1994 Napa Tasting

ALL WINES BROUGHT FROM OUR CELLARS, BOUGHT AT/NEAR RELEASE, POPPED CORKS 2 HRS BEFORE TASTING. 2 FLIGHTS, TASTED BLIND, 10 PEOPLE (HALF EXPERTS, THE OTHER HALF MODERATELY EXPERIENCED).

• 1994 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  "(++) perfect balance of fruit/structure/minerality…bordeaux-like" 96-98

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• 1994 Abreu Cabernet Sauvignon Madrona Ranch

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (++) great fruit, richer, less minerals, beef

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• 1994 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  "(-)fruit muted, nose dominated by oak, sweet, palate of oak… ""cali-style"" I guessed caymus"

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• 1994 Colgin Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (--)fruit fading, past it's prime, guava, ? off bottle but definitely not corked

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• 1994 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  "(-+)no minerality, very ripe/sweet fruit, excellent but downgraded bc very ripe and w/out secondaries"

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• 1994 Peter Michael Les Pavots

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

  (+-)nothing memorable

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• 1994 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (++-)sweet, low acid, soft, tasted older

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• 1994 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (++-+)more restrained but good, more cut, balanced

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• 1994 Joseph Phelps Insignia

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (+-++) fruit muted & fading

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• 1994 Dominus Estate Napanook Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (+++) minerals, wonderfully Bordeaux-like, my 2nd fav of the night. 96-98

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• 1994 Harlan Estate

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  "(++++) my WOTN, utterly perfectly balanced, ripe delicious fruit without being overdone" will go another 5+. 97-99

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• 1994 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (-+)softer, elegant

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OVERALL, THE WINES WERE ALL SUPERB AND SURPRISINGLY GOING STRONG DESPITE 19 YRS OF AGE, WITH ONLY THE COLGIN SEEMING WAY PAST ITS PRIME (ALTHOUGH NOT CORKED).

GROUP RESULTS

points gold silver bronze wine
20 4 3 2 1994 shafer hs
14 3 2 1 1994 berginger pr
13 2 2 3 1994 mondavi res
13 3 2 0 1994 araujo eisele
11 2 2 1 1994 abreu madrona
10 1 3 1 1994 caymus ss
9 2 1 1 1994 dunn howell mtn
8 1 2 1 1994 harlan
7 1 0 4 1994 insignia
5 0 0 5 1994 peter michael pavots
5 0 2 1 1994 dominus
3 1 0 0 1994 colgin herb

MY RESULTS
1 HARLAN
2 DOMINUS
3 DUNN HM
4 ABREU MADRONA
5 SHAFER HS
6 MONDAVI PR