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4th Saturday Group: Global Cabernet Sauvignon
Our house
Tasted July 21, 2018 by AllRed with 250 views
Introduction
For the July tasting we set a theme of wines labeled cabernet sauvignon from anywhere. It was nice to get a few from outside of California in the line up.
Flight 1 - Starter (1 note)
A Nonblind bubbly to start the evening. The seal on the cork was extremely tight so I was shocked that this showed so poorly. Oh well, not every bottle is going to be a stunner.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Jean Lallement Champagne Grand Cru Brut
84 points
Nonblind. Disgorged April 21, 2009. Whereas my last bottle of this same disgorgement was very nice, this one was quite advanced, despite a perfectly sound cork and youthful pale color. A touch of apple on the nose and palate, but a pronounced sherry overtone dominates. A bit better on the palate, with a bit more of the fruit coming through.
Flight 2 - Whites (2 notes)
A couple of double blind warm ups for the group. I assumed no one would identify the Swan correctly, but I thought they would enjoy it and have a chance to try something unique...I was correct on both counts.
White
2011 Robert Mondavi Winery Fumé Blanc
90 points
Light color. Grassy, bordering on jalapeno, along with a citrusy melon quality. Nice fruit on the palate, with plenty of acidity. A couple of guesses of albarino, others sauv blanc; well-received by the group.
White
2014 Joseph Swan Vineyards Grenache Blanc Cuvée Orange Catie's Corner Vineyard
89 points
A bit darker in color, looks like an old chard, and that played on the group's mind. Melon, citrus and floral elements, with a sweetness in the bouquet that doesn't come through as sweetness on the palate. Flavors of unripe peach and melon with nice balancing acidity. No guesses from the group, though this was also received well.
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Comments (1)
Flight 3 - Reds (5 notes)
Red
2004 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor
92 points
Blind. Aromas of red berry, herbs and earth. Medium-bodied with soft tannins and flavors of red fruit, plum, herbs and iron. Finishes with good length. 92-93 pts.
Double decanted about two hours before the flight was poured. In a nice place with a bit of air, so I'll put the drinking window at now-2028.
Double decanted about two hours before the flight was poured. In a nice place with a bit of air, so I'll put the drinking window at now-2028.
Red
2004 Meander Cabernet Sauvignon
90 points
Double blind. Cassis and dark fruit aromas. Nice fruit on the palate; softened tannins. Guessed 2006 Sonoma cab sauv.
Red
1991 Newton Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
93 points
Double blind. A bit cloudy, bricking - definitely older. Aromas of red fruit and iron. Fully-resolved tannins; red plum, lavender and cedar flavors. Lingering finish. Dominus-like. Guessed old-school Napa from '92/'93. A real treat, 93-94 pts.
Red
1992 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 707
88 points
Double blind. Notes of green pepper over dark fruit. Showing some age in the color. A bit thinner than I would like on the palate, but there's some nice dark fruit notes there. Enjoyable, if a bit past prime. The green pepper notes had me thinking this was CA, but from a cool year such as '98.
Red
2013 Pascual Toso Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Barrancas Vineyards
87 points
Double blind. A bit understated and soft- not giving up a whole lot. Black cherry and cassis follow through on the palate. Plum and chocolate notes emerge later on. Nice, but a bit short on the finish.
Flight 4 - Reds (5 notes)
Red
2011 Fontanella Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder
88 points
Double blind. Vanilla, brown sugar and dark fruit aromas, and a good bit of alcohol too...this is somewhat "hot." Thick and syrupy on the palate, with flavors of raspberry jam and a lot of wood in the finish. Adds a blue fruit quality the longer it sits. Others enjoyed this more than Domino and I. Good for the style, but not a style we enjoy all that often. Easy to pick out as Napa.
Red
2011 Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon
88 points
Double blind. Raspberry and chocolate aromas immediately lead one to Napa. The palate is thick and syrupy, with vanilla and black fruit tones. Medium finish. Again, good for the style, but not something I seek out on a regular basis. 88+ pts.
