3/21/2024 - AGELVIS Likes this wine:

Poured through an aerating spout. Deep dark purple magenta color. Walnut, raspberry, tea, baker’s chocolate, thyme, red currant, and blackberry. Dry, plush, chalky palate. Full tannins on the longish finish.

This is at (or just beyond) its peak for my palate. Love me some F-M. Another beauty opened by Mark1NPT for a gathering of CT folks and their spouses (HowellMountainCru, jsmorris707, and myself). Super fun evening.

3/29/2024 - FlyPig Likes this wine:

Hold 1-3

1/12/2024 - AGELVIS Likes this wine:

Three hour decant. Deep dark magenta color. Blackberry, shortbread, and mushroom. Dry, satiny palate. Full, plush tannins on the longish finish.

This is a very unique Paso Cab. It’s really special. There’s a unique combination of elegance, richness, and voluptuousness, which is a difficult balance to achieve.

12/20/2022 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine:

At Nizuc resort and Spa drank at Terranostra and the wine was on point. This wine even in 2017 vintage kicks ass of most other 2017s and most wines under $125. So well balanced, beautiful structure and a palate that goes so well with it without food. Damn this wine is a steal. Plenty of life left in this great window.

8/11/2023 - sonodoc Likes this wine:

In recent years the Bard has been consistently one of my favorite wines. While the 2018 does not have the stunning intensity and complexity of flavors as the 2013, or the delicious flavors of the 2016 and some other vintages, it is still a very nice Napa Cabernet based wine with plenty of dark fruit and a smooth finish. Had this as a pop and pour, and it didn’t last long enough in the glass to find out what it does with some air; maybe next time!

8/4/2023 - WineBurrowingWombat Likes this wine:

Hanging out on a Friday night (Richmond district): Aromas of abundant dark yellow fruits, bitter deep hay, big stones, and dark prickly pineapples flesh. Dark on the nose, like a sketchy alleyway.

On the palate are deep yellow fruits, pineapple rind, bitter minerals and a quiet acidity.

Maybe going into a phase soon as the bright and fresh acidity was more shy and quiet. The vibrancy and exciting energy finally surfaced with some time, better late than never I guess! Air these out a bit if they're performing a little sluggish and also serve at a cooler temp.

8/6/2023 - Berge65 wrote:

Not sure what I’m missing. This is my first bottle of Aubert and not impressed. I’ve heard it’s one of the best Chards in CA. I am a Kistler and Peter Michael fan and this doesn’t stand up. I have 7 more bottles and 3 different vineyards to try so hoping this was a one off deal.

9/27/2022 - ageverett Likes this wine:

In a really nice place currently. Gave it about an hour of air.

Saved about a 1/4 bottle for Day 2. Did not hold up great - should have drank on Day 1!

10/24/2022 - iamandyc Likes this wine:

First amazing wine in a lineup celebrating and helping to cheer me up on my 65th birthday. Solid 95 points with continued upside since it kept improving with air. Aging extremely well as it picks up finesse while retaining its gorgeous fruit and energy on the finish. Just delicious and complex and lovely!

10/12/2022 - NickRut wrote:

Has anyone tried this?

8/30/2022 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine:

No notes and only fleeting impressions as it was an epic night with both old friends and new before the Chateau Angelus dinner at Anhelo in downtown Phoenix tonight (8/31). All wines were split between 6.25 of us and unless noted, minimal decant (max 30 minutes).

Are you kidding me, a 2001 Harlan Estate brought by IDRBDW- yes please and thank you (very generous). The wine is compelling, extremely well built, simply gorgeous. It’s more of a grown up wine demanding you take notice vs the rest of the wineverse (is that like a Marvel thing I am not sure). I think this would have been 2 pts higher a few years ago for my palate but others may put this near perfection. Tremendous wine. Thank you for the opportunity .

