Vice Versa

Tasted Saturday, August 19, 2017 by csimm with 268 views

Flight 1 (1 Note)

  • 2015 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    A Stagecoach (Pritchard Hill side)/LPV hybrid, this Cabernet showed the best of what can become of Stagecoach fruit, with some much elevated flavor assistance from LPV. I wouldn't have been able to distinguish the sites necessarily based on the wine, but the combination worked well here.

    Fruit-forward, pushing primarily dark berry notes and some smooth, spiced oak headfirst across the palate. As with the other Vice Versa wines, this Cabernet struck a nice balance between ripe black and dark red core fruit and a decent grip to hold all the forward flavors in a well-crafted frame. Not as complex or concentrated as the LPV BBS or Magnificent 7 tasted alongside it. Time will certainly help this youngster broaden its shoulders and better bring all the flavors into focus.

    94-95+ points for now. Best after 2019.

    Read 7 Comments / Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 2 (1 Note)

  • 2015 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon BBS Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard 97 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    Close to being on par with the 2015 Magnificant 7, this LPV BBS is packed full of dark, chocolate-covered black berry, black currant, black licorice, black raspberry liqueur, cacao, and pulverized granite. Super concentrated and deeply pitched, but still has a lot of youthful verve to push its mass of flavors on though the finish. Never heavy or clumsy, this is beautifully extracted, maintaining keen balance and smooth delivery. The texture is unbelievably finessed and sexy.

    This is likely one of the richest LPVs I've had. Fans out with more of a dark chocolate note when compared to a Schrader or Carter LPV. I might've even mistaken the Vice Versa for a To Kalon because of its big, dark fruit, but the minerality on the back end kept it honest to its site.

    This should be a stellar performer in a year or two. Right up my alley. 97+ points with upside after 2019/2020+

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 3 (1 Note)

  • 2015 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon The Magnificent Seven 99 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    A nearly flawless example of a big "cult style" Napa Cabernet. The attack is a rush of dark black currant, black cherry, black raspberry, dark chocolate, subtle char, and black mulch notes. A massive, decadent wine.

    Absolutely unreal silky texture and unctuous viscosity. Covers all the bases associated with incredible concentration; big, rich, and hedonistic, while all the while maintaining an incredible balance. Acid seemed low on the first hit, but it crept up nicely at the back of the jaw. Tannins were impeccably sophisticated and smooth. Finish went on for 60+ seconds.

    Reminded me of a cross between a Memento Mori and a Tusk. A beautiful barrage of ripe, black fruit with that signature Melka seamlessness. The M7 was a touch more concentrated than the VV LPV BBS, except that the LPV showed more stone and minerality on the back end. The only thing that kept this M7 from being 100 points was that it showed just a little bit of baby fat, which seemed to be potentially masking some of the additional would-be flavor nuances cloaked behind the dense and viscous fruit and chocolatey oak. 97-99 points. Even better integrated after 2019/2020+. However, this will be hard to resist, as it is drinking phenomenally right now.

    Read 2 Comments / Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 4 (1 Note)

  • 2014 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon BBS Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    On the nose, interesting floral aromas, with liqueur and alcohol wafting up through the back of the mouth. On the palate, dark red and black berry notes, black raspberry liqueur, and subtle violets.

    A lot of youthful lift on this wine, so much so that it pulled the focus away from the mid-palate and created a less intense rush of concentrated flavors. Some might prefer this, as the acid and alcohol kept the wine from seeming too heavy. For me, I found that I wanted a little more weight on this wine; it had a little trouble competing with the Magnificent 7 and LPV BBS tasted before it.

    To be sure, this is no slouch. The purity of fruit was noticeable. It primarily struck me as a wine that was in the process of integrating its flavors and in a somewhat adolescent, teenage boy stage. Needs another two years. 93-95 points. Best after 2019+.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 5 (1 Note)

  • 2008 Michel Gonet Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Prestige Blanc de Blancs 94 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    A great way to finish off a tasting of an immensely unctuous lineup of 2015 Vice Versa Cabernets, this Champagne was a welcome delivery of frothy stone fruit, pumice, and light lemon. I could've drunk the whole bottle of this; luckily Patrice Breton was there to keep me in check and share in my gluttony.

    Such a lively and flavorful sparkler. Hit all of the right places in terms or bubbles, acid, and a pleasant off-dry finish. One of the better Champagnes I've had in a while.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

×
×