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Cabs at Cooking School (Maybach, Ghost Horse +++)
Loretta Paganini School fo Cooking
Tasted January 18, 2015 by Loren Sonkin with 453 views
Introduction
Yesterday, my wife and I met up with 7 others at the local cooking school for lunch. The students prepare a five course lunch ($30). They allow BYO, so our friends Charlie and Alice organize these weekly lunches into a wine theme. Yesterday's theme was Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines are served pretty haphazard and non blind. Drink what is in front of you and pass it down the table. There usually is time to revisit the wines. We also bring a few glasses to allow some wines time to open if needed in the glass.
Flight 1 (10 notes)
Red
2007 Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon
90 points
I was anxious to try this. Bought on release and stored in my cellar. This is IMO the best winery in Ohio (Ohio River Valley) and 07 was one of the best vintages ever around these parts. It is developing quite nicely. Ruby/purple in color. The nose is dusty with cassis and black raspberries. Medium body. Medium tannins. Very nicely balanced with enough acidity and fruit. There is some complexity although I had greedily hoped for more. This was about $18 on release IIRC. The lightest bodies Cab on the table, but I found it very enjoyable, food friendly, and in a good place. I don't think it gets better than this but I have a bottle left so let's see.
Red
2009 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus
94 points
After reading CT notes as well as the critics, this bottle was opened and allowed to breathe for 20 hours prior to lunch. I think it definitely helped. Seemed to be the unanimous WOTD. Inky purple in color. The nose has lots of cassis, copious amounts of chocolate, some fresh cut oak and a bit of black licorice. Huge nose and palate. Firm tannins. There is a ton of fruit here but lots of depth. Quite young. Lovely velvety texture. Just delicious. Frist bottle emptied, there was a lot of sediment at the end. This will improve IMO. This bottling seems more in need of cellaring than the Materium.
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Red
2004 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate
93 points
This was decanted for sediment about an hour before lunch. It was still quite tight. I poured some in a glass and swirled for 20 minutes or so to let it get some air. It did open nicely although, I would hold these for now. Purple in color. The nose has cassis, licorice and spice. Full bodied with medium tannins. Austere at first it keeps putting on weight. Shows a nice complexity with some coaxing. Cassis and spice on the palate. Nice finish.
Red
2008 Penley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Phoenix
89 points
Screw capped. The nose has cassis, cedar and plums. Medium to full bodied. On the palate, there is cassis and a bit of dill/green bell pepper notes which I liked but others may be mixed on. Nice balance and easy to drink. Not as big as most which made it food friendly.
Red
2008 Dehlinger Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Bottled
92 points
This is very young. To my knowledge, it was pop and pour. It needs more air or decanting. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has cassis and some cranberries. Also some tobacco notes and a bot of oak. This is a less ripe/more restrained cab, compared to the Napa Cabs, but it seems like its best days are still ahead. Plenty of red fruit with lots of structure. A bit drying on the finish to nit pick. really a wonderful wine that I would like to revisit in five years.
Red
2007 Ghost Horse Cabernet Sauvignon Shadow
93 points
Purple in color. The nose has cassis and tarragon. I was expecting this to be bigger and riper than it was. That is not a criticism as this was outstanding. Nice cassis fruit on the nose with a bit of dust. Juicy texture. Long finish. This drinks very much like a classic Napa Cab.
Red
2005 Orin Swift Cabernet Sauvignon Mercury Head
94 points
I really enjoyed this wine. I had it on release and found it to be very heavily oaked. At this stage there is still some oak, but most of it has integrated and there is still plenty of fruit left. The nose has cassis, vanilla and a bit of spice. On the palate, lush texture with juicy red fruit. Showing layers of fruit and development. Nice backbone of acidity. Long finish. I would guess this is getting close to peak but with a long life left. How can I pry the dime off the bottle? ;-)
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Red
2009 Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon Estate
93 points
Another beautiful Cab. Tight at first (I don't think it saw air), this developed beautifully in the glass. Cassis, spice and a bit of mint on the nose. Lush texture. Lots of up front cassis/red fruit on the palate. Delicious wine. I would have liked to revisit this one, but did not get around to it. Plenty of upside I think.
Red
2005 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon
90 points
Purple/ruby in color. The nose has cassis but also quite a bit of fresh cut lumber along with some vanilla. The palate is similar; lots of fruit and lots of oak.. Seems to be developing as there is some complexity and depth. The question will be if the oak ever fully integrates for my tastes. That said, it is and excellent wine and those liking the big Californian style should really like this.
Red
2008 Robert Keenan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon
91 points
I thought Charlie said he was bringing the 30th anniversary bottling, but I didn't see any indication on the label. Purple/ruby in color. The nose has cassis and some pencil lead. A bit of dust. Medium bodied. Nice wine, not over done. Nice cassis fruit with slight tannins. Worked well with food. Seemed ready to go now.
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Closing
We had lots of fun. The food was good and the wines were as well. Some were a bit disappointed in some of the wines, but I thought they all showed where I expected them (for the most part). The only issues for these lunches is that Saturday night is difficult to have plans, so we are off for a few weeks.