12/13/2023 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

First bottle popped since purchase. Lovely wine with balance, though still too primary for my optimal enjoyment. Another ten years will do this right, might even hit those scores one day once the perfume develops.

10/14/2023 - JEP007 wrote:

Didn't notice any better quality than the NV rose.

9/24/2023 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

The nose on this wine deserves a perfect score, everything you could hope for in fine BdM perfume. Seriously impressive and for the current retail market ($200), worth every penny IMO.

8/20/2023 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Damn, that is some yummy juice! Had to check-in to see what the fuss is about; it was my first SQN. Defintiely hard to rate as there is so much going on that is a little distracting. However, there is no denying the quality of fruit is there. For anyone who has experience drinking these, how long do you recommend laying them down? I'm guessing 10 years..

8/20/2023 - JEP007 wrote:

This was my last bottle and this confirmed my last review from 2018. Fantastic, very Aubert-style, similar to their Sonoma Coast. The critics got this one right, highly recommend.

8/16/2023 - JEP007 wrote:

This was an exceptional bottle that reminded me why I love Brunello so much. Almost opaque. Still very much alive and not what I was expecting from a 20-year old Brunello, much more power and concentration. The nose was intoxicating with notes of burnt caramel and tobacco. On the palate, there was plenty of black fruit left with leather and dried flowers. Highly recommend, but it appears from other review there may be quite a bit of bottle variation.

7/30/2023 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Still super powerful, while the dark fruit is still present, it’s defintiely moved into the tertiary flavors- leather, tobac, and forrest floor. There were some spice notes too and some dried flowers that bring me back to aged BDX. The nose was fantastic, exactly what one might think of aged Napa cab leaning toward old world. Note, we had a 86’ BV GLT the night prior and the Forman was by far the better wine, much more personality.

6/5/2023 - JEP007 wrote:

Quick stop by Envy/Carter last weekend to pick up a couple bottles. To my luck, the 21' Carter lineup was ready to go, thanks Dan and Haley!! On the nose, you'll catch a surprise note of spice over the black fruit. On the palate, it all about the force. Not the iron fist/velvet glove example, but fresh fruit with layered complexity. It's a big wine, but there is polish and depth that makes the wine undeniably classy. These Carter 21's will likely command another set of high scores. The La Verdad and OG were again my favorites, but that Three Kings was also amazing and slightly more approachable at the moment. 97-100pts.

4/12/2023 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Outstanding showing. Still very much alive and perfumed. Sourced through Winebid for $100. Two thumbs up.

4/12/2023 - JEP007 wrote:

Took a flyer from my local retailer. Unfortunately, the cork was completed dried out. The wine was corked, but definitely tasted past its prime. The 82' PdB Paje we also enjoyed this evening outshined it.

2/14/2023 - JEP007 wrote:

This was so wound up over the three days it was consumed. Nowhere along the way was there any give. While I have little experience with young Super Tuscans, I was hoping that given the hype, this would have shown more fruit and perfume. It was a clenched fist of tannins. In 10-20 years the tertiary flavors will likely be amazing, but for now I cannot offer a higher score based on pleasure.

12/17/2022 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

In a perfect place, and a great representation of Santa Cruz mountains. Like a Corton Charlemagne will a CA twist. Still very fresh, but moving into tertiary notes. Loved it and wish I had purchased more of this vintage.

12/17/2022 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Magnum. Served at our agency's annual holiday dinner, lots of oohhs and aahhs around the table. Such an aromatic beauty of white flowers and citrus. What I've learned over the years, these SBs need lots of air or several years of sleep, to show their best. Realm really does make a fantastic white wine, bravo.

12/15/2022 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Magnum. Enjoyed at our agency's annual dinner and it sure was a hit. Tight on pnp, but 30 mins in the decanter did the trick, opened to a sweet confection of black/blue fruit with earthly and chocolate notes. I really love B Cellar's spin on the Doctor and sure wish I had more of this vintage.

12/10/2022 - JEP007 wrote:

Cork in perfect shape, did not need Durant. Still maintaining its freshness, the nose is fully tertiary with green pepper, herbs, eucalyptus, sage, cedar and cassis notes. Also, minor floral notes. The oak is quite present. This is not a flashy wine, and if I could dress it up, it's more tweed jacket and flat cap over an Italian wool suit. We thoroughly enjoyed this!

11/25/2022 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Outstanding! Wild and racy, the tropical fruit poured out of the glass.

11/25/2022 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Picked up at NicksDelMar for $90. Btw, there are still plenty left, just passing along. Nursed this over two days. It's a great example of medium-bodied Beckstoffer Napa floor cabernet. For under $100, this is about as good as it gets in the new normal Napa pricing model. While it was stated this was sourced from mostly To-Kalon, it reminded me more of Las Piedras as it has a softer tone with plenty of perfume. The French oak is evident, but not overdone. Bravo.

11/25/2022 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Enjoyed over Thanksgiving and the day-after. Lots of upfront vibrant blue and black fruit, with notes of cedar and cassis. The complexity is on the front end, but finishes a little monotone. Have one left and will likely try to resist for a few years, as I think there is much room to integrate. These 2015s are showing a similar dimension of just needed more time.