9/27/2022 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

3rd bottle of this picked up from a local Costco and all have been peculiarly different though scoring within 1pt or so of each other. I'm not going to score this one as the other two bottles have been very recent but it's in their ballpark for sure, just for different reasons. This bottle not nearly as different as bottle 1 was from 2, but herein lies the rub......this bottle had tons of sage and savory components that the other two really didn't express. Also, this bottle performed best with 2 hours of air....it deepened the smooth dark red/black fruit and allowed the herbals to integrate better. It is smooth and round at that point. A heckuva deal at $97 .....might look to pick up a few more. All 3 bottles quite good, but each a little different.....what is it that Forrest Gump used to say? "Life is like a box of chocolates......"

8/13/2022 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine:

I keep promising myself I will stay away from these ‘18’s and ‘19’s and then someone like AGELVIS will write a review and I will be tempted to touch the stash.
Day one gave this a 6 hr slow ox and then drank over an hour or two. Day 2 I let met remaining glass decant for 4 hours before drinking and it made all the difference.
Day 1 it was good, but not as great as I remembered from the tasting in January. Flavors not quite as intense or differentiated.
But day 2, intense nose of berry fruits, chocolate and all the good things Ag mentions in his review. Really nice acid and tannin structure bodes well for the future. This is going to be seriously amazing.

9/1/2022 - ageverett Likes this wine:

From magnum. Got to breathe for about 3 hours. Drank over two days.

Just a gorgeous expression of Rutherford. Dark red fruit. Long, lingering finish that just sings. Might have been even better on Day 2.

While this is going to cellar nicely, no problems accessing right now.

7/12/2022 - Takeshi Likes this wine:

It's building up, mineral , touch of acid, tannin are still gripping even after 3 hour decant. Hold until 2024 Minimum. Great blue fruit on the nose and light breaths of currants and cassis palate though!

4/9/2022 - AGELVIS wrote:

Two hour decant. Very deep purple magenta color. Black currant, blackberry, orange pulp, and subtle jerky on the nose. Dry, juicy, full bodied palate. Full, soft tannins on the longish finish.

This is young and certainly needs another year or two in the cellar. It’s clearly well made and I look forward to seeing how this develops.

2/10/2022 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine:

TXRDW/Deandrew8649 with DJ w/Keplinger in Houston.

Wow! This is a beautiful Grenache. Juicy reds and cool blues run deep with this wine. Aromatic with nice mid palate weight. Lingering finish.

This wine has quickly become on of my personal favorite Keplinger offerings. Basilisk and Plum Orchard have made me a fan of this varietal.

Line up:
17 Under The Wire Sparkling Chardonnay Brosseau Vineyard
19 Keplinger Basilisk
18 Keplinger Vine Hill Ranch
18 Keplinger Oakville Ranch
07 Chateau d'Yquem (TY TXRDW)

All the credit for the introduction to the BYOB restaurant goes to TXRDW. Fantastic suggestion!

www.luciosbyob.com

4/7/2022 - Tarzan1969 wrote:

Crisp and minerally. Drinkable but unremarkable. Will not buy again.

3/23/2022 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine:

Bottles landed in Houston today. No patience to wait to take this for a spin.

It's a time machine to a very approachable VHR. Not sure how FP pulled it off but this is great for the QPR.

Very pleasurable and easy drinking, not heavy handed for such a young wine. With ox it beefs up ever so slightly. Seems like a perfect restaurant wine that doesn't need the extended decant to offer tons of beautiful fruit and approachability.

Reminds me of the 2014 vintage. Aromatic and very much an expression of Vine Hill fruit. Dark blackberry/plum, tobacco spice, fresh cut cedar, medium tannins, acids and body. More savory. Nice lingering finish.

I'm told mostly from the benchland blocks of Vine Hill Ranch. Definitely going back in for more bottles.

94

2/25/2022 - Tarzan1969 wrote:

Wonderful wine. Rich aroma that enhances the first taste. Full berry notes that dwells on the tongue. So glad we visited the winery to discover this family of wines

2/2/2022 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine:

PNP-Sensory glassware. Deep purple with ruby halo. Clean nose, not picking up much of a bouquet. Dark fruit, great tension from tannins that linger and dance on the tongue. For some reason this 19 Paso blend reminds me of Calistoga fruit. Dark Cassis, tobacco, dark unsweet chocolate with baking spice. More savory than sweet.