Red
2005 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor
90 points
Blind. Notes of herbs and dark fruit with a hint of the citrusy grapefruit thing common in this wine when young. Made it easy to pick out as our wine. Medium tannins with flavors of dark fruit and eucalyptus. Needs a couple of years yet.
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Comments (4)
Red
2015 Two Hands Cabernet Sauvignon Sexy Beast
91 points
Double blind. Notes of dark fruit, chocolate, vanilla and oak. Full-bodied and firm, with flavors of cassis and blackberry syrup. though it's thick and sweet, there's a sense of balance. Good for the style. Guessed Napa.
Red
2013 Post Parade Cabernet Sauvignon
93 points
Double blind. Notes of blue and black fruit, iron and chocolate. Dark fruit on the palate with firm tannins. A big wine, but nicely balanced. Long finish.
Flight 5 - Reds (4 notes)
Red
2009 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Vintner Select
86 points
Double blind. Aromas of brown sugar and cassis. On the palate this is quite ripe, bordering on prune and raisin. Can't say I am surprised to see a Pride unveiled...there's a reason we stopped buying these wines- they just aren't made in a style we enjoy all that often.
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Comment
Red
2015 Quilt Cabernet Sauvignon
92 points
Double blind. Aromas of dark fruit, cassis, vanilla and perfume- I love the perfumed note here. Lush dark fruit on the palate, quite rich, some chocolate and oak spice. Nice balance. A very good rich Napa cab sauv.
Red
2010 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Hillstone Vineyard
93 points
Double blind. Aromas of dark fruit, fresh mint, cassis and sweet floral perfume. Firm tannins are fine-grained and have a sweet edge. Dark fruit and vanilla with a long finish. A powerful wine, but nicely balanced. Easy to pick out as Napa.
Red
2012 Brion Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Rosso
Double blind. Aromas of chocolate and dark fruit. Cassis on the palate. Develops a meaty quality that I find very interesting/unique among the many wines in tonight's line up. Excellent.
Flight 6 - Dinner/dessert wines (5 notes)
Nonblind with an herb-marinated flank steak and a lentil salad. For dessert we enjoyed an apricot frangipane tart from the Cocoa Bean and a sacher torte from Dinkel's. Yum.
Red
2013 Louis Barruol Côte-Rôtie La Boisselée
89 points
Opens with a dominant tapenade note, with dark fruit underneath. Peppery dark fruit on the palate with a medium+ finish. I like this, but it doesn't taste like Cote Rotie to me; perhaps age will bring out some bacon fat and white pepper?
Red
2015 Albert Morot Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru La Bataillère Aux Vergelesses
90 points
Popped and poured during dinner following the tasting. Nice complexity at this young stage. Cherry, tea and earth. Picks up spice and leather notes with air. Cherry and mineral on the palate. Balanced; finishes with good length. Good value for Burgundy and worth seeking out. 90 for me, 92+ for Domino.
Red
2015 Peter Michael Pinot Noir Le Moulin Rouge
These are good wines, but man they rarely taste like pinot to me. Chocolate and spice notes with ripe dark fruit underneath. I retasted this a couple of hours later as we were tidying up after the tasting, and it has definitely opened up some and is starting to actually show some pinot character- rhubarb and cherry; picks up a holiday spice quality in the finish. Domino still doesn't care for it, so we'll stick to the cab-based blends and whites they make.
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Comment
Red
1991 Cafaro Cabernet Sauvignon
92 points
I've had this bottle standing up for a couple of years and so I used this as a chance to show off another example of the fine '91 vintage and how magical wine can be with age. Popped and poured, this was great right from the start- I immediately had some remorse that I didn't save this for a '91 horizontal, but oh well. Cherry, currant and herb aromas with a subtle tobacco undertone. Flavors of red fruit, plum and leather. Long finish. In a beautiful place right now. 92-93+ pts.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2005 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey
91 points
From 750ml. Pineapple and orange notes. Nice texture with flavors of tropical fruit, ripe stone fruit and citrus with balancing acidity. Finishes with good length. Getting better as it ages.