December 2013 West Coast Wine Reviews
Please note if there is a WB rating range, the wine was difficult to pin down in terms of rating, after additional time passes the wine should resolve itself and be more easily reviewed.
Arcadian/Bratcher
2009 Bratcher Mary Ellis Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley. Faint yellow. Bitter lemons and powdered stones characterize the 2009 Mary Ellis Chardonnay. Medium- to light-bodied and slightly austere, this chardonnay needs to be consumed over the next 2-3 years. WB 88.
2007 Arcadian Chardonnay Sleepy Hollow Vineyard. Light gold in color, with aromas of gunflint, smoke and white flowers. Medium-bodied in the mouth, with key lime and mineral overtones leading to a 10+ second finish. This young chardonnay appears slightly closed and will definitely benefit from a several years in the cellar. WB 90+.
2007 Arcadian Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard. Translucent Red. Bramble cherry and flowers jump out of the glass. In the mouth, the Fiddlestix Pinot Noir is medium bodied, with good harmony and incrementally building density. Finishes long and broad, with an interesting spicy note. An excellent, cellar-worthy Pinot from Arcadian. WB 93.
2008 Arcadian Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands. Light red. Dark cherries, spices and minerals dominate this light- to medium-bodied Pinot Noir. A leafy, earth element provides an element of complexity to this quite approachable wine. Drink now and over the next 4 years. WB 90.
2008 Arcadian Pinot Noir Sleepy Hollow Vineyard. Deep red. Sweet berry aromatics and flowery notes jump from the glass of the 2008 Sleepy Hollow. Medium-bodied, suave yet firm, with a 30+ second finish, the Sleepy Hollow is a wine of tremendous potential! However, it requires at least five years to reach its considerable promise. WB 94+.
2001 Arcadian Pinot Noir Sleepy Hollow Vineyard. Light red with an orange rim. Intoxicating aromas of smoke, cherries and nutmeg characterize the 2001 Sleepy Hollow Pinot Noir. Seamless on the palate, with good energy and a long, very fine finish that still has some tannin to resolve. At 12 years of age, this beauty is still 2-3 years from peak, but there is certainly no crime in drinking it now! WB 95.
2009 Bratcher Pinot Noir Sierra Madre “Jane Madison”. This red current, cinnamon-dominated Pinot Noir is fruit-forward, with sweet berries leading to a rather four-square finish. A decent, uncomplicated wine that should be drunk over the next 2-3 years. WB 89.
2009 Bratcher Pinot Noir La Encantada. Garnet in color, the La Encantada is filled with dark cherries, oak and some minerals. Firm in the mouth, with some tannins still to be resolved, it is better to be left alone in the cellar for 2-3 years so that the principal components can come into better balance. A good value. WB 90.
2008 Arcadian Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay. Gold color. Flowers, spiced pears, minerals and earth characterize the 2008 Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay. Medium- to full-bodied, with a slightly reduced quality and good refinement that promises a long road ahead. Finishes long, with a late-arriving minerally note. This excellent Chardonnay can be enjoyed now with a healthy dose of air, or can be cellared for 5+ years. WB 93+.
2001 Arcadian Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard. Cinnamon, cherries and earthy notes are the defining characteristics of the 2001 Pisoni. In the mouth, it is very broad, with a racy mineral streak, underbrush notes that give way to a long, highly refined finish that lingers for some time. Shockingly, this wine is not at peak yet, and would actually benefit from a few more years of cellaring. Nevertheless, this is a very promising wine from Arcadian. WB 94+.
