Decanted 60 minutes. A bit of a acidic finish at first. Opened up and drank well, although not as well as other bottles on the same vintage. Cork had seeped a bit and the top was stained.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Vinetasters: Mt. Veeder (Park Ridge, IL): Served double blind. Raisinated. Comes across almost Amarone-like in that sense, with some chocolate notes and coarse tannins. Lacks a midpalate. My 9th, group's 11th.
Found this tucked away with my 2015s. Aerated. Candied cherry in nose. Taste was hot. Put aside for one hour and was rewarded for my wisdom with a good, heat-blown-off, non-fussy Cab. Did I have with food? No. Should I have? YES! Wisdom had left the building.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted within a flight of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 vintage. Color of the 2014 was the darkest of the three vintages. Not a surprise considering that it is the youngest. Dark deep black color. Initial nose had a lot of oak notes. Heavy oak that hopefully mellows off over time. Surprisingly upon the first taste, it was not very tannic. Fruit is very primary at this stage but I can tell that this has good potential if aged properly. If this had more age, I would probably select this one over the other vintages, but at this point, I prefer the 2012.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Second bottle of this was nice if not memorable. Very dark in the glass. Cigar box, vanilla, cocoa powder. Palate makes a big entry, saturated dark cherry. Plenty of structure but not too grippy. Fine to drink now but no signs of falling off.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Terrific Napa cab. 2 hour decant. Classic CA cab with great structure and length (45+ seconds). Medium full body. Plenty of life ahead of it. Another 7+ years easily. Not a complicated wine at this stage but downright delicious with beautiful dark fruit and nice heft. On the nose, blue and black berries, coffee, and a sharp alcohol edge (big boy at 14-5-15% ABV). This is warm climate, American hedonism at its finest. Paired it with a rustic ribeye and milk brined sweetbreads.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted it for 2 hours and it still came out of the chute pretty hot, but it mellowed surpisingly quickly. Not a lot of fruit. Subtle earthy flavors and it drank quite nicely as a change from 2nd tier Halls. I see by wine searcher, though, that I paid a bit too much for this half bottle. There are better wines out there for what I paid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was disappointing right out of the bottle - had an earthy, funky note I increasingly find with Mt. Veeder cabs, though strangely the producer Mt. Veeder is an exception with a much better fruit profile. This one feels too backward and overpriced. May improve with a few more years of bottle age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a 375 ml bottle, nose of black berry pie, black cherry, very floral-like a fragrant rose, and lots of Mt. Veeder earth, same on the palate, big body, very tasty, mouth filling, lots of rich fruit, at peak, so enjoy your cellar efforts, worth buying if you have not tried Mt. Brave before. Photo uploaded.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted half the bottle with the balance on the Keeper nitrogen system. Nose shows leather, oak, tar and black fruit. When I first opened this there was some green on the palate, but none is evident after decanting.
This doesn’t come across like your typical California fruit bomb. There’s balance, restraint, and the tannins are presently overshadowing the fruit slightly.That being said, it’s well-balanced and easy to drink on its own though I’m looking forward to finishing this off with tonight’s rack of lamb. 91-2 today, with the opportunity to increase further if the fruit takes a more pronounced role.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From half bottle and served in a BV GdL riedel glass. And darn amazing drinking right now. The green bean high oak thing seems to have been kicked away.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Richer and more floral than other 375 ml bottles tasted. Nose of black berry pie, black cherry, very floral, and lots of Mt. Veeder mountain earth. After a 2 mile walk in 100 degree heat, this was my reward. Big body, very tasty, mouth filling, lots of fruit, lovely to savor when paired with Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, long finish, well made and will easily cellar another 10 years in 375 ml format. Photo uploaded.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose of black berry, black cherry, and earth, same on the palate, mouth filling, showing well this evening, big body, tasty, and long finish. Photo uploaded. From a 375ml bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a 375ml bottle, nose of black berry, black cherry, fairly fruit forward for a 2014, better with a one hour decant, mouth filling fruit, both Alex and i enjoyed it, tasty, in 2 years will be at peak and merit a higher score, long finish, worth the search as good Napa Cabernet Sauvignon under $100 is a rarity these days.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was a bit underwhelming. Has a pleasant, plush and lush fruit profile which I tend to associate with the '14 vintage, but not a lot going on otherwise. Overpriced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP and then left open. Very dark purple, bordering on black. Black fruit, allspice, gravel, crispy dark chocolate. Medium to full in body. Alcohol hits immediately. A very big wine with long thin legs. Fruit profile is a firm blackberry and juicy dark cherry. Tannins are not too sharp.
