WCC 2004 California Cab Blind Tasting

Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY
Tasted Thursday, March 7, 2024 by salil with 49 views

Introduction

Ken's notes have far more details on the event, pairings, and pictures. All wines served double-blind and decanted a few hours in advance.

Flight 1 - Flight 1 (3 Notes)

  • 2004 Corra Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Remarkably primary and youthful. Chocolate and ripe black fruit dominates here, with a higher toned vanilla note on the nose that becomes better integrated with some swirling. It's ripe, dense, still rather tannic, but very enjoyable with the roasted quail.

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

  • 2004 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 87 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

    Comes across very primary with lots of ripe black fruited flavours and a sheen of new oak that still doesn't feel integrated into the rest of the wine. There's a bit of leathery funk on the nose as well, but it feels very young and tannic still. A leftover glass shows better the next day.

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

  • 2004 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection 84 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Wasn't a fan of this. There's a core of very rich, primary black fruit tinged with vanilla and a higher-toned green herbal note on the nose that I like, which adds freshness. But the palate feels foursquare; burly and extracted with a lot of tannin and a hot, alcoholic finish.

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

Flight 2 - Flight 2 (3 Notes)

Flight 3 - Flight 3 (3 Notes)

  • 2004 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    My favorite wine of the night - lovely aromatics that show off the ripe black Cabernet fruit and more savoury earthy and tobacco flavours with the oak playing a supporting role in the background. It's a big wine, but feels better balanced than the ones in the previous flight.

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

  • 2004 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga

    Liked but didn't love this in the blind tasting, though a leftover glass showed better much later in the night with more air. Compared to the other wines on the table, the fruit feels more restrained and there's more of an earthy/savoury character here. But the palate also feels a bit lean, and the tannins stick out on the finish.

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

  • 2004 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

    Spectacular aromatics here - an array of dark chocolate, violets, black fruit, and more low toned smoky and earthy savouriness. A lovely wine to just sit and smell, though the palate doesn't quite live up - there's plenty of ripe, luscious fruit here, but also a tinge of heat on the finish.

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

×
×