Tantara
2012 Tantara Chardonnay Dieberg Vineyard. Light yellow. Oak barrel overtones on the nose, with vanilla, minerals and good acidity in the mid-palate. At this stage, the wine finishes fairly short, but there is good density underneath all the oak. (WB 87-89)
2012 Tantara Chardonnay Talley Vineyard. [New barrel] Once again, toasty oak is prevalent here on the nose. Dense and viscous, with butterscotch and pineapple-like tropical overtones dominating. A sample from an old barrel more firm and not oaky at all, yet still overwhelmingly tropical in nature. This easy to understand style should be consumed over the next 2-3 years. (WB 88-90)
2012 Tantara Pinot Noir Rio Vista. Deep red. Sweet cherry, wood spice and dark fruit dominate here. A medium finish of about 15 seconds unfold with some minerals and considerable tannins. A sample from another new barrel exhibited greater density and mid-palate sweetness. (WB 90-91)
2012 Tantara Pinot Noir Dieberg Vineyard. Ruby red. Aromatics of smoked spices and dark cherries dominate the Dieberg Pinot Noir. Medium-bodied, with distinctly soil-driven flavors and a mineral streak that cascade into a medium length finish with considerable persistence. A definite step up over the Rio Vista in every respect. (WB 91-93)
2012 Tantara Pinot Noir Lindsay’s Vineyard. Dark red. Dark plum, cherries and some spiced oak are found in the Lindsay’s Vineyard Pinot Noir. The wine displays good balance and big, fruit-driven density and considerable refinement. (WB 92-93+)
2012 Tantara Pinot Noir Dieberg Vineyard (777 Clone). This big, sweet red cherry-dominating Pinot Noir is impressive for its high degree of refinement and long finish. Quite different from the “regular” Dieberg Vineyard bottling, with no earthiness in sight. Still, it will make for a very fine drink once bottled. (WB 92-94)
2012 Tantara Pinot Noir Zotovich Vineyard. [From new barrel] Dark red. Tart cranberries, earth, and nutmeg define the Zotovich Pinot Noir. This predominantly 777 clone barrel juice is already quite complex and serious. [Free run juice]. Lighter in color, but even more complex. [Another barrel] Predominantly 114 clone, with cherry compote-like characteristics, great texture and harmony. A very promising wine. (WB 92-94)
2012 Tantara Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard. Dark, brooding and serious wine, with a full body, lots of minerality and an interesting cinnamon-like component. Finishes very long and firm, and will undoubtedly benefit from several years of bottle age post-release. A real star here! (WB 93-95)
2011 Tantara Pinot Noir Solomon Hills Vineyard. Aromatics of mint, violets and red cherries transition to a medium bodied, well balanced concoction that glides smoothly to a 20+ second finish with a good degree of refinement. Drink in 2-3 years. (WB 93-94)
2013 Tantara Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard. At this stage, this very young wine has ample toffee, cocoa and red fruit, and is certainly well balanced. Certainly appears to be quite promising. (WB 92-94+)
2013 Tantara Pinot Noir Lindsay’s Vineyard. Dark plums, spices and black cherries are all in evidence here. Light- to medium bodied, it is certainly a promising vintage to follow as it matures in barrel. (WB 91-93)
Paul Lato
2012 Paul Lato Chardonnay Pisoni Vineyard. A total of four barrels were produced in 2012. Powerful Granny Smith-like notes, a strong acidic backbone and a long finish, with nearly tannic-like structure that is reminiscent of Corton-Charlemagne (not Central Coast!) characterize this impressive chardonnay from Paul Lato. It will reach its apogee in 3-4 years, and will provide great pleasure for those patient enough to hold on to their bottles. WB 94+.
2012 Paul Lato Chardonnay Hilliard Bruce Vineyard. Minerals and limes characterize this medium-bodied chardonnay. While perhaps a notch less powerful than the Pisoni, it is equally refined and is likely to be approachable sooner. WB 92+.
2012 Paul Lato Chardonnay Sierra Madre Vineyard. Orange rind, pears and flowers and a hint of spicy oak can all be found in the 2012 Sierra Madre Chardonnay. In the mouth, it is big-bodied but not heavy and very minerally. Finishes very long and minerally, with good complexity. A qualitative equal of the Pisoni, but in a completely different style. WB 94+.
2012 Paul Lato Pinot Noir Gold Coast. Light red. Aromatics of red dark cherries and hint of cotton candy characterize this Pinot Noir blend. Light- to medium bodied, with ample red fruits, this well-crafted wine will provide much pleasure over the near term. WB 91.
2012 Paul Lato Pinot Noir Hilliard Bruce Vineyard. Dark red. Violets and cherry notes jump from the glass here. Medium- to full-bodied, with great fruit density, but what sets the Hilliard Bruce Pinot Noir apart is its tremendous sense of refinement – there is not a hard edge to be found anywhere. Finishes very long with serious complexity. A flat-out great Pinot Noir! WB 95.
2012 Paul Lato Pinot Noir Prospector. Purple/red. Velvety, with dark plums and minerals, this medium-bodied wine displays excellent refinement and class all the way though to its long finish. Delicious enough to drink now, but will get better with a couple of years in the cellar. WB 94.
2012 Paul Lato Pinot Noir Zotovich Vineyard. Flowers and sweet spices leap from the glass. Sweet on the entry, with a mélange of firm dark fruit, utterly seamless all the way to the very long and complex finish. Yet another superstar Pinot Noir from Paul Lato! WB 95+.