Day two a more floral bouquet with a sweeter palate that has come to the forefront. Overall a wonderful wine.

50% Syrah, 35% CS & 15% PV

As many have mentioned 19 is a benchmark vintage for Paso. This bottling is showing the promise of this region as an alternative to Napa and surround areas. Around $100 this is worth the spend.

95+ Drink or hold.

11/27/2021 - Papillon1112 Likes this wine:

Some trepidation in opening this wine as no CT notes posted. Gave it a 1.5 hr. decant back in the bottle for 1 hr. until arrived at restaurant. Showed beautifully at a great spot. Full bodied, layers of dark fruits, cocoa and a smooth lingering finish. Clone 341 is distinctly a "classy" Coombsville wine.

1/11/2022 - blarmston wrote:

This isn't a TN, but I just got the Save The Date Email.

Does anyone know the price point for these wines?

Given its made by Nigel, I am thinking $225++, but was curious because I'm trying to budget out some big upcoming wine purchases.

Thanks in advance...

1/10/2022 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Graciously opened up for us by our host, Dan. Pnp'd to a meaty MHOPPER nose. Deep brooding fruit with plenty of spice and tannins. Blue fruit on the nose with chocolate on the palate to go with the savory Umami character. This was clearly the star of the tasting with the top pedigree and will gain a few more points with proper aging/decanting. A splendid wine. Ty Dan, for a great tasting session.

1/4/2022 - csimm wrote:

Composed of 50% Syrah, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Petit Verdot, the 2019 L’Aventure Estate Cuvée is quite a purring black panther of a wine, even without the benefit of a decant or extended air. With a surprisingly smooth textural accord from the first pull of the cork, Stephan Asseo’s flagship juice literally melts on to the palate without any sense of juvenile astringency or unforgiving tannins. This vintage of the Estate Cuvée holds a much more suave and glossy coating when compared to previous vintages, and even more so when likened to its brawnier 2019 Côte à Côte counterpart. The Cuvée consistently oozed class and polish throughout the handful of hours of consumption.

A kaleidoscopic assemblage of black raspberry, cassis, blackberry pie filling, charcoal, black cherry, embers, and purple flower notes cascade in seamless vogue flamboyance; not too ostentatious, but certainly not without red carpet confidence and some flashbulb “Can I get your autograph?!” magnetisms. There is a serious side here, but it’s more like Angelina Jolie in Girl Interrupted; I mean, it’s dark and significant, but it’s still just Angie the A-lister pushing for the Oscar. So, be not mistaken, this wine carries some majestic intensity behind the glamour, but it doesn’t whack you upside the head with its agenda so much that you leave feeling like you need 100mg of Thorazine to make it through the rest of the week. This honcho knows how to negotiate and navigate. Less like the Khmer Rouge Brother Number One Pol Pot and more like a better-looking Henry Kissinger (a little history lesson for ya’ll), the Estate Cuvée is not without a little modern controversy for those who might be averse to modernity (and unconventional varietal splicing) in their Rhone and Bordeaux alignments.

Though these massive L’Aventure concoctions invariably seem to go through some bumps and bruises along their evolutionary journeys, I hope to think that this vintage of the Estate Cuvée will lead somewhat more of a charmed life. It’s not a sin to drill a hole in the cranium of this wine now, but surely some patience will reveal even more nuance in the coming years – at least, as much nuance as a 16% ABV Paso Syrah Frankenstein can muster up these days.

95-97+ points.

12/26/2021 - TMOVino2 wrote:

Oxidized 😔

12/18/2021 - Jimaronson wrote:

Drank with HMC and Markpt1. Mark's note was perfect. It was my first time with Vice Versa and wanted to see if the winemaker could make the difference with a less than stellar year. The verdict is that the year is super important. Vice Versa did a good job with what they had, but we all agreed that the wine would not take on weight with age. We had some wine left over for the next day and will report back if there is a change. Drink up and enjoy now. Give it a 3 hour decant.

12/2/2021 - RhoneWho wrote:

After tasting through single varietals of CDP blancs, I'm in love with this modern and rich CA blend of Rhone white varietals! What a great job and fine wine! Both aromatics and flavor are delicious and top the chart.