11/19/2022 - JEP007 wrote:

The nose was intriguing and on the front the tar, tobacco, sweet cherries and dried roses give you hope, but you're left with a tannic ending that is really sucks the enjoyment out of this wine. This is a good example of aged Barolo that should either be drunk or aged for another 10-20 years to see of the tannic tones soften. Fyi, the 71' was drinking better with more perfume.

7/27/2022 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Popped two nights ago and recorked. This needed every extra minute of slow-oxing. This reminds me of 19' Ramey Hyde, but even a level up in complexity and weight. It's undeniable Aubert makes world class Chardonnay. While my favorite style is Eastside, this Park Avenue is all class with old world burg accents. I'm a total believer, just wish they didnt always require a six bottle minimum purchase and also still offered large format.

7/17/2022 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Less dense than the 2016 on release, but the signature notes are all there. Very young, even with a long decant. Needs a few years to integrate and settle down. Glad they offer the 375s, perfect for checking in.

12/24/2021 - JEP007 wrote:

As dead as a doornail :(

12/27/2021 - JEP007 wrote:

Was hoping for a wow, but no luck with this one. I sourced through my local retailer who assured great provenance. It lacked the exuberant complexity that I assumed would be there. Especially at this price point, it was horrible QPR.

11/7/2021 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

First time trying this since release, which I do remember being a hot mess that even a good steak couldn't compliment. This wine has really come around, but still needs a few years to drink at prime. The alcohol is still very present on pnp, but after 30mins or so, it almost presents a fully integrated wine. Layers of blackberry and cassis, with chocolate and earthy notes. Even some leather and cigar nuances. Not extremely sophisticated, but definitely not pedestrian either. A good depiction of a high-quality Rutherford dust cabernet. Probably won't touch another bottle for 2-3 years. 95-96pts for now.

10/12/2021 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

I was nervous on pnp as it tasted quite oxidized and tannic, but when in doubt...always give more time to breath. Sure enough, an hour later it was good to go and got better as the night went along. This is not a cocktail wine, but a great food wine that paired nicely to homecooked Italian dinner to celebrate a 1979 birth year.

10/12/2021 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Fantastic, drinking in prime window with easily another decade ahead. Makes me proud to have grown up in the Sierra Foothills. I can only imagine the famed 2016 Ascent will fire even more fireworks than this one in another ten years.

9/19/2021 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

This bad boy was rocking last night. Layers of fruit and that Dr. Crane perfume, turned heads. Still very young, but had such polished tannins and vibrancy. Classy and hedonistic, the all-in-one for big cab lovers. Tasted alongside a 15' Cliff Lede BTK, that didn't perform in the same league. The Dr. Crane vineyard is Napa Grand Cru and worthy of the price IMO. Btw, B Cellars is still so underrated, if you do not know them yet, you need to!

7/16/2021 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Ok, I'm guilty of reading the recent WE reviews and buying based on that data. Last night, we had family in town and I poured everyone a small glass. Note- our guests all like wine, but by no means are they wine geeks. I didn't hype the wine or reference the 100pt review, just commented that this was a recent release from Napa and made in an old world style. Here's the sign of a great wine, everyone liked it and went as far to mention how great it was, saying "I really like the minerality" and "I usually don't like Napa chards because of their sweetness, but this fantastic!". I personally was blown away by this wine and if I had tasted it blind (knowing it was from CA), I would have guessed Santa Cruz, not Napa. If you're looking for a more buttery style, this is not. However, if you like a more Chablis style with Napa accents, I think you'll love this. I bet these will age for decades. 97pt for now. Btw, for $75 this is solid QPR based on napaflation.

6/1/2021 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Fantastic! This will age beautifully. Much more feminine than the brutish 2010 when I had around the same time (Spring) after its release. For $75, this has great QPR in my opinion.

5/23/2021 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

I really enjoyed drinking this over this last week. Lots of blueberry and cassis, with a touch of chalkiness which was very noticeable at PNP. It definitely delivered for its price range. Highly recommend.

5/3/2021 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

This is my kind of Sauv Blanc! Just the right amount of french oak, with plenty of minerality and flavor. Tip, for optimum integration, let this slow ox over a day or so in the fridge. I enjoyed the wine more on day two.

5/3/2021 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

First time with Colgin's Syrah. Even with a two hour decant, it's still wound up. Unfortunately, I only had one bottle. In hindsight, I would have waited another few years before opening this. It seemed not integrated, however the elegance and finesse are there, but the tannins and heat are distracting elements. Loved the dark fruit and sandalwood, even pencil shavings that I find in their Estate cab. 94-95 today, 97-98 in 2025.

4/25/2021 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Not in the league of a the 89' Moccagatta, but enjoyable. Classic Nebbiolo notes, just no fireworks. Maybe it was a poorly stored bottle. I have another, so fingers crossed. Sourced both through Chambers.

