WCC 2001 California Cabernet Blind

Provence Restaurant, Albany, NY
Tasted Thursday, September 15, 2011 by kenv with 707 views

Introduction

My local tasting group got together to taste 2001 California Cabernet Sauvignon blind. We each knew the wine or wines we had brought but nothing else and not which ones our were. The food was once again superb at Provence. The dinner began about 7:30.

You can find photos and more commentary on my website:

http://www.finewinegeek.com/tn/2011-09-15_WCC_2001-Cali-Cab_Provence/

Flight 1 - Flight 1: Cabernet Plus (5 Notes)

With Madeira and Apple Braised Berkshire Pork Belly with Flageolet Beans.

  • 2001 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 87 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    [Decanted for 6 hours.] Ripe tart black and red fruit. Tasty with nice spice and medium body, but clearly not in the same leagues as most of the other wines here this evening. Lacks the depth and richness of the others. 87 points.
    Day 3: Fairly thin and tart now. Pleasant, no more. Drink up! 85 points.

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  • 2001 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    [Double decanted at 5pm.] Ripe juicy red fruit. Nice acidity. Medium body. Elegant and balanced. Group #4 WOTN.
    Day 3: Thicker, richer, more alcoholic now. A powerhouse. Riveting cherry brandy finish. Should improve for 10-20 years. 94-97 points.

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  • 2001 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    [Double decanted at 11am.] A more complex nose than the previous wines. Coffee, cherries, vanilla. Excellent long sweet fruit. Drinking very well tonight. One of the best for dinner tonight. 93 points. Group #5 WOTN.

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  • 2001 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    [Double decanted at 8am.] Rich smooth sweet red fruit. A touch of greenness or raw tannins on the finish, but the fruit is long, penetrating, and riveting. A superb wine.
    Day 3: More reserved but classic Beringer Private Reserve with great elegance and purity of fruit.

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  • 2001 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    [Double decanted at 11am.] Smoky red fruit nose. Sweet fruit, but slightly austere tannins. Needs 10 years. Powerful stuff. 94-96 points. One vote for WOTN.
    Day 3: More clearly the big brother of Wine #1 (the Napa bottling) now that I taste them side by side.

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Flight 2 - Flight 2: Supposedly 100% Cabernet (or Merlot) (4 Notes)

With Crispy Sweetbread Napoleon with Shiitake Mushroom Duxcelle, Baby Spoon Spinach, Savory Puff Pastry and Roasted Garlic Supreme.

  • 2001 Paloma Merlot 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

    [Decanted at 5pm for one hour.] Flamboyant vanilla and black fruit nose. Heavy oak covers smoky black fruit. Quite backward and tannic. Needs 5-10 years. This is one of the most structured American Merlots I've ever had. No one guessed it was a Merlot ringer! Impressive wine! About 15% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. My #2 WOTN. Tied for Group WOTN.

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  • 2001 Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 96 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    [Decanted for 1.5 hours at 4:30pm.] Huge smoky nose. Stunning wine. The most thrilling wine so far. So penetrating with gorgeous fruit. #1 WOTN for me and one other person (with excellent taste!).
    Day 3: Dark fruit. Has a warm mellowness. The most balanced and harmonious of the 6 Day 3 wines from this tasting. Amy thinks so too. She says, "It's a Charlotte Bronte wine: dark and brooding."

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  • 2001 Clark-Claudon Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    [Double decanted for 24 hours.] Acidic red fruit nose. Quite austere and tannic. Not Rated by me. Tied for Group #1 WOTN!

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  • 2001 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    [Opened at 11am. Double decanted at 5pm.] Flamboyant sweet chocolate black fruit nose. Long young and glorious. Must be at its peak tonight. Just a super-yummy wine! My #3 WOTN. Tied for Group #1 WOTN.

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Flight 3 - Flight 3: Meritage (5 Notes)

With Honey and Cumin Crusted Magret de Canard, Balsamic Cognac Sauce and a Cauliflower Gratin.

Closing

Cheese Course: Cypress Grove Chevre "Humboldt Fog" with Fresh Mission Figs.

2001 is clearly an excellent vintage for California Cabernet (and Merlot!). Modest wines like the Montelena Napa and the Groth Oakville are pleasant and drinking well now. Some of these wines are just stunning now, and I see no reason to wait on wines like the Plumpjack and the Pride, but some still need serious time.

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