1994 Napa Cabernets at David Burke's Primehouse

David Burke's Primehouse
Tasted Monday, May 17, 2010 by Steve Jones with 719 views

Introduction

Don from Cali was in town so Tim, Shane, Keith, Annette and I joined him for a night of dry aged beef and 1994 cabs.

Flight 1 - Before the Cabs (2 Notes)

Shane and Tim picked the Riesling off the menu, Keith agree and we all enjoyed. And Brandon's wine made an appearance courtesy of Tim!

  • 1998 Rudi Pichler Riesling Smaragd Terrassen 93 Points

    Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

    Completely bone dry and beautiful. The flavors that predomnated were flinty minerals and pears, but so much else was going on in tis wine. Elegant, intense, complex. Over-ripe and syrupy guava, a hint of a medicinal note. Beautiful.

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  • 2008 Coleman Nicole Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Strawberries and cherries. This bottle was lighter in color and flavors than the other one I drank. Needed more time to open. As it sat breathng earthy tones emerged. Needed decant time to better represent itself.

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Flight 2 - The Cabs (7 Notes)

Seven from the traditional big rock stars. No boutiques with 70 cases, all are big hitters with big wines from a big year.

  • 1994 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fay 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    We started on the Cabs with this wine. Probably the best evolved and most ready of the seven that we poured. The traditional cab flavors were there along with a eucalyptus and mintiness that made it quite interesting. Great bottle of wine.

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  • 1994 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Number two pour. Very closed nose and equally closed flavors. Medium tannins. Finished a little short. Earth, leather, Rutherford dust.

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  • 1994 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 23 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

    Third cab of the night. A lot more tannic than the Fay, it was much more black currants and cherry flavors than the mineraly Fay. Needs time but drinking quite well.

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  • 1994 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 97 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Mushrooms, potting soil, earth and all sorts of flavorful dirt. Very old world styled. Really loved this one. Tannins were closed some, starting to drink well. Most old world styled of the seven for me. Nice long finish. Big mouth feel.

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  • 1994 Ridge Monte Bello 95 Points

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Tight, young, still closed. Deep rich traditional cabernet- cassis, blackberry, cedar, etc. Still quite young and closed. Nice long finish. Big mouth feel.

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  • 1994 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Silky, velvety, smooth. Tannins firm and not fully opened. Candy-like appeal, not sweet but flavors reminding me of spun sugar. I love the Montelena Estate. Nice long finish. Big mouth feel.

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  • 1994 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 97 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    Huge, closed and childlike. This may be ready in a few decades. It gave us hints of the greatness to come. well decanted, it never completely opened up for us. Big and beautiful. Berries: dark ones, black ones, blue ones. Nice long finish. Big mouth feel.

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Flight 3 - After the Cabs (2 Notes)

Keith went to Germany, I went to Calistoga to break out the stickies.

Closing

The cabs were considered to be very young by all. Few were really "ready" to drink. Super event- everyone said lets repeat it in 10 years!

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