2012 Paul Lato Pinot Noir Atticus. Dark red. Sweet cherries, a medium body and a forward personality characterize the Atticus Pinot Noir. It displays a good degree of refinement, is well balanced and will undoubtedly be a crowd pleaser. WB 93.
2012 Paul Lato Pinot Noir Solomon Hills Vineyard. Very deep ruby-red. Rose petals and red raspberries dominate the aromatics of this impeccably balanced and refined Pinot Noir. Medium bodied, with a caressing texture and superb complexity. Beautiful as always! WB 95+.
2012 Paul Lato Pinot Noir Hilliard Bruce Vineyard. This deep, dark Pinot is something else! Powerful yet light on its feet, with tactile sensation of minerals, underbrush, black fruits and a hint of charcoal. Lasts for nearly a minute on the palate, and is impossible to spit. Will benefit from a few years in the cellar, but is a monument in the making without a shadow of a doubt! WB 97.
2012 Paul Lato Grenache Larner Vineyard. Rose petals, underbrush and some exotic spices define the aromatics here. Medium-bodied, but with good grip, excellent balance and refinement and a long, resonant finish. Best vintage of Larner Grenache ever. WB 94.
2012 Paul Lato Grenache Paderewski Vineyard. Earthy overtones and eucalyptus are ever-present. Dense yet still light on its feet. Still needs some time for the various components to meld together. A promising debut. WB 92+.
Kapcsandy
2012 Kapcsandy Family Winery Furmint. Pineapple, spearmint on the nose. Full-bodied, with good acidity, some minerals and citrus. Quite enjoyable. Drink over the next few years. WB 89.
2011 Kapcsandy Family Winery Rose. Translucent red. Moderate density, crisp acidity and an earthy quality define the 2011 Rose. Lighter than usual, perhaps due to the vintage, consume this quaffable wine over the next 2-3 years. WB 88.
2010 Kapcsandy Family Winery Grand Vin Rose. This deep, full-bodied rose, with a long, nearly tannic finish, is serious stuff! Blackberries, licorice and some oak are ever-present. In fact, this serious rose would benefit from at least 2-3 years in the cellar, as its sheer density and structure seem closer to red wine. Impressive! WB 92+.
2003 Kapcsandy Family Winery State Lane. Dark purple. Blackcurrants and a leafy aspect dominate the 2003 State Lane Red. Medium-bodied, and a good wine in its own right, but is noticeably less refined than more recent vintages here have been. This is drinking well at the moment, but will last another 5 years or so. WB 91.
2010 Kapcsandy Family Winery Endre. Very dark purple, this second wine at Kapcsandy is a very good wine in its own right. Dominated by cassis, violets and a hint of smoke, it exhibits much finer and more serious tannins than the 2003 State Lane. It requires at least 3-4 years to shed its tannic cloak, but should provide considerable pleasure for a good decade or more after that. WB 92.
2011 Kapcsandy Family Winery Estate Cuvee. Opaque, nearly impenetrable black. Hints of tobacco, graphite and iron can be coaxed with considerable swirling. The wine appears to be closed for business at the moment, but its good density and refinement are still in evidence. It will require several years to become drinkable, but it is difficult to get a handle on in its present stage. WB 92+ (?)
2011 Kapcsandy Family Winery Rapszodia. A predominantly Cabernet Franc-based blend, the Rapszodia is characterized by aromas of lavender and plums. Medium-bodied, with a racy, stone-like element seemingly omnipresent on the palate and on the long, impressive finish. This is so very young, yet is already very promising. WB 94+.
2011 Kapcsandy Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon – Grand Vin. Nearly black. Medium- to full-bodied, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon – Grand Vin is filled with cassis, licorice, minerals and lead pencil. Demonstrates impressive refinement, with cashmere-like texture and a very long finish. Especially impressive given the very difficult vintage. Will benefit from at least 5 years in the cellar. WB 95+.
2011 Kapcsandy Family Winery Roberta’s Reserve. Very deep red. Intoxicating aromas of plums, black cherries, bittersweet chocolate and flowers. Very good density on the palate, with impeccable balance, a serious mineral streak and soil undertones. Finishes very long, with admirable complexity and very fine-grained tannins. A shockingly good wine in 2011 or any other vintage, for that matter. WB 96+.