Initial view is this is nice, but I liked 2013 a lot more.
Edit: I had one glass left in the bottle on night 3 and it showed better than my might 1 note above. Will amend my score from 91 to 92.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From half bottle - loads of oak and concentrated fruit. On the verge of having so much fruit and oak it heads into canned green bean territory. popped and poured and did open up, but could still use some time if not decanted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank over the course of 2 hours. Slightly flat and muted. Dark fruit centric with little structure (borderline watery). Decent amounts of earth and dusty cassis complement. Not in the same league as the 2015.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a 375 ml bottle, nose of black berry, black cherry, dusty road on a summer day, and blackberry tart, same on the palate, big body, tasty, mouth filling fruit, good acid, needs 4 years to peak, and a medium/long finish, paid $37 at auction and worth it. Uploaded photo.
Had a half bottle of this at Durant’s in Phoenix. Deep purple colour. Medium tight aroma of black fruit. Dry, high acidity, well rounded tannins, taste of blackcurrant, black cherry. Full body with good balance. Medium finish. Felt a bit young and tight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My only bottle. From a 375ml and still a little young and tight. It was an outstanding bottle. I will look for more if I can find it. Bought it at auction.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This mountain Cabernet is more high-toned and acidic - "brighter" if you are poetically inclined - than it was 14 months ago (3/18 - 94 points). It is still a ridiculous value; it is still has a bright future of it; and it is still quite tasty now, if a bit less tannic and woodsy.
Dark red in color and medium in body, the wine offers aromas of black cherry, pencil lead, and herbs. The woodsy undertone is still there, but it's more fresh sawdust than burnt wood. Tastes of boysenberry, leather, cocoa powder, and ground pepper, with a finish that seems more sweet and less tannic (but still quite tannic). 14.5% alcohol. Blend of 90.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, and 2% Malbec. This is more lithe than I remember it last year, but it's lively fruit core, vibrant acidity, and real structure suggest it should be better in 2020 or 2021.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted out of 375 at Maple and Ash in Chicago. The balance is impressive. Very approachable. A touch of graphite. Potent berry flavor. Lots of love here.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark inky, literally stains the glass. Rich coffee and cassis, earthy smokey tones come through. Medium full bodied its Looong on the tongue. This wine has lots of stuffing. Surprisingly approachable at this early stage. Small amount of heat at the end.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sourced from the Mt. Brave Vineyard, perched at roughly 1500 feet, this inky colored wine is crafted by superstar winemaker Chris Carpenter, who has been making this wine since 2007. The Cabernet opens with a rich bouquet of crème de cassis, boysenberry cordial, milk chocolate shavings and coffee grounds. Ripe and decadent, dark fruit flavors connect with mocha and spices. The Mount Veeder terroir shines through in this outstanding Cabernet. Try to give this gorgeous wine another few years in the bottle to fully evolve.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark and inky violet color with some crushed blueberry aromas. Tight and firm Mt. Veeder Cab fruit. Not a heavy wine, not rich, but big tannin, very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I believe this wine deserves a higher rating than the community has given so far. Complex and balanced Napa Cab at less than 100 a bottle you will be hard pressed to find a better choice for the money. This is if you love Mt Veeder fruit that has gorgeous earthy tones and graphite. 2014 is a great vintage to drink now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wish I waited to open as this is way too young. Too much tannin and lots of oak. Will likely improve with age. I'll hold off another year or two to open my other bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted at Wally's Napa / Sonoma All-Stars 2018 Tasting event. I am sorry Mt. Brave. This is the second time I can trying this; last time in Wally's 2017 tasting event. This just comes as harsh and monolithic. I mean it's still not a bad wine but for the price, it has me scratching my head every time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This rich and open-knit mountain Cabernet is drinking impressively right now - full of layered fruit and integrated oak, this is a solid value at $75 (or less). Ideally wait another year or two to open, but this is an impressive wine today, if you don’t mind a few dusty tannins to go with lovely, complex mountain fruit.
