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Bassins 28th Annual California Barrel Tasting
Mandarin Hotel, Washington, DC
Tasted April 27, 2013 by Nutty08 with 1,036 views
Introduction
First time making it to the Bassins/MacArthur barrel tasting, though I've wanted to make it for some time. Much easier driving up from Norfolk, VA than San Antonio.
Flight 1 (1 note)
Red
2010 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
93 points
From bottle. The first taste and the reference for the evening. Quite prominent coffee and toast on the nose, with a dark red fruit profile. Oak really overshadowed the fruit, but the tannins were high quality and fruit clean and concentrated. I really like ‘90’s Pahlmeyer which has a great “minty” note. I didn’t get anything here that I thought would be “mint” later. Solid quintessential Cali cab though. 92-94
Flight 2 (3 notes)
Red
2011 Morlet Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Passionnément
90 points
Very concentrated style with a shy nose. Dar k almost blue fruit profile with prominent oak giving this coarse woody tannins and a mild bitterness on the back end. Hard to gauge, probably 90-92
Red
2011 Morlet Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Cœur de Vallée
92 points
Again, very concentrated with prominent coffee/toast, but some pure red fruit and mint pokes through with an herbal edge. Also has some bitterness on the backend, but the freshness of the fruit carries though. Cab franc component seems to be quite noticeable. 91-93
Red
2011 Morlet Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Mon Chevalier
88 points
Softer palate, less concentrated fruit with a red profile. Heavy biter oak? Tannins on the back end with a clipped, bitter finish. Hmm, not sure about this one for the price . 87-89.
Flight 3 (3 notes)
Red
2010 Maze Cabernet Sauvignon
90 points
A fresher more floral style than the Morlet, though the tannins were a little coarse and heavy toast on the finish. 89-91
Red
2010 Maze Cabernet Sauvignon Clew
92 points
This was more concentrated and polished, with finer tannins. Less toast on the oak allowing this to be a more elegant feminine expression. Nice purity of the cab fruit, with a clear red (cassis/cherry) profile. Quite nice. 92-94+
Red
2011 Maze Cabernet Sauvignon
86 points
Per the winemaker, this had an extremely long hang time being picked after the rains. This resulted in a flavor profile I really didn’t care for. Pruns/plum, dark fruit (I really thought there was merlot in there) with prominent alcohol despite the rather pedestrian ~13%. Licorice and spice on the palate, moderate finish.An interesting take on the vintage with a flavor profile that I would not pursue. 86-88
Flight 4 (1 note)
Red
2011 Arietta Red Wine H Block Hudson Vineyards
93 points
Tasted rather late in the afternoon. Soft and forward, with lush plum flavors and soft, polished, but firm tannins. Toasty oak finish, but lots to like in this forward pleasing style of M/CF even if it is a little pedestrian. 92-94
Flight 5 (2 notes)
Red
2010 Carte Blanche Proprietary Red
94 points
Massive concentrated wine with a red fruit profile but very polished prominent tannins up front on the palate. Plenty of energy/acidity giving this a lift I hadn’t gotten from others. Very structured, tight, concentrated, but a great mix of elegance and power. 93-95
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Red
2010 Carte Blanche Cabernet Sauvignon
95 points
Even more structured and closed than the Proprietary blend, with a spicy component to the palate with red fruits and a leafy/herbal elegance that really added to the complexity of this wine. Some prominent toast/mocha on the finish but plenty of fruit to integrated this. Will need some considerable time but should be an exceptional Napa styled cab. Polish and quality of the very prominent tannins really stand out. 94-96
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Flight 6 (5 notes)
One of the motivating factors for this event was to taste the much talked about EMH wines and meet Merrill. I was not disappointed. These have a unique style and expression, and certainly are more my style than most Napa-based cabs. If I had to compare them to something, it would be Corison, but I haven’t had Corison in many years but would need to try them side by side to really know for sure.
The “11’s were picked before the rains at an impressively low Brix, but my (admittedly French leaning) palate didn’t catch any unripe notes. Enjoyable enough now I had to go back for a second taste.
Red
2011 EMH Cabernet Sauvignon Black Cat
92 points
Lighter in style and concentration than many of the other producers, but so lovely and expressive now. The fruit come across as pure, polished, and unmanipulated, with a freshness that I find rare in Napa. Mostly red fruits. Lovely slice and mineral finish. Not a powerful style, but expressive, and the lighter use of oak really lets it stand out in a lineup of Napa Cab. 91-93
Red
2011 EMH Cabernet Sauvignon Black Cat Special Selection
92 points
Very similar in profile to the “basic” cab, with more concentration of fruit and a slightly darker fruit profile. It still retains the freshness and elegance of the black cat ’11, with a little more power. I didn’t think with was “better” but a slightly different expression of the same vintage. 91-93
Red
2010 EMH Cabernet Sauvignon Black Cat
A little awkward, but the makings are there. Fruit came across as a little “grapey” and primary, with plenty of acidity. Very odd stage. Reminded me a Ridge SCM that did the same thing and it was fine with a couple years
Red
2009 EMH Cabernet Sauvignon Black Cat
93 points
The most “complete” of the tasting, and interesting the one where I got the most oak notes despite it seeing roughly the same amount of oak and being the oldest(though much more subtle use of oak than most of the wines here). Slightly darker fruit profile, a little more “lushness” but still energetic of not as vibrant and “fresh” as the ’11. More concentrated though with more complexity. Moderate finish with a mocha edge. Could use some time but should be a very solid and still elegant/feminine Napa cab. 92-94
Red
N.V. EMH Cabernet Sauvignon Little Black
A new project. A mix of unused wine from other vintages. A step down in compexity but has all the purity and freshness of the style. A nice expression of Napa cab and maybe at a great QPR price point. A little fuller in concentration than the '11 at this stage.
