Judgement Day - 2001 Bordeaux vs. 2001 USA Cabernet Blends

Hosted by Randy Wear and Ken Kailin this was a blind tasting of twelve 2001 cabernet-based wines. Overall, the wines were very strong and displayed good structure, expressive fruit and moderate acidity. Here's how the wines ranked amongst the group with my ranking in parentheses:

1. Chateau Mnntelena (4)
2. Tua Rita Giutso di Notri Toscana (7)
3. Joseph Phelps Insignia (10)
4. Chateau Pavie (3)
5. Chateau Leoville Barton (1)
6. Chateau Leoville Poyferre (11)
7. Gemstone (6)
8. Chateau Cos d'Estournel (5)
9. Quilceda Creek (9)
9. Dominus (12)
11. Chateau Lynch Bages (2)
12. Chateau Giscours (8)

Opened up with a blind wine before moving onto the reds.

• 2001 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay Napa Valley 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Tasted blind. Had nice lemon oil, flint, seawater and butter on the nose. I thought it was a Puligny with its richness and balance on the palate. Nice floral tones, lemons, and butter on the palate. It was somewhat creamy, but had nice acidity on the finish.

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Ken mentioned that he and Randy specifically targeted American/Italian wines that are thought to be made in a more traditional manner...thus making our job of blind tasting even harder!

• 2001 Château Giscours 87 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Tasted blind. A modern Bordeaux with thick texture, rich red fruit, moderate acidity, and some oak influence. The floral notes on the palate were nice and mixed well with subtle tobacco, and leather. There was a warming influence of the oak on the palate with some chocolate and warm spices. I thought this was French, but didn't peg it as a Margaux...rating it 8th out of 12 wines.

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• 2001 Château Lynch-Bages 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Tasted blind. Interesting wine with a rustic nose but a somewhat modern palate. Had a really dusty nose with leather, dried roses and some charcoal...just lovely. The palate had a richer fruit profile, mostly rich red fruit with pipe tobacco, floral notes, and moderate tannin. I actually called this wine correctly as a Pauillac and ranked it 2nd out of 12 wines.

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• 2001 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 87 Points

  USA, Washington

  Tasted blind. This had a lot of dark fruit and woodsy tones on the nose. Much like other QC's I've had the alcohol was noticeable on the nose which was distracting. The alcohol was more integrated on the palate, but the dark fruit mixed well with some red florals and mocha. QC has never really been my style - too big, too broad shouldered and this completely fit that bill. I actually guessed this wine blind as the 2001 QC, so it ranks up there with my calling of a double-blind 2001 d'Yquem! I ranked this 9th out of 12 wines.

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• 2001 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Tasted blind. Nice minty notes on the nose with underbrush, red fruit, leather and pipe tobacco. The fruit was bright and expressive on the palate. Nice red fruit, lots of rose tones and good minerality. I thought this was from St. Julien and ranked it 4th out of 12 wines.

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• 2001 Tua Rita Giusto di Notri Toscana IGT 86 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Tasted blind. Big red fruit and lots of oak on the nose - I thought it was from California. The palate continued the modern approach with a thick mouthfeel, wooly tannins, dark fruit and espresso. Towards the end of the night I had a small taste and thought it had improved significantly with the tannins softening, the flavors mellowing out a bit, too. This was rated number 2 overall by the group and 7th overall by me.

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• 2001 Dominus Estate 84 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Tasted blind. The nose had a lot of vanilla, rich red fruit, mineral notes and tobacco. Wasn't really digging this wine - it came across a bit syrupy, a bit too extracted and lacking balance. I picked this as a Californian wine and rated it 12th out of 12 wines - was shocked when it was revealed. I'm usually a big fan of Dominus!

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• 2001 Château Pavie 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  Tasted blind. Distinctly Bordeaux with smokey lead pencil, dark fruit and underbrush on the nose. The palate was rich and deep with integrated oak notes, warm spices, earthy undertones and a rustic tobacco note. This really improved with air...softened up and allowed some floral notes to bubble up to the surface. I thought this was from Pauillac and ranked it 3rd out of 12 wines.

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• 2001 Château Léoville Poyferré 86 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Tasted blind. Disappointing showing for a chateau that I normally LOVE. I seemed to really taste the oak on this one....it came through on the nose with mocha and espresso notes and on the palate with warm vanilla and coffee notes. The palate was round and I found it to be slightly flabby with mostly red fruit. I thought this was from Washington state and rated it 11th ouf of 12 wines.

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• 2001 Joseph Phelps Insignia 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Tasted blind. I was pretty surprised by how this performed. Didn't have the elegant character that I feel like a lot of Insignia's can have. The nose seemed a bit candied with a heavy influence from the oak. Its palate was also modern with charcoal, brown sugar, espresso and dark fruit. I correctly pegged this as a Californian wine, but disagreed with the overall group rating it 10th out of 12 wines - the group rated it 3rd overall.

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• 2001 Château Cos d'Estournel 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

  Tasted blind. Enjoyed the nose with its leather, red fruit, and warm floral notes. The palate had medium tannins, but I felt the oak was a bit heavy giving it some espresso and mocha notes. I thought this was the Italian ringer, but was wrong - I put this 5th out of 12.

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• 2001 Château Léoville Barton 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Tasted blind. Loved the rustic nose of this with its expressive smokey mineral, tobacco, earthy and dark fruit nose. The palate was smooth, elegant and deep with great minerality, lilac notes, and almost a tilled soil tone. Drinking in a great place right now with great structure. I thought this was from Graves, and rated it 1st out of 12 wines.

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• 2001 Gemstone Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Tasted blind. Nose was distinctly modern with red cherry, vanilla, maple syrup, and charcoal. I thought the palate was more elegant than the burly nose as it had some underbrush, tobacco and floral tones. Pegged this correctly as a Californian wine and rated it 6th out of 12 wines.

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Ken brought a nice Baumard wine for us to sip on at the end of the night. Lovely wine.

• 2001 Domaine des Baumard Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru 90 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru

  The honeyed character of the wine is starting to emerge and add to the nice apple and pear flavors that are still vibrant. The acidity was a bit lower than I expected but the finish was long and the mouthfeel was silky. Very nice showing, but I'm thinking I would have liked it more with more acidity.

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Thanks again to Ken & Randy for organizing.