4/19/2021 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

It was quite austere on PNP, but only needed a 30min decant and the elements came together nicely. Classic notes of dried rose pedal, tobacco, cedar, and tar. The fruit was still very much alive and there was a nice layer of complexity. It was a "wow" wine and immediately caught the attention of our dinner party who I had blind-served. I always get amusement in watching the first sip reaction with epic wines, such as this one. This bottle could probably make it another decade or longer. We enjoyed with homemade pasta Bolognese and pizza. Zalto Burgundy glass. Sourced through WalkerWineCo. The Durant was highly necessary for the cork, otherwise it would have crumbled to pieces.

12/26/2020 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Pale color and wonderful nose on pnp. Sweet cherries, burnt tobacco, dried roses and some orange peel were some elements I remembered. It faded quickly, but surprisingly was still enjoyable on day two. Sourced through WalkerWineCo. Rating 90-92 pts.

12/17/2020 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Just lovely, even on PNP! You get a good sense of where this wine is heading. Putting the other bottles to sleep and will check in again at year 10. If I had to rate today, I'd say 97-99pt potential.

12/11/2020 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Best showing to date! It had everything I've mentioned in my previous notes, but this bottle had a little extra perfume. I'd love to see this in a blind lineup with 20 year old BDX, I'm convinced it would beat out many contenders and not be marked CA.

12/12/2020 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Wow, what a pleasant surprise. Loads of black fruit and chocolate notes. Drinking at apex. Paired with pot roast, and the crowd loved it!

10/23/2020 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

That was fantastic and refreshing. Not too dry and not too sweet, just right.

10/12/2020 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

An hour decant. Potential is there, but far too young for my taste. Probably will pop another in 2025.

10/1/2020 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

PNP. Still a heavy wine and needs about 30 mins decant time. I just love this wine and anyone who loves aged BDX and big CA cabs, will likely love it too! The perfume alone will turn heads.

9/30/2020 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

PNP. Poured blind for a friend who likes wine, but is by far no aficionado. His reaction was awesome, "this is best wine I've ever had, wowww!". It was drinking beautifully and had that great old world BDX perfume of cedar box, tobacco, violets with an increased sweetness of fruit on the palate that reminded us we're still in Napa. This was still a very big wine and I highly recommend pairing it with grilled steak. While I enjoyed this standalone, a couple in our party thought it was too big without the accompaniment of a meal.

9/26/2020 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Popped a couple weeks ago and enjoyed a glass and recorked. Last night enjoyed another couple glasses. Wow, the the extra O2 made a huge difference. Tobacco, cedar, sweet cherries. Very elegant and regal, reminded me a older BDX with the notes of french oak, incense and forest floor on the finish. Would never had blind guessed grenache. A very special wine that will likely be even better in 5-10 more years.

8/27/2020 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Picked up at Costco. The nose is intriguing and immediately transports you to Tuscany. Rose pedal, earth and tobacco are key notes I recall. Still tannic, but enjoyable. I have no clue how Pinot Nero ages, but sure want to know how this vintage of this wine turns out in ten years.

7/6/2020 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

The only fireworks I experienced on the 4th of July was this lovely wine exploding out of the glass with lemon lime, honeysuckle, peaches and tropical fruit. Just the right amount of minerality to give it tension, while maintaining its elegance. Wonderfully enjoyable on PNP, but even better the following day, hence the upgrade review. I'm learning that high-end Napa SauvBlanc shows much better after some slow ox'ing.

7/6/2020 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Haven't given a 99 in quite some time, but this one absolutely deserved it. Even on PNP it was firing on all cylinders with multiple layers and of black fruit, chocolate, and dark cherries. Reminded me Colgin but with better QPR.

6/24/2020 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Loved it, a blend of old world meets new word. Has of the minerality of Corton Charlemagne and the zest of sunny hillside Napa. Light and refreshing, tart, but still has weight. This is my kind of CA chard.

6/18/2020 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Just lovely. I never knew Rose was soo good. Light and refreshing without any hard edges. Tropical fruit, lemon, lime and watermelon. Plenty of acidity and structure. This has been a great cellar defender. I could drink this all summer..

6/8/2020 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

If I was blind-folded, I would have guessed Corton Charlemagne from a warm vintage. This was very Burgundian IMO, loved the crushed rocks minerality, citrus, and green apples with a pleasant sweetness to remind us we're in CA. This was my first experience with MB Chard, and was glad to have tried it alongside a 2010 which really identified the personality at maturity- earthy, rich and sophisticated. Anyone who thinks CA Chardonnay cannot age 10-15 years, needs to try this. Highly recommend and a new fan!

6/8/2020 - JEP007 Likes this wine:

Ordered based on a mailer the winery had sent out for a Chardonnay zoom tasting, alongside their newly released 2017. The winery had overnighted the wine the day before so I was nervous about bottle shock. However, no problem at all. Totally clean on PNP. Golden hues clearly showing its age. Integrated and very Burgundian. Crushed rocks, citrus, peach, butterscotch and honeysuckle. It was enjoyable from start to finish and totally different from Napa chardonnays. It will probably drink well for several more years, however I really enjoyed how it's showing now.