March 31, 2016 - Classic styled mountain cabernet. Really maturing well.
September 6, 2015 - Cloudy, rusty dark magenta. Blackberry, vanilla, leather, and baking spice nose. Harshly tannic upon opening, it took several hours to calm down, but it did. Medium bodied, plums, blueberries, black olives, still integrating tannins, tobacco, good acid, and a long dry finish. I think it has more development to go.
December 23, 2012 - Brought to a restaurant and drank without a decant. Started disappointing (too tannic). After an hour or so it was a pleasure. However it was overshadowed by a 2005 Papillon. Good, but not a very high QPR.
October 26, 2011 - (A-)
November 17, 2010 - my rpm tour Notes for the 2004 Mt Veeder:
- Good strong characterful cab but not huge body.
- Rounded redness, not blackcurrant!
- Good acid, some mineral.
- Dries he mouth (so strong tannins)
- Red, dusty fruit.
- Dry.
Has the structure to age: not a european style, but no Napa bomb either.
the buna Vista Pinot is much better, but this is good. I think the 05 Howell Mountain Cab is even better though.
July 20, 2010 - Sampled during tour. Purple, dark nose, deep cherries, blackberries, well structured and balanced, tasty fruit finish.
June 4, 2010 - This is better than I remembered. Decanted ~2hours, and it needs it. Pretty good Napa fruit, cannot comment much on the nose.
March 2, 2010 - I have had many of these now. The Mount Veeder (they have a less attractive "Spring Valley") is a well balanced classic Napa Cabernet with smooth but pronounced tannins and a bit fruit forward. Even a 2004 required a decanted hour to fully come into its own. The fruit is a brighter cherry first, then goes to blackberry. Tannins remained firm and supple throughout the couple hours of drinking. This is a fantastic bottle for the money. A napa cab this well crafted for less than $70 is a steal.
October 22, 2009 - deep,complex, "Big Boy" served at the Palace with the golfing boys, Mac?dave & AI
October 9, 2009 - Very lush, complex smooth finish, 60th birthday treat!