The most impressive part is how opulent and decadent flavor of the grenache blanc hits the mid-palate with lingering finish! I couldn't believe the flavor from the grenache blanc component resembles like those rich flavor of ripe grenache rouge from Santa Barbara. It is totally different from drinking grenache blanc from CDP (like Vaudieu). I think the viognier component (16% up from 8% in 2018) has amplified the finished and flavor of Grenache Blanc. Brilliant!

The rich stone fruit aromatics of grenache blanc, roussanne and viognier are effusive and complement each other; and more intense than those 2019 CDP blancs. I am so glad the (probably neutral) oak barrel didn't interfere the nose.

The texture is medium-full body and i pick up the interesting layer of non-intrusive acidity imparted from Picpoul grapes which provides interesting balance. This wine with the acidity texture (and minerality from Roussanne) can pair well with oily fish sushi or HK-style steam fish or Mediterranean dishes cooked with EV olive oil.

Scoring range: 94-97; 95 and look forward to its evolution over next few years.

12/10/2021 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine:

Coravin poured two glasses which quickly led to a full cork pull. What you'd expect from the vintage and Chris Carpenter. Firm tannins/balanced acids and dark fruit of Mt. Veeder. 92/93+

Half bottle with cork replaced back into the cellar at 54.

Friday-Revisit after slow ox at cellar temp. Tannins have rounded and fruit has flushed out into a nice round cabernet. I think the sweet spot might have been on missed at 24 hrs of slow ox. Picked up through distribution at $68 so this was excellent QPR.

Hold or extended ox. This is a solid buy.

94+

11/28/2021 - blarmston Likes this wine:

Napa Last Weekend: Run, don't walk, to secure your allocation of this.

Arguably the finest FM Las P to date. My buddy and I kept remarking at how well made this wine was. Everything is there, in spades.

98 for now, with upside in 3-5 years.

If you like/love Benoit's wines, and you like/love the Las Piedras vineyard, then this wine is for you.

12/4/2021 - EpochMD Likes this wine:

Part of a birthmas dinner - still brings with it explosive acidity, which persists through an incredibly long finish; this is somehow seamlessly balanced with notes of pear, vanilla, persimmon, and lemon - despite the massive cabs VV can make, this is the gem of their portfolio, and few can do acid backed chardonnays like this. Plenty of time ahead of it, drinking well now though.

11/6/2021 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine:

Pulled the cork on this bottling after a Magnum of 2017 JLC Hermitage & Paul Jaboulet and it did not disappoint following up two Rhone heavyweights.

Similar notes as last time. This is so damn good early. Buy, buy and buy. Drink now or drink later this is some seriously good BDX.

11/13/2021 - Shugs_Claret Likes this wine:

Tasted at the winery along side the 2005 and 2016. Dark fruits, smoke and tobacco on the nose. Perfectly precise palate with just a bit of tannins and generous acidity. Finish lingers and lingers. Simply put, one of the best wines I have tasted.

9/11/2021 - Papillon1112 Likes this wine:

Benoit is one of my favorite winemakers and his Fait Main wines suits my palate more so than his Realm. This Missouri Hopper is so very good that if you don’t have it in your cellar you really should seek it out. It needs 6 hour decant now. Next 3-5 years 97-98.

9/7/2021 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

My first of my '18 FM stash.....pnp to a familiar MHopper nose, and garnet color, just glorious. The wine was tight and a bit tannic with elevated acidity. Red/black fruit initially. The nose trails off...over the course of enjoying the bottle the following 2-3 hours, the wine became smoother but devoid of any glycerin type of sense. The fruit darkened considerably to a dark blue/black with heavy tobacco, a bit of coffee grounds, and a bit of a tart ending by hour 3. Left a small glass in the decanter on the kitchen counter to sit overnight. Will check in on it tomorrow and see what another 24 hours does to it. It's a solid 93 now with upside of 2-3 points easily I would think going forward if, like most high level '18s, it really comes together over time.

