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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 94.4 pts. and median of 95 pts. in 73 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by levinml on 4/27/2024 & rated 95 points: Whatever Bryant did wrong in 2001 they corrected in 2002. This is great, cult-level wine. Taste definitely stands out as unique, but in a good way. Not at all a tannin bomb (which you would hope after 20 years). Concur this is near the end of its peak, but great drinking now. (44 views) | | | Tasted by MLR on 12/30/2023 & rated 95 points: On the nose some spice, lavender, maybe blue berries and a bit of tar/tobacco or old leather. In the mouth, fully integrated tannins (of course), spice, a Smokey essence that lingers for some time. (342 views) | | | Tasted by sdr on 10/14/2023 & rated 89 points: This is one of those wines that has no technical flaws but just fails to impress. Nicely composed and mature. But fruit is slightly muddled and the wine lacks energy. You can drink all night long but you’ll struggle to remember it in the morning. (620 views) | | | Tasted by soyhead on 6/16/2022: nose - liqueur
mouth - blackberry, boysenberry, serious berry fruit explosion with cocoa and chocolate intermixed. Still primary at age 20, has staying power. Punch you in the face wine. (1882 views) | | | Tasted by Ex-Ray on 5/27/2022 & rated 97 points: At home, with pork chops braised in red wine. Still garnet and opaque, with slight ruby edges. Opened at 5 PM, served at 8 PM, finished at 11 PM. The wine evolved. At dinner, after three hours in the decanter, it was nearly perfect...lots of fruit, almost pure cassis, with a slight dusty/earthy component. Very viscous fruit, tannin well in the background. 98-100 points at that time. At 11 PM the fruit had faded slightly and lost some complexity and the tannin was more noticeable. It was then a 94. So, this had a crescendo-decrescendo path over five hours. On balance a 97, but this says to me: open and decant a few hours ahead, then enjoy over a couple of hours before it starts to fade. In my opinion fully mature, drink over the next few years.
Ric (1823 views) | | | Tasted by galewskj on 5/21/2022 & rated 94 points: Luis' group goes to Kenwood without him (again) (The Kenwood): Double decanted 6 hours prior. Drank a small glass over an hour. Blueberry pie stands out the most. There's also earth, vanilla and a bit of alcohol. This seems a touch extracted but you also can't help but admire the concentration, especially from a 20 year old California cabernet. I feel that the overall flavor has not yet peaked and this wine will taste/smell more complex with further aging. But the alcohol is peaking out right now, and I would worry that it will increase with further aging. (1946 views) | | | Tasted by mzimberg on 5/19/2022 & rated 96 points: Teeth staining inky purple. So dark. Quite youthful with the fruit still on center stage. Pure and gorgeous sweet fruit aromas. Bluberry pie! Apparent vanilla/ new oak. 1 min + finish. I wonder when this will show signs of age? (621 views) | | | Tasted by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine on 5/19/2022 & rated 95 points: Okay....Luis Rides Again.....Horseless! (Someday Luis, you will need to attend one of your own tastings! (The Kenwood, Minneapolis, MN): Prep: Decanted at Noon, rinsed bottle and stored decanted wine in cellar. At 3:00, placed wine back in bottle, placed cork on and returned to cellar until 5:30, when I went to the restaurant. Served at around 9:00 pm.
Wine was in a great spot, and remained there throughout the tasting, but did start showing a little alcohol toward the end.
Nose: Lots of dark fruit (black and blue), purple flowers, some earth, tobacco and coffee bean, with hints of cedar.
Palate: Cassis, blackberry and blueberry pie, coupled with notes of earth, tobacco and new leather and vanilla with some toasty oak. Luscious mouthfeel and medium-long finish. Was amazingly delicious, but slight alcohol notes toward the very end.
Surprisingly fruit-forward for its age! This wine is squarely in my wheelhouse, and my WOTN -- yes, it was my wine, but I typically get more excited about other's wines. 95+ for me, and I would likely decant a shorter time. I would guess this wine is in its window now, but no hurry to drink (just adjust decant time). If opening today (assuming a similar palate to mine), I would do a full decant 1 1/2 to 2 hours before serving and enjoy the wine over the following 2-3 hours. (2286 views) | | | Tasted by rocknroller on 5/19/2022 & rated 93 points: Luis' "Bring a Very Good Bottle" without Luis (The Kenwood, Mpls, MN): Very dark red/purple color. Double decanted. Drank a glass over an hour. The nose is captivating with eucalyptus, cassis, dried herbs tar and savory notes. The palate is layered with cassis and purple fruits, gravel, plum, oak and wood notes with excellent length. Very nice. 93+pts. (1514 views) | | | Tasted by N.Bonaparte on 2/17/2022 & rated 93 points: This needs about 60 min in the decanter to open up. Very well balanced, polished wine. Medium bodied with a nice finish. Complexity is lacking for this producer and price point. Certainly in its prime but will drink well for a decade. (1377 views) | | | Tasted by capacious on 2/3/2022 & rated 96 points: Spectacular presence on the palate, tannins and fruit beautifully integrated, long, lovely finish. A bit sweet. Amongst the best Napa has for a classic Napa style cab. (1286 views) | | | Tasted by SkyCellar on 12/31/2021: 93 (1379 views) | | | Tasted by SkyCellar on 9/8/2021 & rated 93 points: Quite lovely (1950 views) | | | Tasted by mdefreitas on 12/14/2020 & rated 93 points: Not the usual creamy, blueberry, fruit-filled blast I expected. With age, this has become more subdued and has taken on some herbs and leather to accompany the fruit. Still quite nice. (2091 views) | | | Tasted by Joealex on 3/25/2020 & rated 98 points: This is my first California cult wine so I did not know what to expect except memorable wine!