Ruby red in color, full in body, nose of ripe blackberry, graphite, lavender, and leather, with a woodsy undertone that reminds me of coming home to a wood-burning stove on a cold, snowy day (sorry - forgive the association to my childhood in Michigan!). Layered tastes of mountain blueberry (i.e., more tart, less sweet), baking chocolate, rosemary, and fresh-cut cedar, with a finish that is equal parts mouth-coating tannin and palate-pleasing sweetness. 14.5% alcohol. Blend of 90.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, and 2% Malbec.
This is plainly not a wine from the valley floor - the fruit is more chiseled than plush, and the tannins are more dry than sweet. For me, two things stood out: (1) a real depth of fruit (i.e., concentrated, intense, ripe yet fresh); and (2) a deft use of oak (i.e., rounding out the hard edges, providing a warm and silky mouthfeel, but not overwhelming everything else). Compared to other Chris Carpenter wines tasted recently, this was far more open and enjoyable than the 2013 Mt. Brave Cabernet, but it was almost as complex as the 2014 La Jota Cabernet (which was more round and accessible). Regardless, this is an impressive wine at a fair price, and I’m looking forward to opening another bottle in 2019 (or later).
MW 2017 CABERNET FROM THE AMERICAS TASTING-WILDFIRE RELIEF FUNDRAISER, high tone nose, subdued fruit, large amount of slightly harsh tannins, needs time, over extracted to me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
12/3/2023 - CRL Stc Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 60 minutes. A bit of a acidic finish at first. Opened up and drank well, although not as well as other bottles on the same vintage. Cork had seeped a bit and the top was stained.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2023 - acyso wrote: 83 Points
Vinetasters: Mt. Veeder (Park Ridge, IL): Served double blind. Raisinated. Comes across almost Amarone-like in that sense, with some chocolate notes and coarse tannins. Lacks a midpalate. My 9th, group's 11th.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (4)
3/26/2023 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Ahh my little friend the pocket rocket come to hammer me home.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2023 - ERU wrote: 92 Points
Found this tucked away with my 2015s. Aerated. Candied cherry in nose. Taste was hot. Put aside for one hour and was rewarded for my wisdom with a good, heat-blown-off, non-fussy Cab. Did I have with food? No. Should I have? YES! Wisdom had left the building.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2023 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Still a block buster, but drinking great out of half right now. And none of the green bean thing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2023 - srkool Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted within a flight of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 vintage. Color of the 2014 was the darkest of the three vintages. Not a surprise considering that it is the youngest. Dark deep black color. Initial nose had a lot of oak notes. Heavy oak that hopefully mellows off over time. Surprisingly upon the first taste, it was not very tannic. Fruit is very primary at this stage but I can tell that this has good potential if aged properly. If this had more age, I would probably select this one over the other vintages, but at this point, I prefer the 2012.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2023 - 87tellub wrote: 91 Points
Second bottle of this was nice if not memorable. Very dark in the glass. Cigar box, vanilla, cocoa powder. Palate makes a big entry, saturated dark cherry. Plenty of structure but not too grippy. Fine to drink now but no signs of falling off.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2022 - hotrawd wrote: 91 Points
Big bold complex cab with a long finish. The oak on the finish though is just so heavy and overpowering, which keeps me from giving it a higher score
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2022 - AjitK Likes this wine: 93 Points
Terrific Napa cab. 2 hour decant. Classic CA cab with great structure and length (45+ seconds). Medium full body. Plenty of life ahead of it. Another 7+ years easily. Not a complicated wine at this stage but downright delicious with beautiful dark fruit and nice heft. On the nose, blue and black berries, coffee, and a sharp alcohol edge (big boy at 14-5-15% ABV). This is warm climate, American hedonism at its finest. Paired it with a rustic ribeye and milk brined sweetbreads.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/12/2022 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
From half bottle and maybe tired out? Or just really wooded so showing that right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2022 - camroc830 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted it for 2 hours and it still came out of the chute pretty hot, but it mellowed surpisingly quickly. Not a lot of fruit. Subtle earthy flavors and it drank quite nicely as a change from 2nd tier Halls. I see by wine searcher, though, that I paid a bit too much for this half bottle. There are better wines out there for what I paid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2021 - bonedoc wrote: 92 Points
Took an hour to open up, was a little lean, then a nice mid weight balanced cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2021 - Es7e2003 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Previous notes apply. Notes of coconut courtesy of new American oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2021 - Es7e2003 Likes this wine: 91 Points
See previous notes. Heavily extracted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2021 - Es7e2003 Likes this wine: 91 Points
See previous notes. Jammy, stewed black fruits. High tannins. Needs decant today.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/2021 - John McCabe wrote: 92 Points
This was disappointing right out of the bottle - had an earthy, funky note I increasingly find with Mt. Veeder cabs, though strangely the producer Mt. Veeder is an exception with a much better fruit profile. This one feels too backward and overpriced. May improve with a few more years of bottle age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/28/2021 - Angies Husband Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely nose of rich and layered dark dried fruits and spice.