Addendum: almost 23 hours later open to room temp in the decanter....a little darker garnet color, nose is pleasant with a hint of sweet rose petal but overall, only minimally indicative of its MH vineyard. The only time this wine had a nose highly indicative of MH was in the first hour it was open to air. Mouthfeel is creamier, slight chalky sense to it. The fruit is deep and rich and has stayed pretty dark, mostly black right now. This is pretty good stuff, maybe close to a 95 but I'd like to see and feel more of the MH that's in there.....maybe as it continues to age we'll get that? If not, it's still a pretty damn good wine with plenty of acidity to age nicely for many years and a wonderfully long finish has turned up today, nearly 24 hours later.......I'm upping my score (was 93 now 95) and I still think it has another 2 points in there.

7/15/2021 - msuwine wrote:

This elegant and unique wine needs another few years to hit its stride, but it has an incredible purity and complexity that is welcome at any price point (but especially this one). Dark purple in color and full in body, the wine offers intriguing aromas of pie cherry, green chives, fresh olives, and cloves. The flavors are more fulsome, with notes of black cherry, ground pepper, tobacco, and crushed rock, with a grainy and lifted finish. 14.5% alcohol. Decant at least two hours.

I'm an unapologetic fan of Matt Morris's wines because they are delicious, original, and affordable in a region where all those qualities are rarely present. (I mean, why buy a generic Cabernet when you can have a unique Charbono, with - it must be said - a way cooler label?) That said, this wine plays in a different key than my first Matt Morris production, a 2015 Tofanelli made by Benoit Touquette. Same grape, same vineyard, but Benoit brought notes of chocolate and cedar, while Françoise Peschon offers a more lean but still generous approach. I enjoy both, but I think the latter bodes for a better future. 94+ at the moment, with upside in 2022 or later.

5/28/2021 - blarmston Likes this wine:

Popped the cork on one of these last night, and will follow up with more detailed notes this weekend.

94/96/98
First score is impressions from the first sip after a three hour decant
Second is the final glass about two hours after first sip
98+ is the potential for this wine in 3-5++ years.

If you have several, take one for a spin but give it a healthy decant (5-6 hours). I will be waiting on my remaining bottles until at least next year.

Fans of this wine are in for a treat, if you have patience.

This could be their best vintage yet...

5/23/2021 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Wineberserker purchase blind, by myself and also for Jen, who broke one out of her cellar earlier this week before our '21 Wine-o-palooza....she informed me that she decanted for 9 hours on day one, then had a glass before putting the wine and the cork back in the bottle and the bottle back in the fridge for another 24 hours. The following day a 4 oz. sample bottle was poured off and sealed and saved in the fridge for me, and the next day brought out for me.....so technically day 4 after opening, I popped the sealed 4 oz. bottle. It sat cold in my glass airing for an additional 2 hours and warming to a good drinking temp. Initial nose maybe some light graphite/chocolate? Palate is clean and well made with decent weight. Strong black fruit, but not juicy or jammy. Orange rind and chocolate notes show up later in the evening. This still seems a little tight with high acidity here early in its life. This is a strong wine, still on day 4 . It is well made. It has tons of time ahead of it. I probably won't open one of mine til '22. Thanks for doing the little experiment for me, Jen!

4/23/2021 - Cristal2000 Likes this wine:

Fortunate to get an early preview of this wine. Obviously Bella Oaks has a storied history with Heitz and then Staglin, so I was super curious to see what Nigel and company was able to produce. Despite making some wine in 2016 and 2017, this was the first vintage that met the high standard necessary for release, and it's a knockout.

I was able to follow this over two days, and it kept getting better and better with more air. Clearly the sign of a very good wine. A blend of mostly cabernet with little parts cab franc and petit verdot, the nose shows red cherries, violets, tobacco and loamy soil. Showing bright acidity and seamless freshness, this rides a bit higher on the palate than the Kinsman wines, but over time continues to put on weight and shows compelling levels of concentration and depth of flavor. The fruit is mostly blue and red, and the acidity and structure really shine. There's a nice mineral driven streak that shows on a long finish. This is another crazy good first vintage like Kinsman La Voleuse.

1/16/2020 - Papillon1112 wrote:

Makes me want to try the Reserve.

