa Valley · Howell Mountain

Much like the Napa Cabernet version, this was a fairly simple walk throughout consumption. A bit of an odd interplay between the jammy plum and musty earth notes, with the back end a little clunky.…

Reviewed 3 October 2017
2013

Sodhani Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley · St. Helena

Similar to the 2014s except that this 2013 was wound a little tighter and showed more of a linear profile. Plum, black and red currant, camphor, leather, and cedar. Tight, bitter, and pretty…

Reviewed 3 October 2017
2014

Moone-Tsai Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

California · Napa Valley

Straightforward and agreeable, with "medium" everything.attack, body, mid, finish. It was an ok wine, if not a bit uninspiring. Fairly soft and round overall. Red and black currant, cedar, and…

Reviewed 3 October 2017
2014

Sodhani Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Napa Valley · St. Helena

This Reserve was a little less funky than the standard 2014, but it still carried a strange aftertaste that I couldn't quite put my finger on. The attack started out seemingly solid, but then a…

Reviewed 3 October 2017
2014

Sodhani Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

Napa Valley · St. Helena

Notes of ripe plum, camphor, mulch, and wet leather. Unfortunately all of the wines in the Sodhani lineup had a wood turpentine note to them. Not sure what was going on there. No rating.

Reviewed 3 October 2017
2016

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

Napa Valley · Oakville

Black, earthy core fruit surrounded by black currant, dark spice box, coffee grounds, and some faint truffle and earthy cedar on the tail end. Massive and finessed at the same time; as with the 2014…

Reviewed 3 October 2017
2016

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard

Napa Valley · St. Helena

Just when I thought nothing would be able to compete with Vice Versa's 2016 LPV served just before this wine, along came the good Doctor who just had to try to push the reigning champ off to the…

Reviewed 3 October 2017
2016

Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Napa Valley · St. Helena

Absolutely unreal! This stands to become one of the best LPVs I've ever had; this juice blew the socks off of just about any LPV I've experienced. Of course, as a barrel sample, and as a wine that…

Reviewed 3 October 2017
2009

Realm Cellars The Tempest

California · Napa Valley

The first of a few "library" wines offered at the tasting. An inviting, if not a bit dark and brooding example of a more mature Merlot-based blend. Dark red and black currant, some wet cedar, cacao…

Reviewed 2 October 2017
2008

Abreu Cappella

California · Napa Valley

With the cork pulled a couple of hours before consumption, this Cabernet was given just the right amount of air to allow it to gracefully deliver its black cherry, deep red and black currant, tobacco…

Reviewed 2 October 2017
2014

Hirsch Vineyards Pinot Noir East Ridge

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

High register, high toned red fruit core, with verve-filled pomegranate, red cherry, and some citrus rind. A lot of energy and forward drive on the initial attack, with a lithe, lean, and linear…

Reviewed 2 October 2017
2014

Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras

Napa Valley · St. Helena

As much as I thought the Sleeping Lady was an enjoyable wine (served alongside the LPV), this LPV was notably more complex and driven. PnP displayed immediate gratification, with ripe blue and black…

Reviewed 2 October 2017
2014

Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Sleeping Lady Vineyard

Napa Valley · Yountville

Notes blue and black fruit, blue river rock, and some spice. Round, plush, and extremely inviting, this wine washes over the palate with ripe fruit and a medium-bodied delivery.

Reviewed 2 October 2017