Brasswood - Vintner's Vanguard

Saint Helena
Tasted Saturday, August 26, 2017 by csimm with 526 views

Introduction

Some very nice wines...and some unfortunate misses. A crowded event with more memorable failures than successes.

Flight 1 (1 Note)

  • 2015 Bevan Cellars Chardonnay 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    Fairly traditional notes of yellow citrus making up the core fruit; some stone and white fruit flavors on the back end, which kicked out a little bitterness on the finish. Seemed to have the stuffing to be a fairly interesting Chardonnay, but came off somewhat disjointed. Good intensity and drive on the initial attack, but got caddywhompus halfway through.

    Hold for another year. 89-90+? points for now.

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Flight 2 (1 Note)

  • 2014 Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon McGah Vineyard 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

    A very giving and inviting representation of the McGah site, with a notable finesse that allowed for a seamless delivery of black and dark purple core fruit. Had a bit of a black asphalt, pebbly streak that framed the fruit nicely. A tinge of liqueur-like alcohol on the back end, adding a little zing and keeping it from being too fruit-driven. There was some sweetness that was just a sliver distracting.

    Compared to the 2014 Scarlett Reserve (also from McGah), Bevan’s version was certainly more approachable and giving than the Scarlett Reserve (at least from what I recall about the Scarlett when I had it back in November of last year). Stylistically, the Scarlett Reserve and the Bevan McGah maintain a similar profile, with dark, black fruit. Both are very inky and deeply pitched. I recall a licorice component in the Scarlett that I did not notice in the Bevan. The Scarlett Reserve seems better set for the long haul, whereas the Bevan is totally accessible now. As with the 2013 Bevan McGah, I fear it may start to lose early ground over the coming years as the gobs of fruit struggle to find a true frame that prevents it from toppling. Yet, this 2014 McGah was drinking beautifully and was tied for WOTN for me (with a 2014 Addax – also made by Bevan) throughout the entire event. The only real issue for me was some sweet fruit on the back end which I thought could lead to a compounding cloying display in the future. Time will tell on that though.

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Flight 3 (1 Note)

  • 2014 Bevan Cellars Ontogeny 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Same as all of my previous notes on this wine. It was totally open for business, with plump and saturated black and purple core fruit. The PV component seemingly showed a pebbly dark side almost immediately on the attack (which was a good thing), as the other components were very ripe and extracted. The 2014 Bevan McGah served beside it was certainly more complex and layered, but for half the price of the McGah, the Ontogeny puffed its chest with just the right amount flex and push to prove itself as a worthy contender among Napa Cabernets/blends in this range. Overall QPR on the Ontogeny is stellar. Drink now or hold for another 6+ months just to see where it goes from here. 93-94 points.

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Flight 4 (2 Notes)

  • 2014 Addax Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Almost like a hybrid of the 2014 Bevan McGah and Ontogeny I just had prior to tasting this wine, but injected with 100 cc of horse juice, the Addax was deeply extracted and concentrated with black, blue, and purple core fruit, ripe blackberry and blueberry, blue and black pen ink, black asphalt, tar, and some sweet spice.

    This tasted like a bachelorette party bus collided with a black stretch limousine full of Secret Service agents. It had the celebratory blast of ripe fruit and sweet extraction (though not cloying at all – just riding that razor’s edge) and a strange sophistication that crept up and kept the restless natives in check. The black minerality/asphalt and spice notes corralled the deep fruit just in the nick of time. It had a hedonistic style about it indeed, but it wasn’t a full-on glass of stripper poles and debauchery. If you want to know what 2014 fruit is all about, tear off your breakaway pants and pour yourself a glass of Addax. 94+ points.

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  • 2014 Addax Pinot Noir 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Similar to a Bevan Rita’s Pinot, the Addax was deeply rich, spicy, and threw off a decent amount of heat. Lacked some complexity, falling a little short on the finish as well. Dark black cherry, blackberry, baking spices, wet tanbark/mulch, and some earth, this Pinot was a decent attempt, but any of Bevan’s namesake Pinots would typically crush this wine. It was a “meh; good” type of Pinot. The general response was, “It’s fine I guess.” It felt like it was trying to be a Bevan or Wren Hop Pinot, but just couldn’t get out of first gear. It had the rich part down pat, but the rest felt lacking and somewhat one-dimentional. 89-90 points tops for me.

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Flight 5 (2 Notes)

  • 2012 Aloft Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    A decent example of Howell Mountain, with black and dark red core fruit, some spice, a little dark chocolate, and creamy oak. Mid-palate was more medium than I would have preferred, but it had elegance and refinement that was notable. Overall though, it was a fairly general example of the 2012 vintage, with hallmark approachability and easy drinking. Unfortunately, by comparison, the Bevan reds treated this wine like a insipid bystander. Tops out around 92 points for me.