4/24/2021 - WineBurrowingWombat Likes this wine:

Maxem & Memento Mori tasting (Napa): [No formal notes] This was a pleasant surprise as this was completely different than what I had in mind. Nose of dark red fruits like black cherries or overly ripened strawberries (in a good way), deep earth and some soft bitter earthy funk with soft oak. On the palate you get similar notes from the nose but with the addition of a spice and darker red fruits. With some time I was getting a little bit of gooseberry notes near the back end. Loved the fruit here and again, totally blew my expectations away. My first thoughts while tasting this was, "this might be a Cab drinker's Pinot."

4/18/2021 - One Percenter Likes this wine:

Exceptional Cab Franc. Beautiful Nose, lingering finish and very smooth in between. Dark color matches the depth of this wine.

4/20/2021 - Papillon1112 wrote:

Blind purchase on winebersker day 2021 that sparked my interest. Napa Cab inaugural release from Oakville by an unfamiliar winemaker at an attractive price point. Curious? Me too. Much to like....rich concentrated and well balanced. Dark fruits and chocolate also nice. Some CT folks say tasted spice or clove. For me on day 1 it was harsh an almost burn-like finish that kept me from wanting more. Day 2 was a bit better. Coravin both glasses so still have 1/2 bottle...will wait this out plus give it a solid decant and hope for the best.

3/9/2021 - Papillon1112 wrote:

Blown away the best 2018 so far...pnp.....next bottle I’ll give it 90 minute decant just because.....ordered another 3 pack!

3/19/2021 - Some49Dude wrote:

Excellent wine, strong but not too much, a real find

3/24/2021 - msuwine wrote:

These Maxem Chardonnays just keep getting better and better with each vintage. Though young, the 2019 is a lively and fresh high-wire act, offering a cut and complexity befitting the best white wines. Though a relative newcomer, Maxem belongs in any conversation of the best modern producers of CA Chardonnay (e.g., Aubert, Peter Michael). This wine is, in a word, astounding - one of the best young Chardonnays I've ever tasted.

Light yellow, almost silver in color, with a medium body and bright mouthfeel, this wine offers incredible aromas of Bartlett pear, quince, gooseberry, apple blossom, and ocean air. The flavors are similarly deep and brisk, with notes of lemon peel, quartz, shaved almond, and saline. The finish is lifted, somewhat sour and dense, and lingering. This is like walking on the ocean and biting into a pear at the same time. 14.5% alcohol. Decant at least an hour if drinking now.

I tasted this on the same night as a 2019 Sylvaner from Alto Adige, an unfamiliar varietal (for me) that offers a lean and bright profile (always good to cleanse that New World palate of mine!). The Maxem was like the Sylvaner after working out, Rocky IV style (e.g., running in snow, chopping wood, doing things with horses, etc.). In other words, Maxem's core is focused, pure, and energetic, but it also has incredible fullness and depth. 97+ at the moment, with upside in 2022 and later.

11/11/2020 - msuwine wrote:

This savory and lively Cabernet probably needs another 12-18 months to hit its stride, but there is no doubt: this single vineyard wine is full of class and character, and it is a ridiculous value. The 2018 DI CO is more earthy than the 2016 and more fulsome than the 2017, but it has a density, energy, and nuance that you simply can't find in Napa at this price.

Dark red in color and medium in body, the wine offers aromas of black cherry, cardamon, cloves, and thyme (leaves you pick from the garden, dirt and all). Flavors of blackberry, cocoa beans, sage, anise, and trail dust (the kind that lingers on your shoes), with a bright and layered finish that gets less prickly after about two hours of air. (The Rafael vineyard is located in the foothills of Mount Veeder, which may help this wine achieve that lovely tension between the spicy herbalness of the mountain and the round plushness of the valley.) 14.1% alcohol. Almost better on second day, when it developed an espresso and cranberry crunch profile that was delicious. Drink in 2021 or later.

I'm just starting to try out the Napa 2018s, and this wine leans toward the more pure (read: less oaky) and savory (read: less fruity) end of the spectrum. In the early going, it reminded me most of Graeme MacDonald's 2018 Blankiet Prince of Hearts (a wine that is 50% more expensive), but the DI CO is a wine all its own. Incredibly unique and delicious, this is a balanced wine that, it you love any kind of Napa Cabernet, you need to try. 94 for now, with upside over the next few years.

