Falltacular 2020 - Tasting notes, thoughts and impressions.

Here is the list of wines available this year. A number of note takers and discussions between people occurred throughout the day. Drop the highlights here.

YEAR WINERY DESIGNATION TYPE AVA
2017 ALESIA Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains
2017 ALMA de CATTLEYA Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
2019 ALMA de CATTLEYA Rose of Pinot Noir Sonoma County
2019 ALMA de CATTLEYA Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County
2018 AUGUST WEST Cortada Alta Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands
2018 AUGUST WEST Graham Family Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
2018 AUGUST WEST Peterson Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
2018 AUGUST WEST Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
2018 AUGUST WEST Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
2018 AUGUST WEST Cortada Alta Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
2018 BELHARRA Alder Springs Pinot Noir Mendocino County
2019 BELHARRA Las Madres Rose of Syrah Carneros
2016 BELHARRA Las Madres Syrah Carneros
2017 BETWIXT R Bar R Ranch Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains
2017 BETWIXT Abba Grenache Mokelumne River
2017 BETWIXT Lester Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains
2018 BETWIXT Abba Rose of Grenache Mokelumne River
2016 BIG BASIN Altitude 2292 - Coastview Vineyard Bordeaux blend Monterey County
2017 BIG BASIN Howard Family Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains
2017 BIG BASIN Coastview Chardonnay Gabilan Mountains
2017 BIG BASIN Coastview Pinot Noir Gabilan Mountains
2017 BIG BASIN Alfaro Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains
2015 BIG BASIN Coastview Syrah Gabilan Mountains
2014 CABOT Old Vine Brut Sparkling Anderson Valley
2016 CABOT Old Vine Brut Sparkling Anderson Valley
2015 CABOT Lost Coast Pinot Noir Humboldt County
2015 CABOT Elk Prairie Pinot Noir Humboldt County
2015 CABOT Pinot Noir Humboldt County
2016 CABOT Sauvignon Blanc Humboldt County
2016 CABOT Kimberly’s Syrah Humboldt County
2016 CABOT Zinfandel Humboldt County
2016 CABOT Tributary Zinfandel Humboldt County
2015 CALLUNA Calluna Estate Bordeaux blend Chalk Hill
2016 CALLUNA Cuvee CVC Bordeaux blend Chalk Hill
2017 CALLUNA Block 1 Cabernet Sauvignon Chalk Hill
2017 CARLISLE Rossi Grenache Sonoma Valley
2017 CARLISLE Integral Syrah/Mourvedre Sonoma County
2017 CARLISLE Derivative White Field Blend Sonoma County
2017 CATERWAUL Regusci Cabernet Sauvignon Stags’ Leap District
2015 CHIRON “Unfamiliar Truth” Grenache Mt Veeder
2017 CHIRON “Emergent Truth” Grenache Napa and Edna Valleys
2017 COBB WINES Doc’s Ranch Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
2017 COBB WINES Coastlands Old Firs Block Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2017 COBB WINES Doc’s Ranch Swan and Calera Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2015 COVERT Estate Cabernet Franc Coombsville
2016 COVERT Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville
2018 DELMORE Stolo Vineyard/Boulder Ridge Syrah Cambria
2017 DUNSTAN Durell Chardonnay Sonoma County
2016 DUNSTAN Durell Pinot Noir Sonoma County
2016 DV8 CELLARS Eau Rouge GSM Santa Barbara County
2017 DV8 CELLARS White Hawk - Overdrive Syrah Santa Barbara County
2016 DV8 CELLARS Monaco Syrah Santa Barbara County
2018 FOGLINE Zephyr’s Block Chardonnay Petaluma Gap
2017 FOGLINE Hillside Block Pinot Noir Petaluma Gap
2017 FOGLINE Creekside Block Pinot Noir Petaluma Gap
2017 FOGLINE Block 13 Pinot Noir Petaluma Gap
2016 FOGLINE Summit Select Syrah Sonoma County
2017 FOGLINE Grist Syrah Dry Creek Valley
2016 GRIMM’S BLUFF Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Happy Canyon
2016 GRIMM’S BLUFF Balance Petite Verdot/Cabernet Sauvignon Happy Canyon
2018 ISKARANU Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
2018 ISKARANU Mimma Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
2018 ISKARANU Secret Clone Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
2018 ISKARANU Putnam Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2018 KUTCH Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
2018 KUTCH Trout Gulch Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains
2018 KUTCH Bohan Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2018 KUTCH Bohan Graveyard Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2018 KUTCH McDougall Ranch Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2018 KUTCH Falstaff Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2018 KUTCH Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2018 KUTCH Signal Ridge Pinot Noir Mendocino County
2016 L’ECOLE Estate Perigee–Seven Hills Vineyard Bordeaux Blend Walla Walla Valley
2016 L’ECOLE Apogee–Pepper Bridge Vineyard Bordeaux Blend Walla Walla Valley
2016 L’ECOLE Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley
2018 L’ECOLE Chenin Blanc Columbia Valley
