WCC 2004 California Cab Blind Tasting

My regular Albany group got together to taste 2004 Cali Cabs blind. I only knew the wine I brought (the EMH Black Cat) but not which wine it was. I was also told that these were all either 100% Cab or Bordeaux blend. Unless otherwise noted, all wines were decanted for 24 hours.

• 2004 Jordan Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  Big ripe red and black fruit nose. Yummy, tannic, ripe, medium body. Appealing cherry finish.

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• 2004 Cloud View Pritchard Hill 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very dark black fruit nose with a hint of nutmeg. Long, riveting finish of black fruits and minerals. A stunning wine! My #2 WOTN.
  Day 2: The spice is now more exotic, the black fruits more pure. Still very impressive!

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• 2004 Buoncristiani OPC Proprietary Red 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Similar to #2 (Cloud View), but thicker with a Rhone-like waxiness. Big, rich, thick, lush. Long, exotic, spicy finish. A Bob Foley wine? Tied for group WOTN.
  
  Looking back, I was not that surprised that this has syrah in it, even though I was told no non-Bordeaux grapes.

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• 2004 DeLille Cellars Harrison Hill 88 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Muted nose. Silky up front. Tannic on the finish. Seems a bit thin compared to the others here.

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• 2004 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Appealing cherry nose. Tart. Seems more Sonoma than Napa. Yummy, but not impressive.

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• 2004 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga

  Big beefy red fruit nose with lots of minerals. A delicious wine with excellent balance. Drinking quite well tonight. Would be good with steak. 93-95 points.

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• 2004 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Another nose of big red fruits but with an added ketchup note! Medium thick with a weird flavor in the middle. Drying tannins on the finish. The most disappointing wine so far tonight.

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• 2004 Bell Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 6 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  An appealing nose of beef and red fruits that smells a bit like tomato paste. Thick and silky in the mouth. A very tasty wine!

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• 2004 EMH Cabernet Sauvignon Black Cat 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  [Decanted for 12 hours before tasting.] Complex floral nose. Quite ethereal in the mouth. Medium body, complex, harmonious. Not a monster at all. Perhaps the most delicious and drinkable wine so far.

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• 2004 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Spice bread and plum nose. Silky, tasty, balanced. Nice.

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• 2004 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Ripe red fruit nose. Long and delicious with terrific tannic structure (unlike any other wine so far tonight) and great length. Riveting length. My #3 WOTN (very close to #2).

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• 2004 Dominus Estate 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Backward nose. Thick, silky, sweet black fruit. Very young and backward. Hard to judge 93-95 points.
  Day 2: Still a huge wine with lots of black fruit and tannin. I would hold off drinking this for 5-8 years. Could be another great Dominus! 94-97 points.

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• 2004 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry 97 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Huge thick black nose. Thick and silky with a fabulous richness. What a knockout! I would love to drink this whole bottle with a steak! My #1 WOTN. Tied for group #3 WOTN.

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• 2004 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Another big rich waxy red fruit nose. Thick and silky in the mouth. Very long. Tied for group #1 WOTN.

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• 2004 Ramey Jericho Canyon Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Quite tart. Seems out of place here. Mellowing with time, but unimpressive in this line up.

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Consistently very good wines. A variety of profiles, but almost all with big rich fruit and high alcohol. Nice mix of classic names and less well-known wines. No cult cabs.