2009 Kapcsandy Family Winery Vino del Sol. Brandy-like on the nose, with sweet red fruit, a beautiful, fruit-filled entry and mid-palate, excellent acidity and a long finish. Would make for a wonderful after-dinner drink. WB 93.
Pott Wines
2011 Pott La Carte de la Terroire. A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the medium-bodied La Carte is characterized by aromas of plums, spices, minerals and toast. While quite good, the wine could improve if it fleshes out a bit in the mid palate. WB 91+.
2011 Pott Acteon. Deep purple. Violets, cassis jump out from the glass. Medium- to full-bodied, with graphite, minerals and cool black fruits dominating the mid-palate, with unusual grace and refinement. Finishes quite long, with powerful tannins that bode well for extended cellaring. An impressive wine! WB 93+.
2011 Pott Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Dark cherries, pomegranate, and mineral overtones cascade into a powerful, tannic sensation on the palate. Finishes very long, with refined, but huge, tannins. Certainly impressive for its sheer strength, but will need to be cellared for 10+ years before consumption. Not for the impatient! WB 93+.
2013 Pott La Carte de la Terroire. [Merlot component] Fruity, with good structure and color. Even at this early stage, there is considerable density. A promising start. (Too early to rate).
2013 Pott Acteon. Violets, dark spices and masses of primary black and blue fruits bode well for the future. No doubt that the raw material here is considerably better than its 2011 counterpart. Should be great. WB 93-95+.
2011 Pott Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Warm plums, spices and licorice are ever-present. Even at this juncture, this medium- to full-bodied wine displays good potential, with a long finish and serious structure that bodes well for extended cellaring. WB 92-94+.
2013 Pott The Arsenal. Graphite, lavender, incense are all found in the 2013 Arsenal. Medium bodied, with good acidity and lingering minerality on the persistent finish. An impressive youngster. WB 92-95.
2013 Pott Swiss Bank. From 100% Combsville fruit, the Swiss Bank displays considerably less grip than other 2013’s at this address. Dominated by sweet red berries at the moment, it will undoubtedly firm up during elevage. Still, this appears to be more of a mid-distance runner at this stage. WB 91-93.
2013 Pott Port. Petite Syrah with Viognier, with alcohol in the 17.5-18% range. Very fruity and low acid, big bodied and quite tannic and monolithic at the moment. It may improve, but is a touch too simple at the moment. WB 90+(?).
Blankiet
2004 Blankiet Merlot. Made by Helen Turley, the 2004 Merlot is chock full of very ripe plums and licorice. Displays some heat on the finish. This is very new world in style. Drink now. WB 91.
2010 Blankiet Prince of Hearts. This mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (76%) blend offers up aromas of smoke and blackberries. Suave in the middle, with hints of graphite and earth. Can be drunk now, but will improve in 3-4 years. A very high quality second wine. WB 93.
2006 Blankiet Estate. A 60/40 percent blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this flagship wine was made in the Pre- Denis Malbec era. Ruby-red in color, with black raspberries and plums in evidence, this medium bodied, low acid wine still has some bitter oak to resolve. Whether it ever does so successfully remains an open question. Needs lots of time. WB 92+(?)
2009 Blankiet Rive Droite. Flagship Merlot from the Blankiet Estate is dominated by aromas of ripe raspberries, chocolate and exotic spices. Seamless in the mouth, with good density of fruit that eventually transition to a long finish displaying very fine grained tannins. Still needs a few years to shed some baby fat, but is already very promising. WB 94+.
Beringer
2012 Beringer Chardonnay Private Reserve. Pears, citrus fruits and some minerals can all be found in the Private Reserve. Medium bodied and rather foursquare in the mouth, it does drop off a tad too abruptly on the finish. A simple yet quaffable chardonnay. WB 87.
2012 Beringer Chardonnay Luminus. Gobs of toasty oak and vanilla are readily apparent here, but the Luminus is also medium-bodied, with good citric acidity and some minerality. Finishes fairly long, and if the oak resolves itself, this will be a winner. WB 91(?).
2003 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Chabot Vineyard. Red raspberries, flowers and a hint of smoke characterize this single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium-bodied, with a gentle grip, this uncomplicated win requires near-term consumption. WB 88.
2005 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Bancroft Ranch. This Howell Mountain Cabernet is noticeably better than the 2003 Chabot. With aromas of smoke, black cherries and flowers, this medium- to full-bodied predominantly black-fruited Cabernet finishes with considerable grip. Drink or hold. WB 91.