2017 LADD CELLARS Giesler Baron Cab Franc Sierra Foothills
2017 LADD CELLARS Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
2017 LADD CELLARS Cuvee Voile Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
2013 LADD CELLARS Moore Ranch Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
2011 LADD CELLARS Pratt Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2016 LADD CELLARS Estabrook Pinot Noir
2017 LADD CELLARS Alney Tempranillo Sierra Foothills
2016 LIQUID FARM Golden Slope Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills
2017 LIQUID FARM White Hill Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills
2016 LIQUID FARM Bien Bien Chardonnay Santa Maria
2018 LIQUID FARM Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County
2019 LIQUID FARM Vogelzang Rose of Mourvedre Happy Canyon
2018 LORING WINE COMPAN River Quinn Chardonnay California
2018 LORING WINE COMPAN Boekenoogen Vineyard Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
2018 LORING WINE COMPAN Peterson Vineyard Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
2018 LORING WINE COMPAN Cortada Alta Vineyard Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
2018 LORING WINE COMPAN Spanish Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir Arroyo Grande Valley
2018 LORING WINE COMPAN Kessler-Haak Vineyard Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills
2018 LORING WINE COMPAN Rancho La Vina Vineyard Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills
2018 LORING WINE COMPAN Peake Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills
2018 LORING WINE COMPAN Cargasacchi Vineyard Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills
2018 LORING WINE COMPAN Cooper Jaxon Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County
2017 LORING WINE COMPAN Clos Pepe Vineyard Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills
2014 LORING WINE COMPAN Brut Rose Sparkling California
2018 LUCIA Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands
2018 LUCIA Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
2019 LUCIA Rose of Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
2017 LUCIA Garys’ Syrah Santa Lucia Highlands
2015 MATTHIASSION Michael Mara Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
2015 MATTHIASSION Red Wine Napa Valley
2017 MENDING WALL Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
2016 MENDING WALL Palisades Petite Sirah Calistoga
2017 NICHOLSON JONES Dolly Hill Chardonnay Carneros
2013 NICHOLSON JONES Sugar Loaf Syrah Napa Valley
2018 PAX Sonoma Hillsides Syrah Russian River Valley
2016 PAX Castelli-Knight Syrah Russian River Valley
2016 PAX Alder Springs Syrah Mendocino County
2016 PAX Griffin’s Lair Syrah Sonoma Coast
2017 PETITE BEAST Russell Family Petite Verdot Paso Robles
2017 RASI Rancho La Vina Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills
2017 RHYS Mt Pajaro Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains
2017 RIVERAIN Tench Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
2018 RIVERAIN “Generations” Silver Eagle Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2018 RIVERS-MARIE Bearwallow Chardonnay Anderson Valley
2018 RIVERS-MARIE Summa Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2018 RIVERS-MARIE Occidental Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2016 SOJOURN Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
2018 SOJOURN Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2017 SOJOURN Gap’s Crown Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2018 SONA VINO Shokrian Chardonnay Los Alamos
2018 STIPA Cass Rose of Mourvedre Paso Robles
2016 SWITCHBACK RIDGE Peterson Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
2016 SWITCHBACK RIDGE Peterson Merlot Napa Valley
2016 SWITCHBACK RIDGE Peterson Petite Sirah Napa Valley
2017 TABLAS CREEK Counoise Adelaida District (PR)
2017 TABLAS CREEK Esprit de Tablas Rouge GSM + Counoise Adelaida District (PR)
2017 TABLAS CREEK Mourvedre Adelaida District (PR)
2018 TABLAS CREEK Picpoul Blanc Adelaida District (PR)
2017 TABLAS CREEK Esprit de Tablas Blanc Roussanne, Grenache/Picpoul Blan Adelaida District (PR)
2019 TABLAS CREEK Vermentino (W) Adelaida District (PR)
2016 TERCERO aberration Cabernet Franc Santa Barbara County
2013 TERCERO Watch Hill Grenache Santa Barbara County
2015 TERCERO Grenache Blanc Santa Barbara County
2019 TERCERO (barrel sample) Mourvedre Rose Santa Barbara County
2013 TERCERO Larner Syrah Santa Barbara County
2016 VELVET BEE La Encantada Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills
2017 VELVET BEE Estate Rose Santa Rita Hills
2017 WILLIAM & MARY Shifflett Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
2017 WILLIAM & MARY Shifflett Ranch Proprietary Red Napa Valley
2017 YOUNG HAGEN Platt Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
2016 YOUNG HAGEN Riddle Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2017 YOUNG HAGEN Morning Dew Ranch Pinot Noir Anderson Valley