Flight 7 (2 notes)
Red
2010 Round Pond Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
91 points
A nice if typical Cali cab. Soft and upfront fruit, with a TRB-esque polished silkiness to the palate. Quite concentrated but plush and accessible. Not as much complexity as I would expect at this young stage. 90-93
Red
2011 Round Pond Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
90 points
Mint on the nose, dark fruit, with a less silky and polished tannin than the ’10. Nice, but didn’t stand out in this crowd. 89-91
Flight 8 (2 notes)
The other biggest reason I came to this event. I had a great discussion with Eric Baugher regarding wine making philosophy (and good bdx).
Red
2012 Ridge Monte Bello
Barrel blend, not final. This was much harder to gauge. Shy, close nose. Palate was a darker fruit profile, still lively, but more concentrated with very prominent and somewhat coarse tannins. Seemed more “typical” of MB, but I don’t have any experience at this stage to compare to. Should be very good. NR
Red
2011 Ridge Monte Bello
94 points
Another successful ’11 that just took what nature gave them. Lighter and less concentrated than many MB’s, this has an exquisite nose with a floral character. Lively crisp palate with the SCM dark/purple fruit really standing out from the Napa Cabs. Dry finish, with slightly coarse tannins, but the vibrant prominent acidity seemed to be the majority of the backbone. Should be a very nice MB if a little atypical stye—but still clearly representing their terrior. 93-95
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Flight 9 (2 notes)
Red
2010 Gemstone Estate Red
92 points
Beautiful floral plum and spice notes. Well structured and tight, with the fruit underneath the structure. Toast on the finish. Needs considerable time. 91-93
Red
2010 Gemstone Cabernet Sauvignon
93 points
Shy, with a dark red fruit profile, very tight and structured (almost hurt the teeth), but very high polish and quality of the tannins. Mineral quality on the finish. 92-94+
Flight 10 (2 notes)
Red
2010 Hensley Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside
89 points
Nice folks, but in a style I don’t prefer. Riper style, with obvious heat and alcohol, plum and dark fruit with a liquor aspect. 88-90
Red
2011 Hensley Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside
Rutherford component – Spicy and better balanced than the ’10, but still in a riper style. 90-92
Flight 11 (2 notes)
Red
2011 Château Boswell Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve
93 points
Only had a small taste as they ran out. Very concentrated, massive wine. The Russel Bevan influence is obvious, but with the concentration comes complexity and polish. Great spicy cedar note underneath all the fruit. Solid wine in a more typical style despite the vintage. No heat. 92-94
Red
2011 Château Boswell Jacquelynn Proprietary Red
92 points
Quite similar to Boswell, with a little more earthy/herbal character to the massive concentrated palate. 91-93. No heat.
Flight 12 (2 notes)
Red
2010 John Anthony Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
92 points
A very nice if typical Napa cab. Floral expressive nose, prominent red fruits with sweetness and lushness that is quite appealing. Polished, linear wine, with a creamy vanilla finish. Solid. 91-93
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Red
2011 Tablas Creek Esprit de Tablas
91 points
Blackberry and toast, mint, mocha. High tannins and high extraction. Overall pretty balanced and high quality for the vintage. 90-92
Flight 13 (2 notes)
White
2011 Kobalt Sauvignon Blanc
89 points
Surprisingly fresh and acidic with a nice mineral edge for a Cali version. Still had a little fatness to it, but overall quite nice. 88-90
Red
2011 Kobalt Cabernet Sauvignon
91 points
Blackberry and toast, mint, mocha. Dark profile. High tannins and high extraction. Overall pretty balanced and high quality for the vintage. 90-92
Flight 14 (0 notes)
Dunn – A blend of their ’10 Howel Mountain and Napa fruit. No representative there as it was being poured by a distributer. Unclear if this would be a bottled wine or not. It was forward and soft, with a dark plum/black cherry profile. Course tannins. Fine if not unique. 89-91
’10 La Rue – Pinot – Cola, ripe black cherry. Pleasant and fruit forward. 88-90
Flight 15 (3 notes)
I ended the day with Blackbird with turned out to be a fantastic surprise. I wasn't aware this was an Aaron Pott project. These wines had personality, polish, and complexity. Clearly showing vintage characteristics and terrior.
Red
2010 Blackbird Vineyards Arise
92 points
For $45 this Is a massively concentrated and structured wine. Heavy tannins, but plenty of dark fruit to carry it. Maybe the most structured merlot based wine I’ve had outside of Bdx. 91-93
Red
2011 Blackbird Vineyards Illustration
94 points
Barrel sample, not a final blend. My final wine of the day and what a way to end it. I seriously had flashbacks to tasting the ’11 right bank bdx EP. The cab franc dominated the nose and palate with an herbal, slightly green, killer nose that was both classy and powerful. The palate was more laissez-faire, and much less concentrated than the ’10, but was also much more expressive at this stage. Not a wine for everyone, as the green/herbal edge of the cab franc will likely turn off many Cali drinkers used to polished perfectly ripe fruit, but I found this to be a fantastic expression of the vintage and the most interesting cab franc dominated wine I’ve ever had from Cali. 93-95
Red
2010 Blackbird Vineyards Illustration
93 points
This turns it up a notch, with a red fruit profile, fine polished tannins, and very long finish. Blackberry and cassis dominate the palate. Impressive wine that will need some serious time. 92-94+
Closing
A fantastic event. The winemaker were very informative and passionate about their wines giving your a great personal relationship with each of their wines. Not too crowded and while there were too many wines to taste in the allotted time, but there weren't too many people and plenty of space.
I enjoyed the '11's that tried to stay in the style of the vintage rather than morphing it into the typical Napa style.
Great time all around, hope to make it to many more in the future.