Tannins still firm, just a touch of grit to them.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2021 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
My delicious little friend has sauced me again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/6/2021 - Es7e2003 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cool molten blackberry jam.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2021 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
From a 375 ml bottle, nose of black berry pie, black cherry, very floral-like a fragrant rose, and lots of Mt. Veeder earth, same on the palate, big body, very tasty, mouth filling, lots of rich fruit, at peak, so enjoy your cellar efforts, worth buying if you have not tried Mt. Brave before. Photo uploaded.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2021 - Es7e2003 Likes this wine: 92 Points
See previous notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2021 - Es7e2003 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Previous notes apply
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2021 - bonedoc wrote: 93 Points
14’s
RM Panek: brighter on the palate w some red raspberries and a little more acid than
Mt Brave: darker fruit profile, less acid, excellent concentration and showing for this wine at this price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2021 - Es7e2003 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ruby colored in glass. Quite youthful looking. Previous notes apply.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2021 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted half the bottle with the balance on the Keeper nitrogen system. Nose shows leather, oak, tar and black fruit. When I first opened this there was some green on the palate, but none is evident after decanting.
This doesn’t come across like your typical California fruit bomb. There’s balance, restraint, and the tannins are presently overshadowing the fruit slightly.That being said, it’s well-balanced and easy to drink on its own though I’m looking forward to finishing this off with tonight’s rack of lamb.
91-2 today, with the opportunity to increase further if the fruit takes a more pronounced role.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2020 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Still going strong through all these half bottles!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/22/2020 - Es7e2003 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Previous notes apply. Sweet tannins resonate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2020 - Es7e2003 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Best showing to date.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2020 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Open for four days in half and still going strong!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2020 - Es7e2003 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Previous notes apply
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2020 - Es7e2003 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Unmistakable mountain fruit. Dark, brooding, lush mouthful. Sweet tannins. Missing that unique je ne sais quoi that sets it apart.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2020 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
From half bottle and served in a BV GdL riedel glass. And darn amazing drinking right now. The green bean high oak thing seems to have been kicked away.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2020 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
I guess I will have it three times this week outta half. Going strong and out of a Reidel BV glass, excellent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
10/11/2020 - bonedoc wrote: 93 Points
This is an excellent buy $60 range, good concentration of blue/purple fruits, nice aromatics, silky mouthfeel, medium body and a medium finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2020 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Lots of black fruit on the opening but then started to turn just a bit green. Maybe time will make it more harmonious?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2020 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Richer and more floral than other 375 ml bottles tasted. Nose of black berry pie, black cherry, very floral, and lots of Mt. Veeder mountain earth. After a 2 mile walk in 100 degree heat, this was my reward. Big body, very tasty, mouth filling, lots of fruit, lovely to savor when paired with Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, long finish, well made and will easily cellar another 10 years in 375 ml format. Photo uploaded.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/27/2020 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose of black berry, black cherry, and earth, same on the palate, mouth filling, showing well this evening, big body, tasty, and long finish. Photo uploaded. From a 375ml bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2020 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
From a 375ml bottle, nose of black berry, black cherry, fairly fruit forward for a 2014, better with a one hour decant, mouth filling fruit, both Alex and i enjoyed it, tasty, in 2 years will be at peak and merit a higher score, long finish, worth the search as good Napa Cabernet Sauvignon under $100 is a rarity these days.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2020 - John McCabe wrote: 92 Points
This was a bit underwhelming. Has a pleasant, plush and lush fruit profile which I tend to associate with the '14 vintage, but not a lot going on otherwise. Overpriced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2020 - bonedoc wrote: 92 Points
Good value below $60, more mountain berry fruits as opposed to chocolate and coffee.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2020 - bonedoc wrote: flawed
Corked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2020 - 87tellub Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP and then left open. Very dark purple, bordering on black. Black fruit, allspice, gravel, crispy dark chocolate. Medium to full in body. Alcohol hits immediately. A very big wine with long thin legs. Fruit profile is a firm blackberry and juicy dark cherry. Tannins are not too sharp.