Color is completly black with thin ruby rim, suggesting high concentration.
I decanted wine 2 hours which was not enough.
Beautiful and fascinating aroma of cassis and bluberry liquer, hint of mushrooms, mocca and cigars.
Texture of this wine is flat out amazing, something like the softest down pillow, everything was beautifull integrated - smoothest tannins, acidity, entry sweetness of black currants, bluberries and blackberries and long a bit tannic finish. Bryant 2002 has " drive" you want immidiately try one sip after another but the most amazing thing was that after 1 or 2 hours AFTER decanting the wine become even more decadent and opulent. So I recomend at least 3-4 hours decant.
This was the most expensive wine I have ever bought as Bryant is wine producer whom I have the sentiment for his the most spectacular achivements for a few vintages in row: 1993-1997 and also by accident the same surname as my favourite NBA player : Kobe Bryant.
If I could afford I would buy another Bryant 2002 or other great vintage.
My initial score was 95-96 but after wine got more opulence after a few hours, I raised my score to final 98/100.
If someone can make a present for me and send me bottle of any vinage of Bryant Family Cabernet Sauvignon, is highly welcome!
So far I gave the highest rating 97/100 to Staglin Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 1997 and Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2001. (2229 views) | | | Tasted by MLR on 1/26/2020 & rated 90 points: While the comments of previous tasting still apply, everything was a bit muted and much more subdued. Might be time to drink these up. (2249 views) | | | Tasted by EmilyE on 7/5/2019 & rated 95 points: Amazing (2586 views) | | | Tasted by Edclr on 5/12/2019 & rated 95 points: First bottle out of the stash. Now in its prime. Full bodied, long finish, classic Napa fruit. I’ve had better Bryant’s from other vintages, but this is still very good. (2532 views) | | | Tasted by daved on 4/7/2019 & rated 97 points: dark fruit, great minerality, full mouth feel and explodes in the back palate and a long finish that cascades throughout my sinuses.. Exquisite (2225 views) | | | Tasted by levinml on 12/24/2018 & rated 96 points: Drank with completion of the cork dart board. Proper finish. This is improved over my last bottle 4 years ago; much more complex and subtle, but great core flavors. Don't know where the 2019 drink by date came from. It will be fine for a while, but this is likely at a plateau now. (2273 views) | | | Tasted by tcosgriff on 9/23/2018 & rated 80 points: Deep purple color with no signs of age, but very similar to the 2003 bottle drunk days before and clearly over the hill, dominated by unpleasant tobacco notes but with a bit more fruit to make it more drinkable. (2698 views) | | | Tasted by RobbieD68 on 1/20/2018 & rated 96 points: Nose of blueberry pie, which is exactly the flavor one comes to when drinking. But there is also some cassis, and a little bit of....what is that? Black pepper, maybe? Whatever it is, this is amazing. Nice long finish to go with it? Sold. PS - this was after the cork broke while opening, which apparently did cause any issues with the wine inside. (2567 views) | | | Tasted by tcosgriff on 3/18/2017 & rated 96 points: Deep purple color with no hint of age. Wonderful bouquet and flavor of black cassis with a remarkable purity and definition. Excellent balance with a silky mouthfeel and a very long finish. This is Cabernet Sauvignon at its pinnacle and a testament to California vintners. Bryant Family ranks with the best. Many tasters found Blueberry in the flavor, but most agreed on the exceptional balance and depth. A Wow wine. (3373 views) | | | Tasted by cab_fran on 3/7/2017 & rated 97 points: Sensational and mature Napa cabernet. The wine featured layers of profound black and red berry fruit, also some graphite and burnt embers. We gave 30 mins of bottle air at the restaurant - I recommend a 2-hr decant if possible at this stage. Bottle was an auction purchase 2 years ago; the provenance was obviously very good. This powerful wine was still evolving in the bottle when we finished it - I imagine it will last at least another five years. (3529 views) | | | Tasted by MLR on 12/25/2016 & rated 98 points: Amazing! Cola and blueberry pie on the nose again, without peeking at last year's notes maybe some thyme or sage too. In the mouth the wine is alive, dark berries, that blue berry pie and some cream ale/ vanilla/cola. The tannins are fully integrated and quite soft. Time to drink this wine. (3255 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, Bryant’s Cabernet Sauvignon: 1994-2014 (May 2017) (5/17/2017)
(Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2004, IWC Issue #114
(Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill Napa Valley) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous. (manage subscription channels) |
| Bryant Family Vineyard Producer websiteCabernet SauvignonCabernet Sauvignon is probably the most famous red wine grape variety on Earth. It is rivaled in this regard only by its Bordeaux stablemate Merlot, and its opposite number in Burgundy, Pinot Noir. From its origins in Bordeaux, Cabernet has successfully spread to almost every winegrowing country in the world. It is now the key grape variety in many first-rate New World wine regions, most notably Napa Valley, Coonawarra and Maipo Valley. Wherever they come from, Cabernet Sauvignon wines always seem to demonstrate a handful of common character traits: deep color, good tannin structure, moderate acidity and aromas of blackcurrant, tomato leaf, dark spices and cedarwood.
Used as frequently in blends as in varietal wines, Cabernet Sauvignon has a large number of common blending partners. Apart from the obvious Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the most prevalent of these are Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere (the ingredients of a classic Bordeaux Blend), Shiraz (in Australia's favorite blend) and in Spain and South America, a Cabernet – Tempranillo blend is now commonplace. Even the bold Tannat-based wines of Madiran are now generally softened with Cabernet SauvignonUSAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Napa Valley Napa Valley Wineries and Wine (Napa Valley Vintners)Napa ValleySt. Helena |
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