California Cult Wines tasting - eye openers and disapointments

WineWatch tasting and dinner, Fort Lauderdale
Tasted Saturday, May 8, 2010 by Serge Birbrair with 847 views

Introduction

I didn't wanna go, but I just couldn't refuse Alan's invite. Market this week needed something strong to get faded from the memory and this event sounded like the best way to do it.

Flight 1 (10 Notes)

  • 1974 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    I don't recall having more interesting California Cab, or older California Cab for this matter. Surprisingly young in color and taste with plenty of secondaries and flower nuances, minerals, stone and tannins with plenty of life. My #1 from "Dusty old Bottles flight". Just unreal.

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  • 1974 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Mountain

    USA, California

    The wine lost a bit being tasted side by side with 1974 Heits Martha's vineyard. Parker's drinking window 5-30 years was too conservative, wine still shows lots of years left 6 years after it's predicted peak. Tannins are smoother than Heitz' and on it's own the wine can deliver hours of pure pleasure. Killer nose, and long finish.

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  • 1977 Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Very medicinal on the palate, the impression confirmed by Doctor Ron from across the table. I haven't finished the pour.

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  • 1995 Dalla Valle Maya

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Not much of a nose, predominant black cherry, one note symphony kind of wine. Good symphony, just very simple one.

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  • 2000 Dalla Valle Maya

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Considerably younger than it's older 1995 brother, hot on the finish. Nothing remarkable about this wine I can say, nothing remarkable stuck in my head.

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  • 1992 Colgin Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    My favorite from Comparative Flight. Aging gracefully, the wine is in the excellent shape. Minerality, exotic spice nose, long finish and soft tannins. Remarkable wine in it's own right. drink, hold, it's all good.

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  • 2002 Colgin Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    The wine is unmistakable younger brother of 1992 Herb Lamb. Very approachable despite it's young age, more vigor than 1992 and lots of promise to delivery joy and excitement in many years to come.

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  • 2001 Harlan Estate The Maiden

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Very concentrated, and young, but drinking well nevertheless. Black currants, density, lots of balance and need some time to round alcohol on the finish.

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  • 2001 Harlan Estate

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    "The "wow" wine for me and wine of the flight which included 2003 Screaming Eagle.. I am not supposed to like this wine, it's extracted heavily, concentrated beyond beliefs, but I just couldn't help myself and fell in love with the wine. The wine to sweep the Bordeaux-phile off the feet. I was impressed tremendously and traded with my neighbors at the table my Screaming Eagle tip offs for this wine tip offs.
    I haven't had anything like it.

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  • 2003 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Biggest disappointment of the flight. The expectations were much higher than the wine in the glass. 5 years ago I was mesmerized by 1999 Screaming Eagle
    and expected something along those lines and...I didn't get the "oomph" I expected. Oh well....I took comfort in not paying auction price for this wine and traded all my extra pours for 2001 Harlan Estate.

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Closing

Memorable evening, great company at the table and the event did the trick. Did stock market really dropped this week?
:)

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