Initial view is this is nice, but I liked 2013 a lot more.
Edit: I had one glass left in the bottle on night 3 and it showed better than my might 1 note above. Will amend my score from 91 to 92.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2020 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
From half bottle - loads of oak and concentrated fruit. On the verge of having so much fruit and oak it heads into canned green bean territory. popped and poured and did open up, but could still use some time if not decanted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2020 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
From half and humming along with Chinese food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2020 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 90 Points
Drank over the course of 2 hours. Slightly flat and muted. Dark fruit centric with little structure (borderline watery). Decent amounts of earth and dusty cassis complement. Not in the same league as the 2015.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2020 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
From a 375 ml bottle, nose of black berry, black cherry, dusty road on a summer day, and blackberry tart, same on the palate, big body, tasty, mouth filling fruit, good acid, needs 4 years to peak, and a medium/long finish, paid $37 at auction and worth it. Uploaded photo.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/5/2020 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Another delicious half bottle polished off!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
From half bottle. Robust and powerful, concentrated, showing a bit more than just that but clearly, that was its primary aim.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2019 - Costes76 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Had a half bottle of this at Durant’s in Phoenix. Deep purple colour. Medium tight aroma of black fruit. Dry, high acidity, well rounded tannins, taste of blackcurrant, black cherry. Full body with good balance. Medium finish. Felt a bit young and tight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2019 - travelme wrote: 94 Points
My only bottle. From a 375ml and still a little young and tight. It was an outstanding bottle. I will look for more if I can find it. Bought it at auction.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2019 - dutradan@msn.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
great job by Mr Carpenter.
Great fruit from a great vineyard and mountain site.
Buy his wine before it become 200 a bottle
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/20/2019 - msuwine wrote: 94 Points
This mountain Cabernet is more high-toned and acidic - "brighter" if you are poetically inclined - than it was 14 months ago (3/18 - 94 points). It is still a ridiculous value; it is still has a bright future of it; and it is still quite tasty now, if a bit less tannic and woodsy.
