Beautifully mature and resolved, with nicely oxidative notes of dark yellow citrus, bruised Meyer lemon rind, grilled pineapple, lightly toasted brioche, and light colored toffee. Tiny bubbles that provided a perfect amount of verve.

Thankfully, no overly ripe banana peel or brown apple notes (as is sometimes the case with over-the-hill or heavily oxidative Champagnes). This carried beautiful balance with still a decent amount of lift to push the flavors through the back end. Definitely a shorter drinking window is creeping up on this wine; so I’d drink now and over the next handful of years.

Paired great with tortilla chips and a shrimp, avocado, and red onion ceviche. A perfect way to start off the evening.

Plush, round, flavorful, and pushing out a medium-bodied attack of dark black cherry, purple plum, blackberry, blueberry, cassis, and some spice. Certainly a nice array of flavors jumping around on the palate. Round and softer edges, but still delivering a notable punch of fruit flavor on the front end. Medium finish. A definite improvement from when I had this wine last year (it was still sorting itself out at the time). But this has developed a nice seamlessness.

For my palate, I’d drink this now and over the next three years. A fuller, rounder version (and more medium-bodied mid-palate) than the more concentrated 2015. QPR on this wine is stooopid good!

The front-loaded attack of dark blue and blackberry and scorched, mulch-driven fruit washed over the palate with a plush rush of intensity. What initially seemed like a wondrous attack of broodingly dark fruit, ended up with somewhat of an abrupt ending. A numbing, cat tongue swipe on the finish clipped the back end in a very obvious way. Some swirling and air in the glass helped somewhat, but it was never fully able to resolve its spiny back end. Maintains solid points for flavor on the front end, but takes a bit of a dip on the tail end. I’d hold remaining bottles for another year+ in hopes there is some resolution on its warm needle, porcupine finish.

The 2015 Purlieu MH served beside it was a MUCH better and more complete wine; the full animal. With the 2014, it was as if its tail had been docked. 90-92? points. Hold until 2020.

The 2015 Purlieu had a notable concentration and depth of flavor. Dark berry fruit, black cherry, cassis, dark mulch, fresh soil, and hints of scorched earth. A great push and grip as well. A far superior wine to the 2014 Purlieu MH served beside it. I also very much liked the 2014 Becklyn, but found this 2015 Purlieu to be more complete, focused, and concentrated. The lift and energy on the 2015 was notable. The 2015 Purlieu MH was closest in profile to the 2015 Becklyn MH (though I’d have to say the 2015 Becklyn MH was a little fruitier). I was slightly more captivated by the 2015 Purlieu overall when it came to the complete representation of the Missouri Hopper site, but it was essentially a neck-and-neck race with the Purlieu MH, Becklyn NV, and Becklyn MH in 2015. QPR-wise, the Purlieu is the least desirable at $170-180+. I might have dropped it a point just on the tariff issue alone.

I’ll just say this. For $65 bucks, this was the QPR wine of the night. Full of flavor and more concentration than the 2014, this 2015 has everything you’d want in a right-now kind of wine. Bursting out at the seams with blackberry, blueberry, black raspberry, black cherry, and cassis notes. Flavor, flavor, flavor. A fun wine with a notable verve and grip to hold it all together. For me, this is drinking great now. Some air did help even it out a little bit more, so time is on your side. But if you like a little push in your wine, this is certainly worth trying now (if you don’t mind some baby fat still lingering around the edges). This and the 2015 Becklyn MH were fun-filled roller coaster rides of flavor. I might have bumped this up an extra point just because of the QPR incentive.

When bookended between the 2015 Becklyn NV and the 2015 Becklyn MH, the Mould’s Reserve came off slightly thinner and more linear than the other two served right beside it. As a standalone, this wine (like all the others) would be more than just fine. But in the end, it took an unfortunate backseat to the other more ostentatious Becklyns. Notes of red and some black berry fruit, with hints of blue slate and limestone that added interest.

The comparative Jamaican bobsledding team misfire here for my personal palate preference was mid-palate; it sailed right past the would-be epicenter of depth, and tailed-off directly into the medium finish. I personally wanted some additional mid-range concentration. This just cruises with a more austere and delicate delivery in that regard.