10/7/2020 - Geaux Tigers Likes this wine:

Full disclosure: I opened this bottle in an effort to determine whether to buy the upcoming release. Montecillo is a must, giving the Vare a test. Really want to cut down what I buy. This ain’t getting cut!

1 hr decant. 12.9 ac. One of the lightest cabs out of Napa I’ve seen in a while. Light, almost like a Pinot, but more purplish than red.

Nose of fresh cut white and purple flowers, cherry candy, and spices. Very intense and expressive! Tannins managed nicely with good acid balance. A menagerie of fruit on the palate, intense up front, more subtle on the back with a lingering reminder that left me wanting more.

I’m in! This would be a great food wine, but not one I’d have at a steakhouse.

2/11/2021 - msuwine wrote:

This enchanting Cabernet is as elegant as it is powerful - a difficult balance to achieve in Northern California (or really anywhere). The 2018 is more fulsome and layered than the 2017 (which was, to me, an impressive wine in an unimpressive year), but this doesn’t taste as brutish as many 2018s in the early going. Instead, this is a wine of precision - not in the service of self-denial, but in pursuit of ripeness, balance, and sheer deliciousness.

Bright red in color and medium in body, the wine offers enveloping aromas of sour cherry, fresh thyme, cardamon, espresso, rose petals, and crushed rock. If this smells like a premier cru Gevrey-Chambertin (i.e., earthy, floral, lifted), it tastes like a mountain Napa Cabernet (i.e., bright, red-fruited, generous). The flavors unfold with the clarity and momentum of a good argument, offering up lithe notes of blueberry skin, sage, Turkish coffee, trail dust, and pencil shavings, with a lifted finish of delicate tannins and incredible freshness (think biting into a sour cherry and waiting 20 seconds - that’s how your mouth feels). 14.3% alcohol. Decant at least an hour, if not two.

Fermented grape juice, kind of by definition, can’t have a “soul," but this wine is absolutely “soulful” - i.e., unique, singular, complex, alive, and growing. I’ve been a fan of Di Costanzo for years now, and this is my favorite wine they’ve made so far. Yeah, yeah, yeah... it is young and will improve with time; opening it now is a fool’s errand (a job for which I am uniquely qualified!); and, um, patience, judgment, reasons. That said, life is for the living, and wine is for the drinking. In other words: this is stunning… right now. 96-97 at the moment, with upside in 2023 or later.

11/10/2020 - msuwine wrote:

I decided to taste Chardonnays from two of my favorite California producers side-by-side tonight: it's Sam vs. Mark, each working in the 2017 vintage, drawing from a Sonoma Coast vineyard named for Ulises Valdez (may he rest in peace). And it was a tale of two styles, one hewing more full and another more pure. I appreciated both, but the Maxem clearly won the night.

- Aubert UV-SL. More yellow in color and full in body, the Aubert offered enticing and warm aromas of brioche, lemon meringue, and toast almond. The flavors were similarly full, with notes of honeysuckle, Meyer lemon, cantaloupe, and vanillin, followed by a lifted yet creamy finish. 15% alcohol. 94+ for now, with upside in another year or so.

- Maxem UV. More clear in color and medium in body, the Maxem offered more nuanced aromas of Bartlett pear, lemon rind, and ocean air. The flavors were more chiseled, with notes of grapefruit, green apple, and crushed rock, with a pure and lingering finish. I enjoyed this wine more a year ago for its sheer tension (12/19 - 97 points), but this is still sophistication in a bottle. 14.2% alcohol. 96 at the moment, with upside in another 6-18 months.

And now for the parade of adjectives: the Aubert was more full, oaky, ripe, and creamy, while the Maxem was more nervy, pure, nuanced, and lively. These are each bargains at $85 direct. Each tilted modern - i.e., there are no ascetics here (e.g., Hirsch, Rhys) - but the Maxem walked the tight rope more convincingly tonight, with energy, depth, and aplomb.