Wow. Heck of a list. I love the Matthiasson Red Wine. Anybody with notes?

No formal notes taken but I really did enjoy that wine. More old school then most of the other Bordeaux wines on the table.

Thanks. The old school nature is what I love about their Bordeaux variety wines.

I haven’t had a Matthiason wine I haven’t liked.

2017 CALLUNA Block 1 Cabernet Sauvignon Chalk Hill

This is new. Any more info or better yet notes/impressions?

Brian, I am coming up for air but will taste the wines tonight and post a few TNs.
20200223_120543.jpg

I didn’t take formal notes but thought the Calluna Estate and Matthiasan were excellent and had similarities in an old school way, with the M showing more cab franc leanings (even tho the cf was only 7%, but was a good effect whatever contributed to it) & the C showing more old school cab.

It’s very good. I think, iirc, it’s CS, Merlot, CF, and PV blend.

I’ll get some notes up in the next few days. I tasted about 100 wines. Grammer probably hit them all.

I tasted a ton of wines,spit most of the day but took no notes. With that many wines so many of them just run into each other and it’s often difficult to stand out above the others. Thinking back a few stood out as memorable to me.

Alma De Cattleya Rose of Pinot Noir- reminds me of the Dehlinger Rose which is a favorite

Alma De Cattleya SB-really nice refreshing SB without grapefruit, grassy or cat pee notes that often plague them. I could see myself drinking a case of these over the Summer

Been a while since I’ve had Bibianna’s wines and both reminded me I should seek them out

Carlisle Derivative- another really good, really unique white blend. I may like their whites more than their reds

Rivers Marie Occidental PN - was drinking really nicely and better than the Summa. Nice to see TRB make the trip to support the cause. One of the stand out pinots

Cobb PN- both stood out as very good and very different from the rest. Definitely on my radar to visit next time I’m in Sonoma

Riverain Tench - my favorite red wine of the day

William and Mary proprietary and cab -had them last June when just bottled and have come together very nicely after settling down in the bottle. Will be a buyer

Lots more good wines but those were the most memorable for me. A great event with a great group of folks supporting a great cause. Five * all the way around

Yikes!! That’s a fantastic lineup. Cheers to anyone who gets good notes, can’t wait to read them. And for a great cause

Where did everyone go?


Great day yesterday everyone. Thank you for your time, commitment and investment in Falltacular. I will have a survey about the event to share with you in the
coming week, along with how the event did financially. I hope you will share your thoughts with me as we work to keep the event strong and support Laura’s House.
God bless.

For those who want a visual of what goes down during the event, you can visit the page below from Facebook.