For those who find the other Becklyns too flavor-driven or aren’t as high on the whole modern Napa Cab thing, the Reserve might be more up your alley. Regardless, give this introvert another year to fatten out and wake up a bit more. It is a little shy and slender at the moment. It’ll surely come around in another year or two.

Much like the 2015 Becklyn NV, the MH had the slightest bit more of elevated concentration and power, but otherwise displayed a comparable flavor-filled hodgepodge of awesome blue, red, and black berry core fruit. Plum, cassis, and black cherry also dominated, along with some dark soil and mulch. The center-punch mid-palate was very fulfilling. I’d hold for another year on this wine just to let it hone its focus slightly more. Otherwise, it’s very compelling juice. QPR-wise, the 2015 Becklyn NV inches ahead of this solely from a fiscal standpoint, as I found them to be very similar. It’s good to have both in the cellar!

This wine laid waste to the 2014 Schrader and 2014 Colesworthy served beside it. The concentration of the Carter slapped the Schraders into absolute orbit, especially on the front end and through the mid-palate. The Schraders seemed watery (of all things) and thin. I personally think this speaks more toward the Carter’s awesome, complex tiered flavor profile, and less about the Schraders’ inability to deliver depth-wise. The Schraders were not “watery” on their own, but insert one badass 2014 Carter LPV, and the others became its beeotches almost instantly.

The 2014 ain’t no Verdad, but it’s pretty damn close. Previous notes from two months ago on the 2014 Carter LPV still apply. Striking black minerality coupled with a swirling interplay of black, red, and some blue berry fruit made for a great showing. Drink now or hold for a few years if you feel like it.

Note: I had this the next day, and it still held up nicely. Missing some of the broad strokes from the previous day, but the flavors and depth persisted. This has some stuffing to last through some short-term cellaring without any issues. Great stuff.

Vastly less concentrated than the 2012 Schrader LPV I’ve had previously, and a shadow of a wine when compared to the 2014 Colesworthy served beside it. On top of it all, this was also side-by-side with a 2014 Carter LPV, which also beat it into submission. Overall, this 2014 Schrader LPV was one of the more lackluster performers of the evening. More red-fruited, with not much minerality or gravel components usually indicative of the LPV site.

Drink now, as I don’t think time will do much to add weight to this wine. A bit of a bummer given its QPR and reputation. The 2014 Colesworthy was better, but not significantly. The 2015 Schrader LPV and 2015 Colesworthy served in the following flight were much better. Yet, the standard Schrader LPV (both in 2014 and 2015) seemed be comparatively second and third-rate when the Carter LPVs came in and wreaked havoc on Fred’s prized possessions. I was pretty shocked actually.

I have a couple bottles of this in the cellar, so I’ll have to check it out in a more controlled environment where it isn’t getting its ass handed to it in a playground full of athletes. I’ll put a diaper on it next time and hope it doesn’t sh** the crib when I give it a shot in another 6-12 months. 91-ish points during this experience.

Better than the 2014 Schrader LPV, but in no way a top performer among the other LPVs served throughout the evening. It was good. It was fine. It was maybe even better than fine. But considering the high tariff and reputation, I was surprised this didn’t execute as well as it should have. A 2014 Carter LPV alongside the Colesworthy all but obliterated the Schraders in a performance that can only be categorized as somewhat embarrassing.

Look, I quite liked the Colesworthy. In fact, I came back for it later in the night, and it was… “fine.” But the mid-palate was much more medium-to-light bodied (comparatively) than I had expected. Red fruit driven, with some black currant and hints of gravel. Otherwise, it was a little pedestrian given my expectations. And as a magnum “reserve” version of the Schrader LPV, I found myself even more confused.

The 2015 Colesworthy was MUCH more improved and sophisticated. But even in 2015, the Colesworthy couldn’t hold a candle to the Carter LPVs. Now I know I’m a Carter fan and all, but I expected a little more competitive fight from the Schraders. Putting aside them selling to Constellation and all that drama, I just couldn’t find myself drawn to these wines. It was an instant “sit back in your seat, shake your head, and move on” kind of experience. I appreciate it as a good wine; and maybe my expectations are too high. But I’m looking for this to deliver at a much higher level. Maybe next year……..

