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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 90.7 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 44 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by YourSomm on 12/27/2018 & rated 95 points: This is my 5th and final bottle and, like the others, was extraordinary! The wines from Laura Zahtila/Laura Michael are consistently great, but the combination of their nuanced winemaking, incredible Beckstoffer fruit, and 13 years, made this a stellar bottle. Green olives, dried thyme, roasted meats, leather, and forest floor were the dominant tones with the primary fruits - dark ripe cherries and raspberries - playing a supporting role. (1093 views) | | | Tasted by 1961Vintage on 1/10/2017 & rated 93 points: Above and beyond. Rich and decadent but not too much barrel. Love the fruit expression and balance. (1883 views) | | | Tasted by 1961Vintage on 12/3/2016 & rated 93 points: Another terrific LZ wine. Not many cabs I think are worth the full price. This one is close. (1875 views) | | | Tasted by jnocera on 8/19/2016 & rated 92 points: The color is dark purple but it's starting to show signs of bricking and aging. The nose is very complex some black fruits buts also earthy hints of barnyard and tobacco. On the palate this is a velvety wine with good balance of fruit and tannins. Secondary flavors of chewing tobacco are also on the palate and the finish is smooth and long. Lacks a bit of power for a higher score. (2146 views) | | | Tasted by 1961Vintage on 7/7/2016 & rated 92 points: Notes consistent. Just too much of a hint of green otherwise superb. (2193 views) | | | Tasted by jnocera on 6/4/2016 & rated 93 points: Deep dark ruby red almost purple in color. The nose is very meaty with hints of tobacco. On the palate this is a well structured wine with still strong tannins and lively black fruit. Good complexity and a long smooth finish. (1439 views) | | | Tasted by eoinhharkins on 2/15/2016: After a 2 hour decant the nose had dark currants, earth, dried blackberry, cedar and hint of polish, palate is smooth with the sweet tannins nicely integrated at this point, with generous fruit purity and dark chocolate on the finish (1086 views) | | | Tasted by ben_white on 2/6/2016 & rated 91 points: Rust red color with vanilla and cherry on the nose upon opening. This wine definitely needs decanting, as it has a fair amount of sediment. After 30-40 minutes it has opened up with dark cherries, currants, a bit earthy. Tannins completely integrated. Long smooth finish. This is an excellent wine, and an example of Napa cabernet at its best. Probably near the end of its drinking life this year or next. (1100 views) | | | Tasted by jnocera on 1/17/2016 & rated 92 points: Muted nose maybe a hint of earthiness. Color starting to soften to a rusty red. Good balance on the palate hints of leather and fully integrated tannins. Smooth finish. I think most of the power from this wine left a few years ago. But a nice smooth food friendly drinker. (897 views) | | | Tasted by Wicked Panda on 1/7/2016 & rated 88 points: Very nice cab. But had lots of sediment and it muddied the finish (902 views) | | | Tasted by flashvictor on 5/9/2015 & rated 91 points: While 9 years old, this still requires a solid hour decant. Initially deep ruby color leads to a nose of red fruit, cassis and oak. On opening the flavored are very red and sharp. After an hour decant, the flavors integrated and deepen, adding some dark fruit to complement the red flavors. Finish last 20 seconds. (1273 views) | | | Tasted by eoinhharkins on 2/13/2014 & rated 92 points: Seems to be entering a new phase of evolution, oak is not as active as it once was, dusty cherry, dark chocolate, cassis and some thyme on the nose, similar palate with elegant tannins yielding a smooth mouth feel and a rewarding finish (2204 views) | | | Tasted by maitredgreg2 on 2/4/2014 & rated 96 points: Outstanding bottle of wine. (2291 views) | | | Tasted by eoinhharkins on 12/27/2013 & rated 91 points: Notes of cassis, sweet dark cherry, hints of chocolate, the sweet dark fruit persists on the palate , with a touch of bitter chocolate towards the finish (2197 views) | | | Tasted by Chip Merlot on 11/16/2013 & rated 92 points: Wonderful cab ... not much to add to the previous notes. Visual: Heavy crystallization on underside of cork; long, thick, slow-developing legs; pretty ruby color. Palate: Just a bit of green vegetable-ness, otherwise not a single negative. Great, elegant balance and integration of oak and alcohol. Lots of dark red fruits and espresso.Wonderful