Second Sunday Group: 2012 Napa Cabernets

Rich's & Dana's
Tasted Sunday, October 9, 2016 by AllRed with 320 views

Introduction

We gathered for our monthly double blind brown bag tasting- a few warm up whites followed by the double blind flight of eight reds. There were twelve tasters and the cost was $50.

Flight 1 - Warm ups (3 Notes)

Double blind.

Flight 2 - Reds. (8 Notes)

Double blind.

  • 2012 Tuck Beckstoffer Mad Hatter 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind. Deep purplish crimson color. Aroma of chocolate and blueberry, black currants. Cassis, vanilla and dark fruit with tons of toasted oak spice. Never really opens are changes very much, but the tannins soften slightly as it sits. 89-90 pts.

    My #4, Domino's #2
    Group #3, 46 pts

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  • 2012 Textbook Cabernet Sauvignon Mise en Place 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Double blind. Purplish crimson color. A bit reticent at first, though notes of cocoa and red currants eventually emerge. Again, plenty of spicy toasted oak with red fruit underneath. Chocolate and plum notes over heavy tannins. Good length to the finish, dominated by oak rather than fruit.

    My #6, Domino's #6
    Group #6, 59 pts

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  • 2012 Waterstone Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 87 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind. Purplish crimson color. Briny- like opening a jar of the pimento-stuffed green olives- some said "pickle" - fine, whatever the exact note, it's very distracting and difficult to get past. Red fruit and spice qualities in the bouquet lurking beneath the pickle/olive note, but also on the palate. Decent finish.

    My #8, Domino's #7
    Group #5, 55 pts

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  • 2012 Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Le Pich 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind. Purplish crimson color. Spice, vanilla and red fruit notes- the oak, again, is really obvious. Firm tannins with loads of toasted oak covering a mélange of red and black fruit. A subtle chocolate note emerges with air. 88+ pts.

    My #5, Domino's #5
    Group #7, 60 pts

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  • 2012 Cresta Velia Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    Double blind. Purplish crimson color. At first a bit reticent, then dark fruit with pretty floral undertones. Flavors of dark fruit and red plum with plenty of spicy oak too. Develops a fun chocolate-covered-cherry note and shows some balance on the palate- the tannins soften as it opens and the fruit comes forward. 91-92 pts.

    My #2, Domino's #4
    Group #2, 45 pts

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  • 2012 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 87 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Double blind. Purplish crimson color. Reticent; hints of red fruit and even some citrus emerge. Tannic and firm, with dark fruit and loads of spicy oak. High-toned, perhaps even a touch of VA too, along with dark fruit and plenty of tannin. 87-88 pts.

    My #7, Domino's #3
    Group #4, 52 pts

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  • 2012 Noemi Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind. Purplish crimson color. Notes of violets, dark fruit, plum and mint. Tannins are present but softer than the other wines in the line up. Dark fruit dominates and this has an elegance to it. Plenty of florals; lengthy finish.

    My #1, Domino's #1
    Group #1, 44 pts

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  • 2012 Celani Family Vineyards Tenacious 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District

    Double blind. Purplish crimson color. Musty dark fruit gives way to popcorn and dark fruit notes. Develops a perfumed floral quality to go along with the dark fruit notes. Jammy boysenberry and plum fruit, with oak spice and vanilla on the finish. Good length and balance.

    My #3, Domino's #8
    Group #8, 71 pts

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Flight 3 - Dinner/dessert wines (6 Notes)

Nonblind with dinner.

  • 1990 Gosset Champagne Célebris 94 Points

    France, Champagne

    Deep yellow color with notes of peach, melon, apple strudel, marzipan and pastry dough. Soft mousse with a fine bead. Apple, hazelnut and cherry flavors with a lingering finish. Rich and powerful but with a sense of refinement. Terrific.

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  • 1972 Domaine Duchet Beaune 1er Cru Cent-Vignes 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru

    At least the second time I have been able to try this and to my recollection, the best showing yet. Looks old though still has a soft ruby hue. Notes of cherry, caramel, tea leaves, strawberry and sous bois. On the palate this is light and balanced, with fruit and acid and a good finish. There's cherry and tea as well as herb and meaty quaities. A hint of Asian spices too. Lovely for half an hour or so before it begins to fade in the glass.

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  • 1995 A. Rafanelli Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

    Popped and poured. Initially very perfumed and floral- rose petals, lavender and potpourri- giving way to cherry and currant notes. Red berry fruit on the palate lingers through the finish. Fully-integrated, showing nice balance and length, still with a few years ahead of it at this level, say to 2020. Excellent. 92+ pts.

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  • 1997 Heredad Ugarte Rioja Dominio De Ugarte Reserva 90 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

    Tea leaf, dark plum and leather notes on the nose and palate. Balanced, with a lingering finish. Nicely integrated tannins.

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  • 2014 Storyteller Wine Co. Pinot Noir 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    Cherry and red fruit notes turn to dark fruit as it opens. Plentiful fruit on the palate; balanced with good weight and acidity. Long finish. Impressive.

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  • 2012 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape 91 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    Jammy and ripe without being overdone, the red fruit is fully on display. Touches of spice join the red fruit on the palate, ending with good length.

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