Previous notes apply on this wine, as I’ve written quite a bit and gloated on and on about my adoration for the beloved Verdad. Its flavor profile is totally my jam. It was the delivery end of a Vulcan minigun to all of the Schrader and Colesworthy LPVs served alongside it.

The elevated comparative performances from a few other wines kept this wine from being my WOTN this evening. I fully expected this to be “the one” tonight. Alas, the dark horses of the 2015 and 2016 Quivet LPV, as well as the 2016 Carter OG, came in and took the highest trophies. Regardless, this Carter is top-notch, and was one of many favorites this go-around. Even the 2015 Carter Weitz was dancing toe-to-toe with the Verdad this evening. The Verdad is more than fine to drink now, but probably worth waiting another 6-12 months+.

Better than the 2014 Schrader LPV and 2014 Colesworthy, but it couldn’t catch up to the 2015 Colesworthy (likely by design). However, the conversation amongst the Schraders became somewhat irrelevant, as they were all left in the dust by the two Carter LPVs (2014 and 2015 Verdad). The 2015 Schrader LPV had a thinner mid-palate (though less “watery” than the 2014 Schrader LPV), with a finish that ran a bit too short given what this wine is supposed to be. The overall delivery was good (as in “94-ish points” good), but there was certainly nothing iconic about this wine.

Knock off about $100 a bottle on this wine and maybe there’s a better conversation to be had. But at $225+? Rough…

This was a bit more elevated than the standard 2015 Schrader LPV served beside it, but this too was a helpless kitten when the tiger 2015 Carter Verdad LPV stepped in and pawed the crap out of the Schrader and Colesworthy wines. I’ve much enjoyed the 2012 Schrader LPVs in the past, but the 2014 and 2015 renditions were somewhat lackluster by comparison. As mentioned with the 2015 Schrader LPV, this Colesworthy was “good,” “fine,” and had all of the “nice” elements one would look for in a quality Cabernet from the great Valley. But epic? Iconic? Awe-inspiring??

…uh…..no…..

An objective 94+ points, with possible upside in a year or so. It is and will be a good wine. And that’s kinda where it ends for me…. Maybe my expectations were too high here. Putting it in magnum with a fancy wooden box doesn’t make it better. It makes it super cool and pretty, but it doesn’t make for blockbuster juice. QPR is a serious monetary miscarry. Try again in 2020.

Black core fruit, with some black currant, blue river rock, scorched earth, and purple plum skin. A good deal of energy and verve for a 2014, and much more compelling than the standard 2014 MM. From the front, to the middle, to the back (like the Caro Emerald song “Back It Up!”), this wine delivered on all fronts. A day later, this was still full of life. A really nice, gravelly grip housed the dark gothic core fruit. A solid representation of the site.

Previous notes apply. This was delivering really beautiful black and blue berry fruit flavors right away on PnP. A little softer and more plush than the 2014 Memento Mori LPV SVD served alongside it, but still pushed out some solid grip and minerality to keep it in the upper echelon of LPV wines worthy of carrying the site’s name. It had a slight confection note on the finish, but that blew off when I revisited it later in the evening.

I’d hold this another year to see if it can become even more seamless after some additional short-term cellaring. 94-95 points this go-around.

Previous notes apply from last year. This has certainly found its groove, with beautiful black and blue core fruit, black currant, signature site-specific black asphalt, crunchy minerality, and some embers. The 2015 and 2016 Quivet LPVs were far more bombastic and monstrous (in the best of ways), but this 2014 kept an even delivery of great essences throughout consumption and showed its ability to be remembered for its smooth, complex delineation of flavors and a notable cut from its mineral-driven grip. Still a compelling example of the site, if not eclipsed just a bit by the shadows of its younger ‘15 and ‘16 brethren.

One of the top wines of the night. A point up from the last time I had this wine back in November of 2017. I would’ve said this was the best Quivet LPV I’ve had to date, but that attestation only lasted about 2 minutes. Enter the 2016 Quivet LPV. Now THAT became the best Quivet LPV I’ve had to date!

