PNP. Let it sit for about 5 minutes before swirling to give it some air. Deep dark opaque purple (eggplant) with no bricking at the edges. Very effusive on the nose upon opening with blue & black fruits. Cassis and slight cocoa notes emerged after 15-20 minutes. Very balanced on the palate with soft grained tannins and mouthwatering acidity. The fruit notes come through to the palate augmented with a hint of raspberry. The finish lasts for 20-30 seconds. This is drinking really well at the moment but don’t believe you need to be in a hurry. I am settling on 8+ years as the start of the drinking window for most of the Duckhorn Cabs I’ve tasted of late.
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Opened to replace a ‘92 ACVV Estate Cab with an initial funk and astringency that turned me off.
This wine was a deep, dark opaque purple with black and blue fruits on the nose. Visually, I’m not sure it was any different from when my wife and I tasted and purchased at the winery. Aromatically, it was more complex than what memory serves. Not any change to speak of really after two hours in the glass. It was a nice pairing with the American wagyu ribeyes as it cut through the fat and complimented the steak’s flavors extremely well. The aforementioned fruit came through on the palate and tannins were velvety with good balance between the tannins fruit and acid. My guess is this wine will chug along unfazed for at least 5 years and maybe longer.
Enjoy if you have it! I did!
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So, opened this with the intent to have it with a couple of American F1 wagyu steaks. Initially it was really thin and somewhat astringent. So much so, that I opened a 2014 Cade Estate as a replacement - if I think of it I’ll drop a note for that as well.
Anyway, after dinner and with this sitting open for 4 hours, I came back to just see what it was like. I was surprised. The astringency had blown off and what remained was stewed plums and prunes and, for me, a faint blue cheese aroma - don't ask me how. On the palate, not a lot of primary fruit but the plums and prunes came through with a bit of leather and some additional weight.
I received this wine as part of year long mystery case promotion directly from the winery during Covid. And maybe, I shouldn’t have been surprised as I opened a 95 Chard from that same program that initially turned me off but later blew me away and changed my perception of aged whites. If you have this wine, open it and give it time. Hopefully it will surprise you like it did me.
Cheers!
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3/20/2023 7:29:00 PM - Hi Mark- Thanks for reaching out. We do seem to have a few commonalities in our cellars. I appreciate your notes as they are helping me form opinions on wines, I don't currently have.
Cheers!
2014 Duckhorn Vineyards The Discussion
4/23/2024 - COWine-Oh Likes this wine: 94 Points
PNP. Let it sit for about 5 minutes before swirling to give it some air. Deep dark opaque purple (eggplant) with no bricking at the edges. Very effusive on the nose upon opening with blue & black fruits. Cassis and slight cocoa notes emerged after 15-20 minutes. Very balanced on the palate with soft grained tannins and mouthwatering acidity. The fruit notes come through to the palate augmented with a hint of raspberry. The finish lasts for 20-30 seconds. This is drinking really well at the moment but don’t believe you need to be in a hurry. I am settling on 8+ years as the start of the drinking window for most of the Duckhorn Cabs I’ve tasted of late.
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2014 Cade Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Howell Mountain
3/2/2024 - COWine-Oh Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened to replace a ‘92 ACVV Estate Cab with an initial funk and astringency that turned me off.
This wine was a deep, dark opaque purple with black and blue fruits on the nose. Visually, I’m not sure it was any different from when my wife and I tasted and purchased at the winery. Aromatically, it was more complex than what memory serves. Not any change to speak of really after two hours in the glass. It was a nice pairing with the American wagyu ribeyes as it cut through the fat and complimented the steak’s flavors extremely well. The aforementioned fruit came through on the palate and tannins were velvety with good balance between the tannins fruit and acid. My guess is this wine will chug along unfazed for at least 5 years and maybe longer.
Enjoy if you have it! I did!
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1992 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve
3/2/2024 - COWine-Oh Likes this wine: 88 Points
So, opened this with the intent to have it with a couple of American F1 wagyu steaks. Initially it was really thin and somewhat astringent. So much so, that I opened a 2014 Cade Estate as a replacement - if I think of it I’ll drop a note for that as well.
Anyway, after dinner and with this sitting open for 4 hours, I came back to just see what it was like. I was surprised. The astringency had blown off and what remained was stewed plums and prunes and, for me, a faint blue cheese aroma - don't ask me how. On the palate, not a lot of primary fruit but the plums and prunes came through with a bit of leather and some additional weight.
I received this wine as part of year long mystery case promotion directly from the winery during Covid. And maybe, I shouldn’t have been surprised as I opened a 95 Chard from that same program that initially turned me off but later blew me away and changed my perception of aged whites. If you have this wine, open it and give it time. Hopefully it will surprise you like it did me.
Cheers!
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