2014 Tusk Estates Cabernet Sauvignon
Community Tasting Note
csimm wrote:
Tuesday, November 1, 2022 - Bordeaux tasting - with a few pirates: Opened at the end of the evening, which is almost always a mistake in terms of service, the Tusk wasn’t the total blowout like the SQN mighty Z cocktail, but it was clearly in need of about 3-5++ hours of decanting. The jam factor was prevalent, as was the booze. It displayed more brash power and angularity than the Materium, which had better contours but was syrupier and more saturated.
I know this wine is polarizing, and there are those who have written this producer off completely in search of more “refined” animals (I can’t necessarily blame anyone there, as I have had a wandering eye in this regard as well), but it’s a Melka Napa Cab type of experience that just needs more time, in my opinion. I wasn’t exactly singing the praises of this wine and its performance that night, but I can at least blame some of that on my PnP delivery of it. No excuses, however. So ya, it was too boozy for me at the time and should be a better showstopper with better service. Strong structure. Strong fruit. Finesse is missing here. I liked this better in 2019 (but again, service was much better then). I do wonder what sort of longevity this kind of wine has. I’ll hold remaining bottles for at least three more years. We shall see if it implodes or calms down.
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26 comments have been posted
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Comment posted by MJP Hou TX:
11/2/2022 7:21:00 AM - I was so underwhelmed (for the price) with 14 that I dropped membership. The response I received from Tusk let me know I made the right decision.
With regards to Melka I love his whites. I also really enjoyed the recently opened Fairchild wines which seem to have more structure to go the distance.
Comment posted by sfwinelover1:
11/2/2022 8:54:00 AM - Appreciate this note, as it lessens my FOMO, although I was glad to get home on the right side of midnight and in a surprisingly good state of sobriety. One of these days I’ll get a chance to try one of these at its apex, probably from your generous hands, and see if it’s worth the hype (and tariff). Per mjp, on far less data, I’m not sure I *love* Melka either, at least not the way I love Erickson (Andy, not Erik), although I’m sure willing to try more to find out. Thanks again for your extraordinary hospitality. I’m still working on my notes. Btw, per your comment from our shindig last September about wouldn’t it be funny if some sub $100 wine came in and stole the day, I’m working on, and will write my note tonight, the first of 4 ‘08 Tua Rita Giusto Notris I picked up in Napa last week, and for my palate, it’s the equal of any of the LB BDX we had on Saturday (and of the extraordinary list of Cabs/LB blends I’ve had in the past 10 days, only surpassed by the ‘16 Pontet, the ‘06 Abreu Madrona and the 2 A&B SVDs). $49@
Comment posted by Mark1npt:
11/2/2022 3:50:00 PM - I've always wanted to try one of these but never had the balls to spend the money.....at it's current price not only should it satisfy every Napa urge I've ever had, but it had better wash and detail my car in the process, including a new air freshener hanging from the rearview, as well.....anything short of that is disappointing at this tariff.
Comment posted by sfwinelover1:
11/2/2022 4:05:00 PM - As well as provide services for you and your besties that are against the law in most jurisdictions other than Amsterdam and Hamburg.
Comment posted by Mark1npt:
11/2/2022 4:29:00 PM - sf....I was going to add that.....lol.
Comment posted by csimm:
11/2/2022 4:54:00 PM - I've had both great experiences and some underwhelming experiences for sure with this producer. I used to drink these young (what else is new) but am trying to hold for a while. I recall having a 2010 and thought it was resolved and almost "beautiful," but the last thing you'll find me doing is ultimately defending Tusk. I've bought it. I drink it. I like it. But I totally get why others would not. Any infatuation I've had has certainly waned at times of course, too. I actually don't gravitate to this style that often anymore, but it still scratches an itch every so often.
And just to answer the question I've been asked before, whether it is Tusk or elsewhere... No I don't work for any winery. No I don't get kickbacks (I wish! lol). No, I don't have even my smallest toe in the industry. I just waste my money on juice and have some strange desire to write about it. I got issues.....
Comment posted by sfwinelover1:
11/2/2022 4:56:00 PM - Cs: I hope I didn’t imply that. And Mark, my wife says that any time there’s a question of whether I’ll voice, or write, a crass sentiment or not, I invariably do.
Comment posted by csimm:
11/2/2022 4:59:00 PM - No not at all... All good. I just put it out there every once in a while, especially when I find myself going on and on about a wine on either side of the fence.
Comment posted by Mark1npt:
11/2/2022 4:59:00 PM - csimm.....admitting you have 'issues' is the first step, pal.......lol.
Comment posted by Mark1npt:
11/2/2022 5:00:00 PM - sf....I don't know the meaning of 'diplomacy'. 😂
Comment posted by sfwinelover1:
11/2/2022 5:02:00 PM - Hey, if anyone would seem to be getting money from anyone, it would be me from the Tuscan Wine Board (and, alas, I’m not . . .)
Comment posted by csimm:
11/2/2022 5:04:00 PM - Oh I'm well past that....hahaha... what's the 17th step?
Comment posted by MJP Hou TX:
11/3/2022 4:47:00 AM - SF, the few AE wines I've had I really enjoyed. I consider him to be a more classical wine maker. Doesn't he also make a good number blends? Which wines of his do you recommend?