Taking a step back, it’s important to note that the 2016 was a barrel sample, full of all sorts of swirling baby fat, massive concentration, and unbelievably captivating power. The 2015 has been in bottle for a hot second, so it’s had a chance to mellow out a bit. However, as is often the case in comparative tastings, barrel samples will frequently trump the bottled versions simply because there is just so much damn flavor coming out of the barrel samples. What makes an argument for the 2015 is the fact that it kept pace with the 2016 and it was somewhat hard to tell them apart in the end. So if the 2015 can do that, it might mean it is ultimately a bigger wine (as the 2016 will certainly downshift a hair once it settles into bottle).

Regardless, the difference between a 98-99+ point 2015 and a 99+ point 2016 is basically nothing. They are both utterly compelling wines. Quivet certainly stepped-up this tasting!

Pretty darn awesome if drinking now, but holding the 2015 for another 6-12 months in the name of science is not a bad idea. 98-99+ points.

An exclamation of formidable magnificence in black liquid form, the 2016 barrel sample of the Quivet LPV was absolutely rockin’! A “Holy Mary, Mother of God” moment as soon at it hit the palate. Front-loaded with all sorts of crazy good black and blue core fruit, black cassis (if there is such a thing), black asphalt and road tar, black river rock, clove, burnt embers, and some gravelly scorched earth. Mid-palate was immense and intense. The finish went on for 60+ seconds. A sexy beast through and through (you can thank the double fist pump of Darnajou and Taransaud barrels for helping out on that front).

Before I tried this wine, another party member skulkingly approached me and said with a half-cocked grin, “You have to try this, but you can’t tell anyone else about it.” He presented me with a sample bottle, of which I graciously took custody and poured myself a splash (or three). “Hey, no problem,” I said confidently. First sip = “Holy sh*t! Hey everybody, you gotta check this out!” I guess I’m down for snitching, cuz I couldn’t contain my excitement about this wine. For me, this was a “it’s just that good” kind of wine. I know I’ll regret posting this tasting note, as there isn’t that much to go around. So stand in line friends, and look out for me elbowing you out of the way to up my allocation any way I can (and no, as a matter of fact, I’m not on Mike Smith’s promotional payroll by the way).

A point up from last year, this Grand Daddy was my favorite of the three Carter BTKs tried in this flight, showing even more focus and complexity than the 2015 GD and 2015 Three Kings served alongside. Dark red with some black core fruit, bitter chocolate, and some spice. Massively endowed but holding a finesse throughout its delivery that showed a notable sophistication. Focus was superb here.

The 2013 vintage really is starting to show that it will indeed be capable of channeling epic, elevated experiences through the lenses of certain masterfully crafted wines. I’d still give this wine until after 2020 to really start hitting its full stride, but it is showing remarkable accessibility now (especially compared to when I had it last year). 96-97+ points for now.

Similar to the 2013 Carter GD except that this 2015 version was a little more medium-bodied and fruitier than its older brother. Purity of fruit is beautifully delineated, with easy-going waves of flavor undulating across the palate. This is less of a monster than the 2013, with less grip and power. I favored the 2013 a little more simply because of its attention-grabbing demeanor. The 2015 is a little softer.

Drinking good now with a little air. For those holding bottles, I’d give it another 6+ months or possibly even a bit of a decant might open it up and broaden its shoulders a little more if you’re planning to open a bottle in the near future. 94-95 points.

Others at the table absolutely loved this wine, most notably for its balanced, tiered delivery of flavors. There was certainly nothing that anyone could really fault on this wine. But like some of the other offerings, this was sandwiched between the 2013 GD and a 2015 Three Kings; both of which had an extra push about them that separated and elevated them a hair more when compared to the 2015 GD.

Red and black fruit, with some grippy earth and rock notes. Subtle dark spice helped to deepen the overall profile even further. The front of the attack started out more red-fruited, but it then showed some more of that Oakville BTK soil flavoring. Smooth and authoritative at the same time. The frame is present, but it has a nice malleable quality about it that allows the flavors to interweave gorgeously. It coats the mouth, but does so in a very focused and chiseled way.

This is a wine to hold for a couple more years. It had a similar structural personality to the 2013 GD. 2020+ for this wine, with nice promise in the next two years.

