California Cabernet 2001/2002 Blind Tasting

Hughes House - Chicago IL
Tasted Friday, June 15, 2018 by Burgundy Al with 259 views

Flight 1 - Blind Whites to Start (2 Notes)

  • 2000 Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard 89 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Served double blind alongside the 2003 vintage. Fully mature, just bright enough, with tropical fruit and baked apple. Still very tasty, but a few years past its peak.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2003 Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Served double blind alongside the 2000 vintage. Slightly more tropical than I'd prefer but so much concentration with very elegant balance. Seemed so much fresher than a 15 yo wine, especially from such a ripe vintage clocking in at 15+% alcohol.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 2 - First Cab Flight of Two Matched Pairs (4 Notes)

Flight 3 - Second Cab Flight of 6 Randoms 01/02s (6 Notes)

  • 2001 Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind in 01/02 Cali Cab tasting. Starts out rich, dense, meaty and chewy, then moderate length and complexity with moderately firm structure. Consistent with prior notes on this wine. Incorrectly thought this from 2002. Limited upside from here.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2002 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind in 01/02 Cali Cab tasting. Fleshy black cherry throughout, maturing nicely and elegantly. Subtle mint and liqueur hints. Nicely finessed with layers of interesting flavors unfolding, even if just moderately powerful. Correctly identified as from '02 vintage.

    Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2002 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind in 01/02 Cali Cab tasting. Dense black fruit with richness I thought more 2002 vs 2001, but still firmly structured. Brawny, particularly on finish. Re-tasted an hour+ later and this was getting bigger/ better. Correctly identified this as from '02 vintage. Group enjoyed this wine more than I did tonight.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2001 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind in 01/02 Cali Cab tasting. Black cherry comes across on the softer side, but nicely elegant and balanced. I enjoyed this more than most today. Correctly identified this as from '01 vintage.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2001 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind in 01/02 Cali Cab tasting. Sweet spice and spice that I found borderline jammy, helped by a more mineral-tinged finish. Correctly identified this as from '01 vintage. Not nearly as good as another bottle opened a year ago that I had also bought at release from Etude.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2002 Marshall Cellars Juliet Peery Reserve Beckstoffer 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Double blind in 01/02 Cali Cab tasting. An odd wine. While I found this too ripe and extracted, there was also an impressive amount of concentration and dry extract. Probably 86-87 points for pleasure today, but this is and intriguing and burly wine that I think has 90 point upside, 2022 forward.
    Incorrectly thought this from '01 vintage.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 4 - Something Sweet (2 Notes)

  • NV Gralyn Estate Pedro Ximénez 87 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    Served double blind. Slightly confusing. At first I thought this had botrytis, but then realized that was more earth. Raisins and cooked figs with caramel apple and earth. Hot finish that didn't thrill me. Solera from 1990 through 2002 based on back label. Others enjoyed this much more.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2001 Ojai Late Harvest Viognier Roll Ranch Vineyard 89 Points

    USA, California

    Tasted double blind. Floral aromatic start with fresh and dried apricot. Good+ length. Simpler flavors. Good overall. Limited upside.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 5 - A Few Bonus Bottles (2 Notes)

×
×