2006 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve. Flowers, cassis and a hint of brown sugar can all be found in the 2006 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium- to full-bodied, with considerable refinement, it represents a big jump in overall quality relative to the preceding wines. WB 94.
2009 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve. Red cherries, mocha and a flamboyant, fruit-forward personality characterize the 2009 vintage of the Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Overtly Californian (Napa) in style, yet still exhibits good refinement, some minerality and adequate acidity. Just not as compelling as other vintages of this wine over the last 20-25 years. WB 92.
2010 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve. Violets, Asian spices and graphite can all be coaxed with some swirling of the glass. Dense on the palate, with tart boysenberry and a hint of mint. Really expands on the finish, with a whiplash of late arriving tannins. The most promising Private Reserve of the 2006-2009-2010 trio. WB 95.
2007 Beringer Nightingale. Deep gold. The 2007 Nightingale, which spent nine months in oak, is dominated by aromas of apricots and burnt sugar. Big and dense, yet is suave, sweet and long in the mouth. Could use a touch more acidity, but is better balance than usual. WB 92.
Fairchild
2010 Fairchild Cabernet Sauvignon Sigaro Vineyard. Dark purple. Violets, black cherries and smoke are in evidence in this large-scaled Cabernet Sauvignon from Pritchard Hill. Powerful and tannic, with considerable underlying minerality, hints of charcoal and dry herbs, the Sigaro will require many years in the cellar in order to reach its optimum drinking window. This is a well-made, restrained Cabernet that has more in common with very ripe Medoc classified growths than with so-called Napa Valley cult Cabernets. WB 95+.
2010 Fairchild Cabernet Sauvignon Georges III. Black raspberries dominate the rather effusive nose. Medium-bodied in the mouth, with ample red cherries and currants, a more gentle personality and earlier drinkability than the Sigaro. Will still benefit from a few years of bottle age, but this somewhat fruit-forward Cabernet can be drunk now with several hours of aeration. WB 94.
Ceritas
2012 Ceritas Chardonnay Peter Martin Ray Vineyard. Flowers, citrus fruits and powerful minerals characterize this Santa Cruz Mountains-sourced Chardonnay. Medium-bodied, with a liquefied stone mouthfeel on the very long finish. Has the inner mouth energy of Chablis Valmur or Chevalier-Montrachet. Already very impressive, this could be an absolute knockout in several years. WB 93+.
2012 Ceritas Chardonnay Pinnacle Vineyard. From fruit grown at a 1550 ft elevation in a Santa Cruz Mountains vineyard planted between 1971 and 1973. Lemon zest, green apples and flowery notes can be found in this elegant chardonnay. Medium- to full-bodied, with a silky texture and impeccable balance. A very promising debut vintage for this bottling. WB 94.
2010 Ceritas Chardonnay Charles Heintz Vineyard. This old Wente clone chardonnay starts off with serious minerals, spiced pears and traces of gunflint. Big-bodied, but not heavy, it demonstrates superb refinement and persistence in the mouth. Somewhat reminiscent of a top-notch Puligny Montrachet Premier Cru. This approachable wine will benefit from an additional couple of years in the cellar. WB 94+.
2010 Ceritas Chardonnay Porter-Bass Vineyard. Slightly reduced, the Porter-Bass is a beautifully refined wine loaded with citrus fruits, melons and a quinine-like element. Finishes very long, with strong minerality and good complexity. Requires another 3-4 years of cellaring prior to consumption. WB 94.
2012 Ceritas Pinot Noir Hacienda Sequoia Vineyard. Light red. This Pommard clone-based Pinot Noir from the Alexander Valley is medium-bodied, with plentiful red currents, good acidity and refinement, and gentle grip. Drink now or cellar for a few years. WB 92.
2012 Ceritas Pinot Noir Hellenthal Vineyard. Ruby-red. Red cherries, earth, and aromatic spices give way to a medium-bodied, sensationally refined wine that is glides across the palate like liquid cashmere. A real knockout! 60% whole cluster. WB (94-96).
2013 Ceritas Pinot Noir Porter-Bass Vineyard. More overtly fruity than the Hellenthal, the 2013 Pinot Noir from the Porter-Bass vineyard is defined by sweet strawberries, spices and a whiff of nutmeg. Impeccably balanced and refined. Yet another winner from the Ceritas portfolio. WB (94-96).
2012 Ceritas Cabernet Sauvignon Peter Martin Ray Vineyard. Violets, underbrush and minerals are all in evidence in this debut vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon from the famed Peter Martin Ray vineyard. Medium-bodied, with red raspberries, licorice and plum on the mid-palate. Finishes with good length and refinement. A beautiful wine. WB (93-94).