aroma on uncorking, continuing through a 90-minute decant and a one-hour dinner. I have no idea whether it will get better with more time -- and I'll probably never know because it was my only bottle! (2469 views) | | | Tasted by TheBrewersWine on 10/26/2013 & rated 92 points: Amazing taste, silky smooth finish. Great flavor! (2140 views) | | | Tasted by alfagirl on 10/20/2013 & rated 89 points: Silky smooth. Long finish. Chocolate and blueberry on the palate. Well integrated oak. Lovely. (1134 views) | | | Tasted by iamandyc on 6/30/2013 & rated 92 points: A very pleasant surprize as this turned into a very silky. sophisticated cab. The palate was wonderfully smooth yet energized boasting cassis with small notes of blood orange and cranberry. Nose started a bit sweaty which was wierd but settled into a nicer realm later with the fruit and some floral notes, Sorry it was the only one I had. (1611 views) | | | Tasted by ShaneO on 5/26/2013 & rated 90 points: Not going to be a long note - enjoyed last night with friends. Decanted about an hour. This has become a really smooth and elegant Napa Cab. While we enjoyed it, I've come to realize that I prefer younger cabs. Really nice bottle, probably still has a little bit of time to go, but I wouldn't wait too much longer on this. (1930 views) | | | Tasted by erichbrandt on 5/23/2013: Lake (1644 views) | | | Tasted by eoinhharkins on 5/11/2013 & rated 92 points: Best bottle of this wine I've had so far, beautiful nose of cassis, chocolate, coffee bean and some earth, very smooth with tannins and oak nicely integrated medium length finish (1452 views) | | | Tasted by drummer on 4/19/2013 & rated 90 points: (pnp) nice layering of prune, licorice, black cherry on the nose, however , not offered on the palate and a bit disjunct ....smooth on the bottom and overall enjoyable (1463 views) | | | Tasted by BigBoy_Sonoma on 4/6/2013 & rated 89 points: Deep dark fruit, cassis, hints of chocolate,pepper and smokey oak. B+/A- (778 views) | | | Tasted by eoinhharkins on 1/18/2013 & rated 91 points: Probably the bottle I enjoyed most so far, all the elements seem to be nicely integrated showing nice bright red fruit on the nose with hints of dust and pencil, similar palate with the introduction of some cigar box, lovely elegant wine drinking well right now (1248 views) | | | Tasted by eoinhharkins on 11/17/2012 & rated 91 points: Showed a bit better than previous bottles, notes of dark cherry, some graphite, with vanilla chocolate medium body and finish (1449 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (11/20/2010)
(Laura Michael Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard) Herbaceous, menthol nose; herbaceous, menthol, tart plum palate; medium finish 85+ pts. 85 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Laura Michael Wines Producer website2005 Laura Michael Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III VineyardAppellation: Napa Valley
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Sub appellation: Rutherford
Alcohol: 14.2%
TA: .61
pH: 3.80
Harvest Date: October 21, 2005 and Nov. 1, 2005
Cooperage: 100% French Oak
Brix at Harvest: 24 and 25
Production: 864 casesCabernet SauvignonCabernet Sauvignon is probably the most famous red wine grape variety on Earth. It is rivaled in this regard only by its Bordeaux stablemate Merlot, and its opposite number in Burgundy, Pinot Noir. From its origins in Bordeaux, Cabernet has successfully spread to almost every winegrowing country in the world. It is now the key grape variety in many first-rate New World wine regions, most notably Napa Valley, Coonawarra and Maipo Valley. Wherever they come from, Cabernet Sauvignon wines always seem to demonstrate a handful of common character traits: deep color, good tannin structure, moderate acidity and aromas of blackcurrant, tomato leaf, dark spices and cedarwood.
Used as frequently in blends as in varietal wines, Cabernet Sauvignon has a large number of common blending partners. Apart from the obvious Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the most prevalent of these are Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere (the ingredients of a classic Bordeaux Blend), Shiraz (in Australia's favorite blend) and in Spain and South America, a Cabernet – Tempranillo blend is now commonplace. Even the bold Tannat-based wines of Madiran are now generally softened with Cabernet SauvignonUSAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Napa Valley Napa Valley Wineries and Wine (Napa Valley Vintners)Rutherford Rutherford,
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