Comment posted by sfwinelover1:
11/3/2022 7:45:00 AM - Mjp: I’d put their wines as full-bodied but mid spectrum, somewhere between the more traditional Formans, Mayacamas and Montelenas on the one hand and Smith-Venge (and even TRB and Bevan) on the other, an Abreu-Ovid like niche. The 2 single vineyard Cabs, Vine Hill and Dr. Crane, are both outstanding. I liked the Vine Hill even more than Helen’s of the same vineyard, and while it’s not a fair comparison, I liked the Dr. Crane far more than the totally different stylistically wine from the same vineyard from Myriad (surprise, surprise, right?). Both are $250. They do single a vineyard PV (don’t remember the price) and CF ($175), a CF-dominant blend, which they call Right Bank ($150) and a cab blend, RL ($125). They also do the 2 best Sauv Blancs I’ve had, really elegant in a style that’s distinct from both the creamier SBs like Aesthete and the more taut, saline SBs like Spottswoode. The tasting was done for us by the winery’s business manager at the owners’ house, which was as lovely as you’d expect. Strong for any of their wines you can get your hands on.
Comment posted by sfwinelover1:
11/3/2022 7:59:00 AM - Also, at A&B, like Crocker & Starr, the winemaker came from Spottswoode, which I’m fond of, and I can definitely detect that influence in their wines.
Comment posted by Mark1npt:
11/3/2022 9:48:00 AM - MJP, my fav AE blends are Favia Cerro Sur and Arietta H Block both similar in construction with Cab franc + cab and Cab F + merlot.
Comment posted by Mark1npt:
11/3/2022 9:55:00 AM - sf, I like your analysis of the AE wines. I feel that the older the AE blends get (~ 20 years) the more they taste/feel like the Old Napa Mayacamas, Montelena, etc. For me, they seem to move that way. Do you? Those from '12 on I agree are still drinking in that 'middle ground', as you say. I'm def going to hold some another 10 years to see if they are true to my previous findings.
Comment posted by sfwinelover1:
11/3/2022 10:02:00 AM - My bad on this; I was answering Arrow & Branch rather than Andy Erickson. I love the Cerro Sur, too, as well as the Favia straight (more or less) Cabs. The Ovid Red is a BDX, cab-heavy blend. I haven’t had the Hexameter or the “Experiments” (hate that name, feels pretentious, even more so than naming your label for a Roman poet to call something “Experiment” then charge 3 figures), but I know that there’s a straight CF as well as blends which shift in composition from year to year. Of my fave Cab/Blends taking price into consideration, Ovid slots in between QC on the lower end and Abreu on the higher. The ‘12 in particular is a real thing of beauty.
Comment posted by Mark1npt:
11/3/2022 10:08:00 AM - No worries, sf......I hope I read it right as AndyE?
Pretentiousness......yes, the balls are swelling, getting bigger and bigger every year out in Napa.
My new wine label, if I were to have one? 'You Can't Afford Me'. I should copyright it now, before someone steals it......you guys are my witness! It's now in print.
Comment posted by sfwinelover1:
11/3/2022 10:19:00 AM - Back to mjp’s initial comment: I think that Favia is more Old World, Ovid more modern, but the former isn’t exactly Stony Hill, the latter hardly Carter . . .
Comment posted by #1Winelover:
11/5/2022 12:27:00 PM - MJP - I had a similar experience with Tusk. Basically, they were extorting other wines that I was going to be forced to try -- to get into the Tusk game. And rude at that, so I passed.
Agree on Andy Erickson. I would try Seven Apart Expedition. Try the '19 now and cellar the '18. It's really remarkable!
Comment posted by sfwinelover1:
11/5/2022 12:58:00 PM - Thanks for that recommendation #1WL. What’s the list price on the Seven Apart? As an aside, it’s my understanding AE left Ovid at some point; I think that Austin Peterson is the winemaker there now, although I’m the last person to know who’s making what wine where at any given point. I haven’t had an Ovid since the ‘16 but assume that their quality is hanging in there . . .
Comment posted by MJP Hou TX:
11/5/2022 1:13:00 PM - Thanks for the recommendations #1WL. I'm done with wineries that push access to wines and withhold others without purchase. I've heard good things about 7 apart. I'll do some research and sign up. MJP
Comment posted by Mark1npt:
11/5/2022 1:52:00 PM - Seven Apart bought the old Beau Vigne name and their Stag's Leap property from owner Ed Snider as he went through a divorce. Took them a while to reboot as Seven Apart but they signed AE up well in advance to be their winemaker, knowing what kind of wines they wanted to make.
Comment posted by #1Winelover:
11/5/2022 2:18:00 PM - Mark is correct; however, they also purchased a winery at the base of Atlas Peak which is 7 miles from Ed Snider's property; thus the name "Seven Apart." They usually have 3 wines and their flagship/base wine is called "Expedition." The other 2 are more expensive. Expedition is the one that you want to try. The price continues to creep up but I think it's $150/bottle. They did just release a 2020 as the only red being released in 2020 but try their '18 and '19. I continue to replenish my stash. I have shared it with several wine buddies and they really liked it.
Yannick is their GM and he's cool -- tell him that I sent him your way.
Comment posted by sfwinelover1:
11/5/2022 4:08:00 PM - Thanks, #1WL. Going on to SA’s website, I see that the Expedition is up to $185@ (but with shipping included), sold in multiples of 3; I’m considering it, may well buy prior to next Napa trip so I can taste there. An article from a few years comes up when you google the winery. At that point, when Expedition was $150, the 2 SVDs were $240@ and the best of the best blend was $320 (note that all you can buy on an initial basis is the Expedition). Good to have the info, and considering the thread we’re on, practically a bargain!