2013 Ceritas Cabernet Sauvignon Peter Martin Ray Vineyard. Crushed blackberries and serious tannins dominate here, but the excellent potential and silky texture is already evident here. WB (92-94).
Alpha Omega
2012 Alpha Omega Sauvignon Blanc. Pineapple, bitter grapefruit pith are wrapped up in a medium-bodied, rather straightforward package that is missing some typicality normally found in Sauvignon Blanc. Drink over the next 2-3 years. WB 87.
2011 Alpha Omega Sauvignon Blanc 1155. A blend of 97% Sauvignon Blanc and 3% Semillon, the 1155 cuvee displays notes of bitter lemons, a herbaceous, grassy aroma and a medium body. With greater density and style than the “regular” 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, the 1155 will provide greater enjoyment over the next 5 years. WB 89.
2011 Alpha Omega Chardonnay Reserve. This limpid yellow, medium-bodied Chardonnay spent 9 months in oak and 8 months in stainless steel prior to bottling. Pears and white flowers , slightly austere in the mid-palate, the Reserve Chardonnay will provide immediate enjoyment now and over the next several years. WB 90.
2011 Alpha Omega Chardonnay. A different chardonnay that sees more oak (18 months), it is fuller-bodied, more viscous that the preceding wine. With hints of lemons, vanilla and minerals, it can be drunk now or over the next 3-4 years. WB 91.
2010 Alpha Omega Proprietary Red. Very dark red. Cool, dark fruit are the hallmarks of this Bordeaux-style red. Blackberries, chocolate and minerals are also in evidence, as are some late-arriving tannins. All in all, this is a serious, cellar-worthy distinctly Napa red that requires some cellaring to be at its best. WB 92.
2010 Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon. Even darker than the Proprietary Red, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon is a touch monolithic at this juncture. Some cassis is in evidence, as is a good dose of oak. The wine finishes with medium length and somewhat unruly tannins. Needs time. WB 90.
2011 Alpha Omega Proprietary Red. In 2011, the Proprietary red is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, both as a percentage of the blend (72%) and in aromatic profile. Cassis, smoke violets, minerals and a hint of oak are all present, but in good balance. In a distinctly cooler style than 2010, and may be better for it. WB 92+.
2011 Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon. Cassis and minerals are ample in the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon. However, the wine seems a bit simple, and perhaps not as concentrated as it could have been. Nevertheless, it will make for a fine drink over the near term. WB 89.
2011 Alpha Omega Era. 100% Cabernet in 2011 (mostly To-Kalon fruit), the Era ratchets up the level of quality with ample dark cherries, licorice and violets, with a full body and velvety mouthfeel. Not as fruit-forward as in warmer years, it is nonetheless impressive. Will age for a long time, but will be approachable sooner than any other Era released to date. WB 94.
2011 Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon Missouri Hopper Vineyard. Incense, with red fruits and a good density on the medium-bodied, gentle personality, the Missouri Hopper is deceptively easy to drink now. However, it has all the elements to last for a decade+ in the cellar. WB 93.
2011 Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon To-Kalon Vineyard. Violets and licorice jump from the glass of the 2011 To-Kalon. Medium- to full-bodied, graceful, with excellent acidity and a cornucopia of red and black fruits, the To-Kalon finishes very long. An excellent wine. WB 94.
2011 Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon Georges III Vineyard. Deep red. Gentle grip, with a medium body, some spices, oak and dusty tannins in the background. Finishes fairly long with bodes well for its future. This requires several year of cellaring prior to consumption. WB 92.
2011 Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Crane Vineyard. A near polar opposite of the Georges III Cabernet Sauvignon, the Dr. Crane is dominated by its deep, brooding personality. Masses of black fruits, minerals and powerful tannins all co-exist, but are yet to harmonize. Still, a very promising debut vintage for this wine. Requires at least five years of deep slumber. WB 93+.
2011 Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon Las Piedras Vineyard. Dark black. Violets and aromatic spices dominate the aromatics here. Full-bodied, with plums, licorice, gravel/crushed stone-like character, all undercut by a powerful acidic spine. Finishes very long, with very fine tannins. A stunning success! WB 95.
2011 Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon Stage Coach Vineyard. Sweet on the entry, suave and red-fruited, the Stagecoach is medium-bodied with moderate grip and early approachability. It can be drunk now, or cellared for a decade. WB 92.
