Hi-End Cabs/Bordeaux Blends Offline, Blind ($100+)

This was a gathering to examine some hi-end Cabs/Bordeaux blends mostly from Napa. The price point was a minimum $100 paid. With a small group of 6 it was decided to do the initial tasting blind and then revisit all the wines once they were revealed. Interestingly 3 of the wines really stood out from the rest and were tightly packed packed for WOTN honors.

• 2007 Ridge Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains 93 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Medium gold color. Lovely nose of toasted oak, apples, citrus-lemon, with minerals. The palate is delightfully rich, round, and full with consistent fruit, mineral and great balance. Restrained oak and a long energetic finish make this just outstanding.

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Half of the wine was consumed and rated blind and then the second half was poured and drank after being revealed.

• 1990 Château Pape Clément 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Dark red/maroon color with moderate bricking. 45 minute decant. The nose shows cassis, plum, pencil lead, subtle earth that evolves greatly, loam, tobacco. The palate is consistent with fine tannins and a medium-short finish. I believe this wine was partially corked (which became worse with more air)and as such didn't shine as expected.

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• 2003 Joseph Phelps Insignia 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very dark red color, inky. 3.5 hr decant. The nose has oak, black fruits, blueberry, cassis, herbs, and the earth emerges later. The palate is thick and chewy, lush black fruits, with firm but integrated tannins, layers of fruit and a medium finish. This was somewhat tight and got better over another 2 hours in the glass to get to this point. 93+pts.

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• 2004 Blankiet Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Paradise Hills Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very dark red/inky. Nose starts with herbs, dill, and green pepper, that softens but persists, florals, spice, licorice, blackberry. The palate has lots of glycerin, blackberry, licorice, moderate tannins and a medium finish. This wine just feels like it needs more time to come together.
  92+ to 93pts.

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• 2004 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Inky purple-black color. Nose has earth, blackberry , creme de cassis, smoke, and oak. The palate is massive and amazingly concentrated, blackberry liquer and kir, subtle earth and spice, smoke and toasty oak, round tannins, with a medium plus finish. This had a 2 hour decant and didn't really evolve for me until another 1-1.5 hours later and then it exploded. Wow. My #3 and group #2 WOTN.

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• 2007 Rubicon Estate Rubicon 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Very dark red/purple. 3.5 hr decant. The nose is phenomenal great florals, earth, mineral, sweet cassis, berries, espresso, spices, and hints of chocolate. The palate is just oh so elegant and velvety, with vibrant fruits that just coat the mouth. Dusty tannins are fine grained and remarkably integrated for such a baby. Great concentratiion but balanced with finesse. Very long finish. Lovely Bordeaux blend and a great wine. My WOTN and group WOTN.

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• 1997 Ridge Monte Bello 95 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Very dark red color/no bricking. 45 minute decant. Nose has sweet fruits, cassis, plum, some earth and florals, spicebox, and smoke. The palate is quite lush with black fruits and adding black licorice. Deeply concentrated, but elegant, prominent acidity, fine tannins, and a long finish. This is a lovely wine with classic Bordeaux caharacter. Probably at its peak now. Outstanding. My #2 WOTN and group #3 WOTN.

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Voting was done on a 3-2-1 points system for the top 3 wines. WOTN was the 2007 Rubicon Estate Rubicon with 13 pts closely followed by the 2004 Shafer Hillside Select as #2 WOTN with 12 pts, and the #3 WOTN with 11 pts was the 1997 Ridge Monte Bello. These three wines received all of the votes. This was a fantastic night of great wine, conversation and food!