Much better than the 2012 Debate Crane I had recently, this 2013 had a somewhat older-school hybrid profile that displayed both cedar-laced red fruit and some dark black soil characteristics. Much more medium-bodied than other wines tasted this evening, with a slightly thinner mid-palate and finish by comparison. This was a decent wine, but nothing that I’m really that excited about currently.

Time will help fan out its flavors more I’m sure, but I don’t think this will ever be an epic example of the BTK site. A good example of a decent Napa wine. Not a good example of a formidable BTK wine. This was one of my least favorite wines of the night.

This was a bit of a tough go for me primarily because I couldn’t get past the initial coconut oil and vanilla bean cloak that was masking the fruit. I felt like I was drinking red wine out of a Hawaiian Tropic pool boy’s banana hammock (ya, that’s right, let that image sit in your head for an extra minute…). The fruit was there, and it seemed to be pure and of high quality, but the oak treatment at the moment is just SO prominent.

I revisited this wine at the end of the evening and it was MUCH, MUCH better. Still, it is going to take some time to integrate the confection vanilla flavorings bouncing around here. As Cristal2000 noted, this is a fat, viscous wine that exhibits a super cloying hit on the front and back ends. I won’t touch my remaining bottles of this wine for at least two years (maybe more). 92? points for now – based on final sips. The initial PnP wasn’t even worth rating.

I am still optimistic for this wine, as experience has taught me that some of these Janzen wines can truly blossom after 2-3 years or so in bottle. Drinking them too early can be a wonky experience (as in the aforementioned). The oak treatment takes some time to fully integrate. The pure core fruit can certainly handle it, but only after it gets through beating it into submission over the course of a few years. Leave this alone until 2021.

Previous notes apply with this wine. I kicked it up another point or so because this chubby baby might have shed a pound or two since I last had it a couple of months ago, but it still needs to hit the Orangetheory with a lot more vigor in the coming years if it ever hopes to mutate out of its gelatinous 300 pounds of chewed bubble gum goo-bod. All points here are for flavor. Every other aspect of this wine right now is simply… obese…

“Holy bottle variation Batman!” I’m not sure what in the holy heck happened here, but this poor lost soul of a wine just couldn’t get up to speed amongst the rest of the wines around it kicking tail and taking names. This wasn’t the flavor train of fat crazy that I had last month. Rather, this was a flat affect of a wine, with a linear, dull “thud” on the front end of the palate, with a mediocre walk of flavors across from the mid to the back end. Seemingly pure fruit, but next to nothing in the “oomph” department. It reminded me of a Champagne that had gone still. This Materium was a still-er version of its still self. Flawed bottle?... I guess... if we’re giving the benefit of the doubt here. One of the bigger disappointments of the evening. Even the chunky-monkey Bard was able to lap the Materium in this particular race…Now THAT’s goofy town!

The best showing of this wine ever. Totally compelling; totally enthralling. A complete package of class and pleasure. All previous notes apply, except that this just shot to the moon in every positive aspect this evening. Intensity and richness playing in perfect harmony. So much energy and verve, without the overly acidic bite that I sometimes get from this wine. Complexity and concentration were impeccable. Drinking great now, but another year in bottle might even bring this flavor-adventurous swashbuckler to even greater heights.

Everything was in the right place. I could’ve grabbed this bottle, sat in a corner contemplating life, and just be happy for the rest of the night. Alas, I had other “business” to attend to… namely some 2016 barrel samples with my name on them. Tally-Ho!

Gobs of black and uber-dark red berry fruit, black raspberry, viscous black cherry, black soil, tar, and some bitter chocolate. This is exactly what I would expect from a barrel sample of Myriad’s GIII. Flavor to the n’th degree. Probably on a similar level of intensity as the 2015 at the moment.

I don’t know if it’s premature to say this 2016 version might be close to on-par with the magnificent 2015 (still too early to tell I suppose), but it’s certainly on the right path. A little less grip than the 2016 Crane served beside it. Much more fruit-driven (and even less of a grip) when compared to the astronomical 2016 Carter OG – also served in this particular flight.

I’m glad I have some bottles of these ’16 GIIIs coming when everything is said and done. I’ll want to pop those right away and see what’s under the hood as soon as possible. Love the immediate gratification this site can deliver under the Myriad label.