Dark red in color and medium in body, the wine offers aromas of black cherry, pencil lead, and herbs. The woodsy undertone is still there, but it's more fresh sawdust than burnt wood. Tastes of boysenberry, leather, cocoa powder, and ground pepper, with a finish that seems more sweet and less tannic (but still quite tannic). 14.5% alcohol. Blend of 90.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, and 2% Malbec. This is more lithe than I remember it last year, but it's lively fruit core, vibrant acidity, and real structure suggest it should be better in 2020 or 2021.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2019 - dmwilsondvm Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted out of 375 at Maple and Ash in Chicago. The balance is impressive. Very approachable. A touch of graphite. Potent berry flavor. Lots of love here.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2019 - wine-enthusiast Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark inky, literally stains the glass. Rich coffee and cassis, earthy smokey tones come through. Medium full bodied its Looong on the tongue. This wine has lots of stuffing. Surprisingly approachable at this early stage. Small amount of heat at the end.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2018 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 93 Points
Sourced from the Mt. Brave Vineyard, perched at roughly 1500 feet, this inky colored wine is crafted by superstar winemaker Chris Carpenter, who has been making this wine since 2007. The Cabernet opens with a rich bouquet of crème de cassis, boysenberry cordial, milk chocolate shavings and coffee grounds. Ripe and decadent, dark fruit flavors connect with mocha and spices. The Mount Veeder terroir shines through in this outstanding Cabernet. Try to give this gorgeous wine another few years in the bottle to fully evolve.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2018 - wineotim wrote: 93 Points
Dark and inky violet color with some crushed blueberry aromas. Tight and firm Mt. Veeder Cab fruit. Not a heavy wine, not rich, but big tannin, very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/9/2018 - UFGators Likes this wine: 94 Points
I believe this wine deserves a higher rating than the community has given so far. Complex and balanced Napa Cab at less than 100 a bottle you will be hard pressed to find a better choice for the money. This is if you love Mt Veeder fruit that has gorgeous earthy tones and graphite. 2014 is a great vintage to drink now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/17/2018 - Ceo wrote: 90 Points
Very tight
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2018 - tomoem wrote: 89 Points
This was not prepared for tonight’s tasting. It is likely needing decanting. Dark fruits with tremendous tannin which is saying ..... stay away !
I think this is a worthy wine I believe. I remain open minded and will let sit for several years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/15/2018 - Cabforme Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wish I waited to open as this is way too young. Too much tannin and lots of oak. Will likely improve with age. I'll hold off another year or two to open my other bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/18/2018 - beezer6 wrote: 92 Points
Taste at MJs.
Big and bold. Very lush with lots of blackberries, blueberries and plums. Some earth as well.
Long finish. Really nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2018 - Keeping It Real wrote: 88 Points
Tasted at Wally's Napa / Sonoma All-Stars 2018 Tasting event. I am sorry Mt. Brave. This is the second time I can trying this; last time in Wally's 2017 tasting event. This just comes as harsh and monolithic. I mean it's still not a bad wine but for the price, it has me scratching my head every time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2018 - msuwine Likes this wine: 94 Points
This rich and open-knit mountain Cabernet is drinking impressively right now - full of layered fruit and integrated oak, this is a solid value at $75 (or less). Ideally wait another year or two to open, but this is an impressive wine today, if you don’t mind a few dusty tannins to go with lovely, complex mountain fruit.
Ruby red in color, full in body, nose of ripe blackberry, graphite, lavender, and leather, with a woodsy undertone that reminds me of coming home to a wood-burning stove on a cold, snowy day (sorry - forgive the association to my childhood in Michigan!). Layered tastes of mountain blueberry (i.e., more tart, less sweet), baking chocolate, rosemary, and fresh-cut cedar, with a finish that is equal parts mouth-coating tannin and palate-pleasing sweetness. 14.5% alcohol. Blend of 90.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, and 2% Malbec.
This is plainly not a wine from the valley floor - the fruit is more chiseled than plush, and the tannins are more dry than sweet. For me, two things stood out: (1) a real depth of fruit (i.e., concentrated, intense, ripe yet fresh); and (2) a deft use of oak (i.e., rounding out the hard edges, providing a warm and silky mouthfeel, but not overwhelming everything else). Compared to other Chris Carpenter wines tasted recently, this was far more open and enjoyable than the 2013 Mt. Brave Cabernet, but it was almost as complex as the 2014 La Jota Cabernet (which was more round and accessible). Regardless, this is an impressive wine at a fair price, and I’m looking forward to opening another bottle in 2019 (or later).
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5)
12/5/2017 - Trolson wrote: 89 Points
Good but still green. Let sit. Should develop per normal practice for Mt. Brave cabs.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2017 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 87 Points
IMW - Cab / Cab Franc Walk-Around Tasting 2018 (mostly 2014 vintage) (Hyatt, San Francisco): Reticent blackcurrant nose. Medium acid. High tannins. Slightly unfocused.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 87 Points
MW 2017 CABERNET FROM THE AMERICAS TASTING-WILDFIRE RELIEF FUNDRAISER, high tone nose, subdued fruit, large amount of slightly harsh tannins, needs time, over extracted to me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment