EWG - Cafe Noir

Tasted Sunday, March 20, 2011 by jasonh with 636 views

Flight 1 - Young Les Clos (3 Notes)

I'll just say I loved all 3 of these. Nuff said.

Flight 2 - Old Cabs (2 Notes)

Big difference in 4 years but I loved both. But for very different reasons.

  • 1974 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Obviously this bit on the downside of the curve. In fact I would say this might be about to go bye bye but I loved this. The nose was sherried and a bit off but the palate was great. Pretty and refreshing. Needs a nice food match. Started to slip as time went by but I could go through a bottle of this pretty quickly.

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  • 1978 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Fay Vineyard

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    This is the first time IIRC that I have tasted the Fay. Intriguing nose. Pleasant dill the way Martha's would show it. Only 4 years younger than the BV but showing 15 years younger. Excellent wine.

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Flight 3 - Adolescent Cabs (5 Notes)

For me the Dunn and the Monty were the ones that got my attention.

  • 1983 Robert Keenan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Nice wine. Holding up fine but just didn't stand out for me on this night.

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  • 1986 Cafaro Cabernet Sauvignon

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Again, a fine wine but did not capture me the same as the others.

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  • 1995 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

    Enjoyable but lacking distinctiveness when paired with its counterparts.

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  • 1995 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    Wow. This thing will rip your mouth apart. You can't say this is closed, it just has monster tannic structure. Don't dare drink this without food. The structure is there but it isn't limited to that. Just tastes like it is 4 years old from a tannic vintage. It did not want to relent a bit. The fruit is there but since this needs at least another 10 years, it is hard to say what the fruit will be like. But I for one liked it. But I am not sure what shape my taste buds will be in when it is ready.

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  • 1994 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    My plan was to bring the '93 but grabbed to wrong bottle. Well this was probably the anti '93. A flashy Monty but with the usual balance. Despite the clear ripeness the structure stayed in tact. Just enough gritty tannin to still have some bite. This is drinking really well right now.

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Flight 4 (1 Note)

I like finishing a night with something like this.

  • 1971 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg

    France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

    Shockingly young and structured. But I liked the structure. The wine stood up and made itself known after a lot of food and a fair amount of wine. I like how it is fresh and fruity but any cloying sweetness is completely gone. A nice treat. Thank you David!

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