Another stunner that managed to slap even the most fatigued of palates was the 2016 barrel sample of Myriad Dr. Crane. It wasn’t clear whether or not this will end up in the standard Crane or Elysian bottling, but this was a great example of the site as seen through the eyes of Mike Smith. This was a backflip wine for a number of folks in our party. Wild dark red, black, and blue core fruit flavors, charred oak, burnt embers, saturated cassis and black cherry liqueur, black soil, bitter violets, and a whole basket of spices.

The fruit flavors just kept coming and coming on the full-frontal assault. Mid-palate was soaked with more unctuous fruit. And the whole time it never came off “fruity” or sweet. It was just a fistful of flavor goodness that also carried a complex and focused profile throughout the whole delivery. The finish went on and on. My teeth looked like I’d been gnawing on a Conex box full of purple Twizzlers for a day-and-a-half…and it tasted like that too, in the best of ways. A mouthful of badassery.

Ok. So know this about the 2016 Carter OG. This friggin’ wine is some next level sh** right here!

Say what you want about goofy ‘ol me and my nonsensical pontification and blathering on about certain wines, but this is one bad dude of a wine here. This thing is serious stuff to the point that I had to take my often over-dramatic self, resituate my butt in my chair, sit up straight, and figure out what it was I had just ingested into my feeble little body. This was like mainlining liquid crack while watching porn and reading the Art of War. I don’t even know what senses were being triggered. Serious fruit; serious focus; serious concentration; REALLY serious drive; REALLY, REALLY serious purity of fruit; seriously awesome.

Blacker than the other BTKs that we had previously tasted. Purple and super-dark red fruit slithering through its black core, along with asphalt, dark cassis, black and red currant, vanilla-laced black cherry, and some scorched earth and bitter chocolate. This reminded me of a 2013 OG that had been injected with straight sex appeal, coupled with an almost indescribable GI Jane gravity that married unyielding intensity with spicy eroticism. A 6’3” lady Marine in high heels holding an RPG with a half checked-off Al-Queda hit list in her back pocket (I’m still not ultimately sure how I feel about that image – maybe I should take another Rorschach test).

At first, all of these wines and their one-upping of tasty savory craziness that had been swirling around me like a virgin at the Playboy mansion for the past hour or two was making me think I was getting too drawn into the allures of buxom flavor-beauties. The 2016 OG put me right back to center and reminded me why I am absolutely, unequivocally drawn to this wine EVERY time I have it. This 2016 will rival the 2013 and 2015 with dramatic force. I cannot wait to see how this ends up. Standby for perfection once this juice gets into bottle.

Blackberry, black cherry, chocolate chunk, and some spice. Just bottled, and showing a little stuttering on the delivery. This will be just fine when it has time to settle in. Give it a year+ to find its glide. The ’16 Reserve Scarlett showed additional depth and concentration. I’d hold this Scarlett until 2020.

More of a black fruit profile when next to the regular 2016 Scarlett bottling, but a little more red-fruited compared to the 2015 Scarlett Reserve. Black raspberry, blackberry, bitter chocolate, black asphalt, black and red currant, and some dust. As with the standard Scarlett, this has some unfurling to do. Just bottled; so give it time. After 2020+ is advised.

Black fruit, with black currant, spice, vanilla bean, caramel oak, and some river rock. A smooth operator of a wine, with Russell’s signature soft edges on the attack, making for a silky mouthfeel and sultry brush across the palate. An equally smooth finish. Another year in bottle is recommended, as it had brief moments of being youthfully hot-flashy on the front end, but otherwise a solid performer. Hold until 2020 in hopes it sheds some of the oak influence and tones-down the booze just a little more. I still favor the 2015 EE over this Tench Cabernet Sauvignon at the moment.

A gorgeous bottle of wine. Proof that a few years on the Elysian can elevate it into a classy madam with personality and appeal, as well as sophistication and seamlessness. In a perfect place. PnP was so evenly balanced, even its dark, hauntingly rich profile seemed effortless on the palate. A black currant note danced well with a dark cacao note. A perfect ending to the evening.

Drink this now and over the next 5+ years.