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DE Double blind Best Bottle
DE
Tasted January 27, 2012 by jinks with 612 views
Introduction
-Red Wine
-Vintage 2000 or younger
Flight 1 (8 notes)
Red
2002 Staglin Family Cabernet Sauvignon 20th Anniversary Selection
96 points
Tasted blind with 8 other fine reds, all 2000 or younger (included '01 and '03 Shafer hillside select, '01 insignia, '01 DA1147, '02 Monte Bello...)
This wine stole the show. My blind notes:
Youthful opaque purple appearance. Nose initially closed and very metallic, but with time offered up cassis, briar, dark berry fruit and tobacco leaf.
The palate is so full and graceful, hits every part of the mouth just right. Alcohol showed thru slightly at times, but otherwise this was just fabulous.
++tannins, and the finish lingers on and on.
My 1st/9, group 1/9
This wine stole the show. My blind notes:
Youthful opaque purple appearance. Nose initially closed and very metallic, but with time offered up cassis, briar, dark berry fruit and tobacco leaf.
The palate is so full and graceful, hits every part of the mouth just right. Alcohol showed thru slightly at times, but otherwise this was just fabulous.
++tannins, and the finish lingers on and on.
My 1st/9, group 1/9
Red
2001 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
94 points
My blind notes: (tasted double blind among 8 other red wines)
Looks young in the glass. Aromas of dark fruit, strawberries, spinach, moist soil, hazelnuts and menthol.
Palate: full and rich, hitting on all cylinders. ++ tannins, long finish.
My 2/9 group 3/9
Looks young in the glass. Aromas of dark fruit, strawberries, spinach, moist soil, hazelnuts and menthol.
Palate: full and rich, hitting on all cylinders. ++ tannins, long finish.
My 2/9 group 3/9
Red
2001 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select
93 points
Tasted double blind among 8 other fine/younger reds.
My blind notes:
youthful dark opaque color. Aromas of dark chocolate, rich coffee, and tomato paste.
Very smooth on the palate, if a bit shallow, but great dark fruit. velvety. ++ tannins, long finish.
Ranked 3/9, group's 5/9
My blind notes:
youthful dark opaque color. Aromas of dark chocolate, rich coffee, and tomato paste.
Very smooth on the palate, if a bit shallow, but great dark fruit. velvety. ++ tannins, long finish.
Ranked 3/9, group's 5/9
Red
2004 Dominus Estate
92 points
My blind notes:
Aromas of cream, oak, and an unusual but not unpleasant citrus element.
Full palate with dark berries, tobacco. Abundant tannins, medium finish.
My 5/9, group's 9/9
Aromas of cream, oak, and an unusual but not unpleasant citrus element.
Full palate with dark berries, tobacco. Abundant tannins, medium finish.
My 5/9, group's 9/9
1 person found this helpful
Comment
Red
2002 Ridge Monte Bello
91 points
My blind notes:
best nose of the group - briar, cassis. classic cab nose, very clean and focused.
Unfortunately, this was somewhat shallow on the mid-palate and had a slightly acidic turn on the back end. Lots of tannins, decent finish.
Ranked 6/9, group's 6/9. I personally would wait a few more years before drinking another bottle.
best nose of the group - briar, cassis. classic cab nose, very clean and focused.
Unfortunately, this was somewhat shallow on the mid-palate and had a slightly acidic turn on the back end. Lots of tannins, decent finish.
Ranked 6/9, group's 6/9. I personally would wait a few more years before drinking another bottle.
Red
2001 Joseph Phelps Insignia
91 points
Tasted double blind among other similarly priced wines of similar age.
My blind notes:
Appears young in the glass. Closed nose. dark berry fruit and some leather.
Palate was bland and relatively uninteresting compared to others on the table. +++ tannins.
Again I honestly think this would show better in a few more years.
My 7th/9, group 4/9
My blind notes:
Appears young in the glass. Closed nose. dark berry fruit and some leather.
Palate was bland and relatively uninteresting compared to others on the table. +++ tannins.
Again I honestly think this would show better in a few more years.
My 7th/9, group 4/9
Red
2003 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select
88 points
very disappointing. decanted for an hour.
Tasted double blind amongst eight other great reds.
My blind notes:
Closed up in just about every way... practically nothing on the nose. alcohol and acidity in the mouth. +++tannins.
This is not in a good place right now, I'll give the other bottles some more time.
Tasted double blind amongst eight other great reds.
My blind notes:
Closed up in just about every way... practically nothing on the nose. alcohol and acidity in the mouth. +++tannins.
This is not in a good place right now, I'll give the other bottles some more time.
1 person found this helpful
Comment
Red
2001 David Arthur Cabernet Sauvignon Elevation 1147
88 points
Double blind tasting of younger reds. I ranked this wine 9/9, group's 8/9
Strange tasting, because there were some elements here that I really enjoyed but mainly this was just off. possibly a flawed bottle but it was not corked.
Aromas of wet wood, oak, mildew, and later on cured meat. Thought this was a bordeau. Palate very little fruit, shallow midpalate and abrupt finish.
Strange tasting, because there were some elements here that I really enjoyed but mainly this was just off. possibly a flawed bottle but it was not corked.
Aromas of wet wood, oak, mildew, and later on cured meat. Thought this was a bordeau. Palate very little fruit, shallow midpalate and abrupt finish.