S&E Napa Extravaganza
at Home
Tasted Saturday, February 3, 2024 by cab blends with 40 views
Introduction
All wines 95+ pts and 3 100 pointers tonight too.
All wines blind, although I was able to work out a few and thus they are noted as not blind in my notes.
2004 BOND Melbury 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
NOT blind
Decanted for 2 hours (I would not decant in the future). While a few folks at dinner loved this, it did not do it for me. (DS)
This is more a food wine as it has lost its "punch".
The body has thinned and seems slightly out of balance. It is on the downside of its peak. Melbury is my least favorite of the 5.
Acidity and alcohol in the finish.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2015 BRAND Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Tannins with significant acidity in the finish. Not fully integrated (rounded for me) for me. Maybe a longer decant? Maybe this is more of a food wine?
92-
A hint of guava fruit on the nose.
HL 2 FD 3 F3
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2019 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
Another surprise of the evening (after the unveiling) as this rating was higher than I have ever given Lede - and I am not normally a great fan.
Some acidity in the finish, although the finish is a little short.
While the color and nose seemed to indicate a fruit bomb, it is not a fruit bomb and has hints or restraint.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2019 Pas de Cheval Cabernet Sauvignon Finale Howell Mountain 98 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
This was my WOTN together with the 2010 Hillside Select (very different ages of course) - unusual for me as after the unveiling to find it was a Howell mountain which is not my favorite AVA. So it was a great surprise!
I thought it was a Stags Leap.
Very dark red with strong tannins. Blue and dark fruits but not too dark. Integrated and having seen the vintage, I wonder if this will last 5 more years.
A great find by Greg.
HL2 FD2 Fi4
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2007 Hundred Acre Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan 96 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
NOT Blind
This wine was showing garnet and some lighter shades of red. Decanting improved the wine (3 hours).
Tannins are still powerful yet restrained. 8+.
Red fruits are showing and the dark fruits have receded.
The last time I had this wine some 10 years ago, it was way too tannic. This has softened somewhat amazingly.
My score maybe a touch high?
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2010 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select 98 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
NOT BLIND
98/97
Decanted for 3 hours.
Dark red and looked far younger than its age. Beautiful ight fruit and wood bark on the nose.
Definitely seems to be in a great spot and the decanting time was perfect. The heat that accompanies Hillside when young was gone and this was rounded.
Still good fruit - red and blue fruits.
HL 2 FD 3 Fin 4
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue