Mirror Mirror on Wall, who's the Fairest of them All?

KLWines Tasting Event with Founder of Fairest Creature, Jayson. 19 and 21 vintage side by side and the 19 Triniceros (1.5L bottling and only 500 made). Pretty packed room. All but one are 100% cab. The only non-cab had some amounts of PV. Reminds me a lot of Tusk in terms of marketing, packaging and having this sort of luxurious, upscale feel to it. Overall, 21 vintage wines edged out the 19 wines. There was definitely no bad wines here.

• 2019 Fairest Creature "Polyspline" Cabernet Sauvignon 97 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This format really stresses more the winemaker. When speaking to Jayson, his approach was to move away from the SVD model and instead, showcase the winemaker and the styles of each. When asked about the vineyards, he did not want to disclose the vineyards used in the wines. Winemakers allowed to make the vast majority of the decisions, whether it is barrel choice, new vs old oak, how much juice from which vineyard, etc. Jayson was involved in the final blending for all wines.
  
  Loads of dark bing cherries. Full body, big wine. Will need time in bottle but it is clearly a very good wine. After having a few Melka wines in the last couple months, I can see the style coming out in the wine.

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• 2019 Fairest Creature "Sine Fine" Cabernet Sauvignon 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This format really stresses more the winemaker. When speaking to Jayson, his approach was to move away from the SVD model and instead, showcase the winemaker and the styles of each. When asked about the vineyards, he did not want to disclose the vineyards used in the wines. Winemakers allowed to make the vast majority of the decisions, whether it is barrel choice, new vs old oak, how much juice from which vineyard, etc. Jayson was involved in the final blending for all wines.
  
  More subdued on the nose. A bit shy and reserved. Softer and more feminine in style. Violets, purple fruits. Like a lady walking by that makes you look twice because of a subtle perfume that lingers a few steps behind her.

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• 2019 Fairest Creature "Perihelios" Cabernet Sauvignon 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This format really stresses more the winemaker. When speaking to Jayson, his approach was to move away from the SVD model and instead, showcase the winemaker and the styles of each. When asked about the vineyards, he did not want to disclose the vineyards used in the wines. Winemakers allowed to make the vast majority of the decisions, whether it is barrel choice, new vs old oak, how much juice from which vineyard, etc. Jayson was involved in the final blending for all wines.
  
  There is no mistaking this for a TRB style wine. Nose was a bit shy, but with swirling it comes out. Think of the movie, Hook where the kid is stretching and manipulating Peter Pan's (Robin Williams) face and then saying, "Oh there you are, Peter!" This wine was a bit slutty, sexy. A bit lacking on the finish compared to the other two 19's.

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• 2021 Fairest Creature "Sine Fine" Cabernet Sauvignon 99 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This format really stresses more the winemaker. When speaking to Jayson, his approach was to move away from the SVD model and instead, showcase the winemaker and the styles of each. When asked about the vineyards, he did not want to disclose the vineyards used in the wines. Winemakers allowed to make the vast majority of the decisions, whether it is barrel choice, new vs old oak, how much juice from which vineyard, etc. Jayson was involved in the final blending for all wines.
  
  Was told 100pts JD by Jayson and I understand why. Wow wine. Good fruit, great balance. Beautiful long finish. Has it all. Great now. Not much more needs to be said. 98-99 and quite possibly deserves the 100 pt score. To be honest, I did not want to like this wine when Jayson said this got 100pts from JD, but you have to call balls and strikes and this is a very very good wine.

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• 2021 Fairest Creature "Perihelios" Cabernet Sauvignon 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This format really stresses more the winemaker. When speaking to Jayson, his approach was to move away from the SVD model and instead, showcase the winemaker and the styles of each. When asked about the vineyards, he did not want to disclose the vineyards used in the wines. Winemakers allowed to make the vast majority of the decisions, whether it is barrel choice, new vs old oak, how much juice from which vineyard, etc. Jayson was involved in the final blending for all wines.
  
  Big, young wine. Much swirling needed to bring out the nose in glass. For me, lacking a bit on the finish. Again, TRB style on display.

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• 2021 Fairest Creature "Polyspline" Cabernet Sauvignon 97 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This format really stresses more the winemaker. When speaking to Jayson, his approach was to move away from the SVD model and instead, showcase the winemaker and the styles of each. When asked about the vineyards, he did not want to disclose the vineyards used in the wines. Winemakers allowed to make the vast majority of the decisions, whether it is barrel choice, new vs old oak, how much juice from which vineyard, etc. Jayson was involved in the final blending for all wines.
  
  Lots of red fruits, balanced nose. Big wine, lots of structure and complex. Long finish. Also clearly very TRB in feel on the nose and palate.

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• 2019 Fairest Creature Cabernet Sauvignon Triniceros

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This format really stresses more the winemaker. When speaking to Jayson, his approach was to move away from the SVD model and instead, showcase the winemaker and the styles of each. When asked about the vineyards, he did not want to disclose the vineyards used in the wines. Winemakers allowed to make the vast majority of the decisions, whether it is barrel choice, new vs old oak, how much juice from which vineyard, etc. Jayson was involved in the final blending for all wines.
  
  Made by Michel Rolland and is a best barrel selection from all the lots available. Opened the night before. Out of magnum and only 500 made. About half the bottle finished when poured for me. Wine was a bit out of balance. A bit high on the acid. I wonder if the overnight slow ox played a part. Clearly a good wine. More black fruit, graphite. Would have loved to try at PnP versus the 24 hour slow ox. If I had to score it, 94/95

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• 2019 Tusk Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 98 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Thank you Marvin (@wineburrowingwombat). Had at Flemings after the Fairest Creature Tasting. Was super shocked that WBW would bring something like this for dinner. Lovely wine! HUGE! Will also need time to mellow out. Very big, powerful, masculine, dark, brooding. Had with a prime Rib Eye with just salt and pepper. No frills dinner and awesome with the Tusk. Probably the best restaurant steak I had in some time. Cooked perfectly med rare and perfectly seasoned. Shared a pour with Fleming's Ops Director, who also in his past, managed the Levi Stadium, York Family wine program. He was gracious enough to give comp us a pork belly appetizer which just paired beautifully with the Tusk as well.

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Rankings
21 Sine Fine
[19 Tusk]
19 Polyspline
21 Polyspline
21 Perihelios
19 Sine Fine
19 Perihelios
19 Triniceros