The first release from the 20-acre Thorevilos Vineyard (co-owned by David Abreu and Ric Forman) is the 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon Thorevilos, a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. It is a dense,... Read More
On solid footing, this is firm, tight, intense and focused, with a vibrant mix of zesty, earth-laced dark berry, cedar, crushed rock and subtle tobacco leaf notes. Best from 2020 through 2032.-JL
Slightly beefier is the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard. The fruit from this site was one of the component parts of the old BV Private Reserve Georges de Latour Cabernet and is considered to be one of... Read More
Alpha Omega's flagship 2011 ERA (a selection of their finest barrels) is full and rich with slightly more tannin and structure than its siblings. This impressively endowed wine is similar to several of the single vineyard... Read More
Sweet, super-ripe red berries, mint and flowers all meld together in the 2008 Amuse Bouche. This is an especially high-toned, silky wine. There is considerable richness in the glass, but at the same time the alcohol is also a... Read More
The Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the renowned Eisele Vineyard, which has a long history of producing stunning wines (the Ridge 1971 Eisele Vineyard, the Conn Creek 1974, the Phelps 1976 Insignia, and the 1975 and 1978 Eisele... Read More
The 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard, is a beauty. The healthy ruby/purple color is followed by classic, unevolved but promising aromas of minerals, cedar, smoke, and black currants. The wine is medium to full-bodied, with... Read More
The 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard is a 1,700 case blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot and Merlot. This vintage produced lighter wines, resulting in a Bordeaux-like example of... Read More
Despite having over 40-plus acres of vineyards in the northeasterly sector of Napa just south of Calistoga, the production at Araujo remains relatively limited, with the flagship wine, the Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard, producing... Read More
The 2005 Syrah Eisele Vineyard displays an attractive meaty character along with smoky blackberry fruit and a hint of charcoal. Soft and lush with French-like elegance as well as complexity, and a delicious, long, supple finish,... Read More
WA 92 (12/2009): The sexy, opulent, floral, blackberry and black currant-scented and flavored, medium to full-bodied 2006 Syrah Eisele Vineyard displays a seductive quality that is hard to ignore. I would opt for drinking it over... Read More
The 2011 Chardonnay CIX Vineyard is the least expressive of these single-vineyard wines. Bright floral notes meld into various shades of citrus. There is plenty of polish, but the CIX doesn't have anywhere near the level of... Read More
The 2012 Pinot Noir Cix Estate was made from suitcase clones from Vosne-Romanee. It exhibits abundant notes of forest floor, blackberries, blueberries and spicy oak along with dry tannins in the finish. The wine is multi-dimensional... Read More
No tasting note for this wine. Mark Aubert is one of the contenders for California's finest practitioner of Burgundian-styled, yet classic, California Chardonnays. His offerings are all made like grand cru Burgundies with... Read More
His 2015 Chardonnay Larry Hyde& Sons, like many of the 2015s and a consistent characteristic of most of Aubert's wines, comes from mostly old Wente clones as well, and has a bright gold/greenish hue to its color as well as... Read More
Aubert's 2011 Chardonnay Lauren Vineyard flows across the palate with hints of butter, marzipan, spices, nectarines and dried apricots. Rich, voluptuous and creamy, the 2011 is another of the more overt wines in this range.... Read More
The 2013 Chardonnay Lauren Estate is made from 15-year-old vines from the old Wente and Mt. Eden clones of Chardonnay planted in Goldridge soils. This wine offers loads of nectarine, honeysuckle, liquefied rock, quince and white... Read More
A touch closed and youthfully shy to begin, the 2015 Chardonnay Lauren Estate soon powers up to reveal intense grapefruit, citrus peel, yuzu and honeyed pear notes over suggestions of crushed stones, struck match, baking bread... Read More
Made from the Calera clone, the 212 Pinot Noir Ritchie Vineyard offers up plenty of cola and root beer notes intermixed with black cherry, dusty, loamy soil and foresty nuances. Deep and medium to full-bodied with fresh, lively... Read More
The full-bodied, dense ruby-hued 2013 Pinot Noir Ritchie, which comes from the Calera clone of Pinot Noir, reveals plenty of beet root, forest floor, Asian hoisin sauce, plum, blackcurrant and cherry notes, as well as terrific... Read More
No tasting note for this wine. Mark Aubert is one of the contenders for California's finest practitioner of Burgundian-styled, yet classic, California Chardonnays. His offerings are all made like grand cru Burgundies with... Read More
Giving up zingy lemon zest and grapefruit notes with layer upon layer of chalk dust, marzipan, honeyed brioche and ginger plus a touch of coriander seed, the 2015 Chardonnay UV-SL has a full-bodied powerhouse of a palate that... Read More
Aubert's 2011 Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard is easily the most refined of the wines in this range of Pinots. Intensely perfumed and layered - but not at all heavy - the UV-SL has all its elements in perfect balance. Savory herbs,... Read More
The tightest of the three Pinot Noirs, was the 2015 Pinot Noir UV-SL. This Pinot Noir, made from equal parts Calera and a Vosne-Romanée clone, shows terrific fruit intensity, slightly higher acids and more tannin in a more backward... Read More
The 1987 Reserve is a worthy competitor to the terrific 1986. The 1987's dark ruby/garnet color is followed by a super bouquet. There are huge aromas of chocolate, spicy new oak, herbs, cassis and tobacco in this beautifully... Read More