First pass



  • 2015 Matthiasson Red Wine - USA, California, Napa Valley (2/23/2020)
    Top of the class at the big red table. Really well made and like all there wines is terrifix6.
  • 2016 Cabot Vineyards Syrah Kimberly’s - USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County (2/23/2020)
    Always the flagship syrah for John. Northern Rhone in style, no black olive, but plenty of white chalk and charcoal with deep dark blackberry.
  • 2016 Cabot Vineyards Zinfandel Humboldt County - USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County (2/23/2020)
    Fantastic. This zin has the structure and presence of a high end cab but pure zinfandel flavor. One of the better zins I’ve tasted and will clearly improve as the tannic backbone integrates.
  • 2016 Ladd Cellars Pinot Noir Estabrook Sierra Foothills - USA, California, Sierra Foothills (2/23/2020)
    Very light colored. Delicate, feminine and tasty. Low ABV and very enjoyable sipper. Pair this with flaky delicate fish.
  • 2016 Mending Wall Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga (2/23/2020)
    The beast is alive! Glass staining, concentrated blue fruit and gritty tannins. Fun.
  • 2016 Velvet Bee Pinot Noir La Encantada Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills (2/23/2020)
    Quick taste: I have always liked this vineyard when Sanford owned it. Thought it was top notch and Velvet Bee keeps that tradition, real nice classic SRH PN.
  • 2017 Ladd Cellars Chardonnay CuvĂ©e Voile - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (2/23/2020)
    Damnit, Eric is crushing it with Chardonnay and this is another KILLER bottling. Clean, balanced and flavors abound. Top Chardonnay with Rivers Marie Bearwallow.
  • 2017 Tablas Creek Counoise - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (2/23/2020)
    Seiber said “get a taste of this”. There’s not much planted in California and I’m unaware of any other single variety bottlings. Typically used as a blending grape in Rhone but why after tasting this wine. Really nice cherry note and medium long finish. Check.
  • 2017 William & Mary Cabernet Sauvignon Shifflett Ranch - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District (2/23/2020)
    Superb. But you don’t need me to tell you. Cassis, toast, and nice acid.
  • 2018 Iskaranu Pinot Noir Putnam Vineyard Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (2/23/2020)
    Very good, my favorite of Greg’s lineup. Good balance, light toast, and dark cherry and raspberry.
  • 2018 Kutch Chardonnay Trout Gulch Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (2/23/2020)
    Trout Gulch kicks butt. Beautiful wine. Strong acid, medium mouthfeel. Pear, lemon and lime.
  • 2018 Lucia Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands (2/23/2020)
    I’d like to taste a vertical of this wine because my impression is they are remarkably consistent across vintages, I always like this.
  • 2018 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Bearwallow Vineyard Anderson Valley - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (2/23/2020)
    Excellent, top two whites of the day. Load up on this one.
  • 2019 Liquid Farm MourvĂšdre RosĂ© Vogelzang Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara (2/23/2020)
    Sweet fresh cut peaches. Screams summer time, always good stuff. Buy without hesitation.

Posted from CellarTracker

1 Like

Thanks Brig!

Thank you once again to Frank and Jill, and friends, for a successful day for Laura’ House. Congratulations.
The warmth and generosity present is uplifting.
Blessed to have been a part of the day’s actvities.

No formal tasting notes yet (I am still working on notes from Falltacular 13), but a few highlight/stand out wines for me:

Belharra - 2018 Pinot Noir Alder Springs - lovely, elegant pinot with wonderful floral notes, and a cool climate freshness to it. Delicious. Anne Fogerty, the winemaker, attended and delivered three stand out wines - the Pinot, a Las Madres Yrah and a rose of syrah.
Belharra - 2016 Syrah - Las Madres - beautful syrah with layers of flavors, some fresh earth, blackberries, licorice root and a black pepper note. Wonderful.
Young Hagen - 2017 Pinot Noir Morning Dew Ranch - good fruit but with a freshness that keeps it light and elegant.
Young Hagen - 2017 Chardonnay Platt Vyd - bright, and energetic with an inviting saline note (sea spray) and citrus peel finish.
2018 August West Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Peterson Vyd - dark berries framed by forest floor, fresh earth, and brown spice notes. There is an earthy side to this that makes for a distinctive wine.

Lots of great wines all around. Great people too.

Did the winemakers pour their wines? Or circulate?

No formal notes from me but I tasted through all of the whites and rosés, probably 2/3rds of the pinots and most of the rhones.

Pax hit it out of the park on the syrahs, loved them.

Best white for my taste was the kutch trout gulch chardonnay. Liquid farm rosé was awesome.

Fogline, Balharra, Kutch, and Cobb pinots were all excellent, as were the Ladds.

Hi, Michael.

The format is self pour and some of the winemakers do attend but usually about 10 or so. I’ll forget some but I saw these people wondering around.

Anne Sexton from Belharra - awesome juice
Will from William & Mary
Thomas Brown from Rivers Marie
Larry from Tercero
A couple from Mending Wall
Eric from Ladd
Greg from Iskarhara
Steve from Riverain
Rachael from Say
Brian Loring
Blake from Big Basin
Marc? from DV8
Who am I forgetting


Brig did a good capture and let me add on for some clarity. Nancy and John Hamill represented Mending Wall but they are not in the winemaking side. Greg’s label is Iskaranu. And, Marc Simon is from DV8 Cellars. We also had Darren Delmore here, who represents his own label and Tablas Creek. And Anne Fogerty does Belharra, and she is also part of Rivers-Marie now, too.

Brig, I also look forward to the rest of your TNs, as well as that from Mike Grammar and Cris Whetstone.