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  • 2008 Aloft Cabernet Sauvignon 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    Interesting from a science project standpoint. This showed advanced flavors of over-ripe, mature black and red currant, cigar leaf, leather, mushroom, tea, and a streak of deep black cherry. Served from a decanter. A dark red rim with darker red and black hues toward the center of the glass.

    For a 2008, I would think this wouldn’t be so far along, which might just show the potential lack of aging potential of these wines. It was drinkable and quasi-interesting, but I’m not sure how overly impressed I was with the total delivery of this wine. Not something I would seek out.

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Flight 6 (1 Note)

  • 2013 Dark Matter Cabernet Sauvignon Limitless 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    Another Mondavi sister (Angelina) creation. The Limitless was an ok representation of Howell Mountain (different areas than Aloft), but it fell behind even the Aloft Cabernet in terms of complexity and interest. A little thin mid-palate with a lighter/medium finish. 87-89 points tops for me.

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Flight 7 (2 Notes)

  • 2013 Parallel Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 87 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    From six different “undisclosed” sites (which screams second or third round pick of fruit – especially given the finished product); this was unmemorable and instantly a wine where everyone said, “Ok, what’s next?” 86-87 points. Pass.

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  • 2013 Parallel Cabernet Sauvignon Outer Limits 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    From three different sites (instead of the six sites for the standard Napa Cabernet). The outer limits had a slight bit more push and “depth” than the standard Cabernet, but nothing that would actually grab ahold of the consumer and maintain any sort of interest (in my opinion). Almost as forgettable as the standard Cabernet. 87-88 points?

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Flight 8 (2 Notes)

  • 2014 Haber Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 58 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    Completely cooked to the point that even the stewed plum and raisin flavors were only barely identifiable as fruit. Beef broth and wrinkly raisin aftertaste. A muddled grapey note showed up briefly, but was immediately washed away by the brown plum flavor. When I inquired about the profile of the wine, I was told this was the desired finished product. I would’ve simply written this off as flawed…but if ya’ll want to own this as the intended result, so be it…

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  • 2014 Haber Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain 86 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain

    "Much" better than the 2014 Haber Howell Cabernet, but unfortunately that isn’t saying much given the prune-tinged extraction and over-ripe flavors that still managed to wash over the palate with this Diamond Mountain version. Some frame and acid that attempted to hold it all together, but in the end, the muddled ripe fruit fell apart for the most part. 85-86 points simply because it showed some momentary signs of life. Otherwise, this was an unfortunate loss.

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Flight 9 (2 Notes)

  • 2014 Brasswood Cabernet Sauvignon 83 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Nope. Thin and forgettable. Tasted like a one-cent sale wine at BevMo.

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  • 2014 Brasswood Cabernet Franc 79 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Goofy and fruity. No real sense of balance of complexity. Strange fruit cocktail flavors that tasted completely out of place. It tasted like Cabernet Franc for about one second, and then went straight into flavor silliness. The only thing missing here was a maraschino cherry.

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Flight 10 (1 Note)

Flight 11 (1 Note)

Flight 12 (1 Note)

  • 2014 Silver Ghost Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    In a world amongst $150+ Napa Cabernets, this $35 bugger was a “decent” surprise. Was it epic?…uh, no. Was it captivating?...still no. Was it at least complex and attention grabbing?...not especially. Did it at least not blow a bag of donkey diapers the way the previous 6+ wines tasted before it did? Yes!

    So…it was ok. For $35, if you’re having a dinner party at home with a bunch of folks that could care less about the wine you’re serving, you’re guaranteed to impress with a case of this for just a few hundred dollars out of the wallet. Beyond that, save your money. 86-88 points (and about 2 points is because of the QPR).

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Flight 13 (2 Notes)

  • 2013 Harumph Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 86 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Hints of decent black and dark red fruits, but pretty boozy. The Spring Mountain version of this was a hint better, but overall, the Harumph wines came off like wines that would be better served at Bachelor in Paradise. If having to decide, go for the Harumph Spring Mountain. The Napa version was just too much vodka meets Welch’s.

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  • 2013 Harumph Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    More structure and focus than its Napa sibling, the Spring Mountain at least had some seemingly decent fruit to balance the otherwise boozy profile. The attack was alcohol first, fruit later. 88 points is pretty generous…but it benefited from following a number of absolutely dreadful wines before it. If tasted alone, the Harumph wines would likely be candidates for drain consumption. I’ll go 87-88 points just to be fair, but I really wasn’t a fan unfortunately.

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Flight 14 (1 Note)

  • 2014 Montagu Cabernet Sauvignon The Baron 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

    GIII fruit, but a fairly walk-in-the-park version of the site. A bit of an imbalance between the overt fruitiness and whacky acid. The bottom of the barrel in terms of the GIII site. "It was ok," is the summation of this wine for me. Everyone in our group collectively stated, “It’s ok I guess; are we done?” 86-88 points depending on how nice you're feeling.

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