Big Cabs With The Boys

Five "Bad Boys"(goof balls?) got together for our semi-regular Houston's drink-a-thon. The theme was Big Cabs which I own maybe one buried bottle of so in the hopes of including something that might actually work with dinner I brought a low end Bordeaux and a 30 year old classic Cali Cab. The Bordeaux had too much funk to be enjoyable and my Sterling was corked! Foiled again! All around a fun night as always even if the wines this time left me wanting.

• 2007 Sine Qua Non Stripes & Stars

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Very dark in color and without the viscosity of the previous version. Leaner styled but big fruited and tart. Cranapple like character but short and with a touch of spritz. A let down from previous efforts.

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• 2004 Kongsgaard Chardonnay The Judge

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Huge nose of spiced baked fruits. More baked fruit character on a thick ripe palate. Made me think of a dry dessert wine. Definitely on the cocktail end of the spectrum. Not of my favorite style but I know of lots of people this would appeal to.

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• 2005 Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Tight nose with an odd sulfury soapy smell. Lot's of dense fruit and well balanced. Some butterscotch notes later on add some interest but this really seems to be screaming for age and the concentrated fruit should pay off some bottle time in spades.

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• 2003 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Bright fruity nose that smelled like a big styled Cali Pinot showing some ripe raspberries and chocolate. Light elegant palate feel with lot's of chocolate and mocha. Seemed to lack concentration to me and had some lingering heat. A pretty cocktail wine but not what I think of as Cabernet.

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• 2005 Futo OV

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Ripe nose showing some stewed fruits. Soft palate with mocha. Heat and late acting tannins. Lot's of bottles like this for $8 but I guess they don't use such expensive oak and vineyard properties.

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• 2005 Futo Oakville

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Thick and soft with tons of grips. Plenty of concentration and showing lots of chocolate. There is signs of ripe fruits on the nose. This needs some time but not sure where it will end up. A big bruiser Napa wine that didn't show us a lot today.

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• 2005 Ovid Red Wine

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Sharp Zin like ripe nose. Tight palate with lots of grip. On the leaner side and soft. Needs some time to unwind but the ripeness says not a lot of time. Brutal for $175+.

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• 1980 Inglenook Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Limited Cask Reserve Selection

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Old dusty nose with slight signs of oxidation. Somewhat flat but with good acids. Shows some straight forward cedar. Would have liked more complexity but is still well alive and drinking nicely. Better with dinner. Drink up.

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• 1978 Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Flawed

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Complex nose initially but clearly a note of TCA in the background that only grew with air. Crap. What a shame as there was clearly plenty of fruit left on the palate that was rapidly being crushed.

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• 2000 Château d'Escot Aux Sorbiers

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc

  This held up very well over 3 days and could go longer. First night shows some barnyardy brett along with some meaty notes. Palate is lean and tight with strong acidity. Third day the brett has stepped aside leaving a cigar ash note on the nose with some strong dense cedary wood. Palate is straight forward traditional Cab showing some cassis and redwood. Not much complexity but very reminiscent of an simpler older 80's Cali Cab. Good wine for the price but lacks complexity. Should live for at least a few more years before fading.

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