Thomas, thanks for making the slog out from Vermont. You’re a good man, generous too. You came for set up and stayed all the way to nearly ‘last man standing’, which by the way was won by GERRY FRAYER, who rarely posts here but like many, has come to Falltacular for more than a decade. Gerry was the last guest out, barely edging ROB WINN who was just in front of him by a few mins. We need more people in this world like Thomas Melloni.

Joe, thanks for making it for your first year
I hope you decide to bring Amy and come back in 2021, our 15th year.

David, hope you enjoyed your first year too and will give us another shot in 2021. Thanks for the TNs.

Larry and Eric, you guys have been with us for more 10 years plus, and you show up every damn year. Thanks for your generosity and spirit, your wines are a foundation of this event.

Michael Chang
you oughta come some year and see what we do. This is a close knit group of what has grown to 150+ people and it’s the best in what people can do when they work together for a common pursuit. The wine is what knits everyone together, one of the attractors of why people attend, and we’re fortunate to pour a lot of great wine, as Brig listed above.

Brian Gilp, I sat at my kitchen counter and knocked out the TNs below, without food or noise. I hope these help, including the Block 1 note. Too bad you ain’t close by as I could hand you off a bottle of the Block 1. I have a 750 open of the wine, nearly fresh to the top.

  • 2016 Calluna Vineyards Calluna Estate - USA, California, Sonoma County, Chalk Hill (2/23/2020)
    Bottle opened yesterday, sat on the counter just slow oxing. Tasted this alongside the 2016 Calluna C-V-C, and there is to me a step up in quality from that wine to this one. The Estate is 47% Cab Sauv, 28% Cab Franc, 13% Merlot, 9% Petite Verdot and 3% Malbec. What I find in the Estate is more depth, a longer finish, better complexity, too. The black cherry notes are more intense, so too is the cedary quality. There is an herb/tobacco note in the Estate too, and it also seems a touch riper, with the riper note showing a mix of black and red fruit. Finishes with a good amount of tannin, and here the oak shows a bitter chocolate quality, which I enjoy because I eat a lot of really dark chocolate (85%) so that aligns to my palate well.
  • 2016 Calluna Vineyards CuvĂ©e “CVC” - USA, California, Sonoma County, Chalk Hill (2/23/2020)
    Bottle opened yesterday, sat on the counter just slow oxing. 49% Merlot, 26% Cab Sauv, 10% Cab Franc, 8% Petite Verdot and 7% Malbec. Round and soft on my palate, with some black cherry and tobacco lead adding a little complexity, finishing with cedar, earth, a loamy kind of note. There is some decent tannin in the wine that adds some grip but overall, this is more rounded on the edges than complex and an easy drinker.
  • 2017 Alma de Cattleya Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (2/23/2020)
    Bottle opened yesterday, sat on the counter just slow oxing. Dark cherry, some juicy notes, with a good dollop of oak adding some dark cocoa. The finish is spicy and lively, with a kick of acid right on the back end of the wine, along with same dark cocoa note and iron. Whether the aeration helped the wine soften or it’s the inherent style, this is approachable now, surely medium weighted, with a nice blend of modern Napa yet the wine doesn’t feel heavy or dense to me. For around $50, this rings for a good fit for ‘Napa Cab’, with the enough oak and ripeness to attract the senses yet not get overboard, nor empty your wine budget.
  • 2017 Calluna Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Block 1 - USA, California, Sonoma County, Chalk Hill (2/23/2020)
    I had to add this to the database as it must be a new release/wine for the winery. Bottle opened yesterday, sat on the counter just slow oxing. Of all the Calluna bottles I tasted side by side on my counter tonight (2016 CVC and 2016 Estate), the Block 1 is the most wrapped up of them all. Seems darkest of the three, too. Plusher, richer, yet intense too like the Estate. The wine is chewy, the fruit a bit spicy and there is more black fruit in this wine that the other two, for sure. It does have the black cherry, dark cherry component and there is some juiciness to it, yet it’s a bit buried under the structure and chewy tannin. My gut tells me this will be better than the Estate, yet darker in tone when it settles down.

Posted from CellarTracker

Just to add a comment on the breadth of wines. I easily tasted 50 or more. Reading Brigs list of standouts I had two on his list. Really a great opportunity to taste through a lot of wines in a favorable setting.

And I’ll +1 in the Balharra Pinot. Another pleasant surprise in a label I’d never heard of prior