Monthly Wine Group: Domestic Cabs and Blends

Twenty-four of us gathered to share domestic cab based wines. We split into 4 groups of six.

• NV Michel Arnould & Fils Champagne Grand Cru Brut Réserve 90 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Drank a small glass at the start of the evening. light gold color. Very consistent with previous bottles. Solid, with orchard fruit, subtle berry, minerals and slate. Good balance and a medium finish. 90+ pts.

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• 1989 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Flawed

  France, Champagne

  Unfortunately this bottle was pretty badly oxidized. Faint bubbles, with some hints of the Tait elegance, but they were shrouded in apple cider. Too bad...this could have been wonderful.

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• NV Billecart-Salmon Champagne Brut Réserve 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  Had a half a glass pour. This was pale gold. Very crisp and fresh with good minerality, pear, good cut, a little earth, some nuttiness. Medium plus on the finish. Very good.

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• 2009 Bodegas y Vinedos Shaya Rueda Habis 90 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Rueda

  Drank 2 oz glass over 15 minutes. This was interesting, didn't know what it was til after. Was surprised by the amount of oak and butteriness when revealed as Verdejo. Certainly drank as a Cali chard, mellowed significantly in glass. Good orchard fruits, round and dense on the palate with some lift. Nice finish.

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• 2010 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Chardonnay 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Light-medium gold color. Drank 1 glass over 60 minutes. This was a smidge warmer than ideal, but showed well in general. There is a nice nose with pear, melon, sweet cream, and citrus, light-medium oak, and some tropical notes. The palate is nicely balanced, meyer lemon, lemon cream pie, lightly tropical, good minerality, and a medium plus finish. 91+pts.

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• 1993 Abreu Cabernet Sauvignon Madrona Ranch 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very dark red-garnet color - no bricking. Drank 1 glass over 2 hours plus. This had a splendid nose, very complex and filled with perfume, funk, earthy, sandalwood, cassis and some dried red berry. The palate is medium-full bodied, elegant, nearly resolved, deep flavors, glycerin, cassis, black raspberry liqueur, earth, pencil, still has slightly drying tannins. Medium plus finish. 93+pts to 94pts.

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• 2002 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Anniversary Release 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Very dark red-purple-garnet color. Splash decanted and back to bottle. Drank 1 glass over 2.5hrs. Very pretty overall; the nose shows menthol, cedar, cassis, black cherry, spice and later the earthiness emerges. The palate is medium-full bodied, concentrated flavors of cassis, boysenberry, mulberry, raspberry, elegant, graphite, medium grained tannins, graphite, a long spiced finish.

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• 2006 EMH Cabernet Sauvignon Black Cat 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Purple red color. 3hr decant. Drank 1 glass over 2 hours. Dark nose with blackberry, plum, licorice, oak, briar, sweet ripe fruit. The palate is full bodied, concentrated, blackberry, sour black cherry, licorice, lots of oak still, round medium plus tannins, medium plus finish. Young.

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• 2005 Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Purple color. drank 1 glass over 2hrs plus. Brooding, dense nose with black fruits, blackberry, blackberry liqueur, oak. The palate is inky, think, concentrated black fruits, blackberry, blackberry liqueur, lots of glycerin, oaky. Seemed to breakdown and become hot and more tart over time. Not sure bout the aging potential here. I'd drink these sooner.

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• 2009 Mark Ryan Long Haul 90 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  Very dark red-purple color. PNP, Drank 1 glass over 90 minutes. Loved the chocolate/cocoa bean nose with cassis and dark berry, has a distinctly herbal quality, oak. The palate also has a green herbal character, black fruits, chocolate, fairly dense and full bodied, firm tannins and heat on the finish. Young and may evolve further in time. 89-90pts.

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• 2009 Calluna Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon The Colonel's Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Chalk Hill

  Very dark red-purple color. Small pour. This was fairly dense, cassis, cedarbox, herbal, concentrated, round tannins. Youthful with good promise. 91(+)pts.

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• 2003 Dominus Estate 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very dark red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over an hour plus. Loved the nose, earthy, floral, dark fruits, leather, herbs, sweet fruits. The palate shows medium-full body, elegance, black fruits along with some dark berry, leather, pencil lead, herbs, oak and spice. Complex and beguiling. This could be better with time. 93+(+)pts.

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• 2000 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Trailside Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  I didn't take any detailed notes on this, but it was in a really good place. Very elegant and well resolved, medium tannins that are silky, nice mix of black and red fruits, medium body, nice finish.

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• 2004 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very dark red-purple color. PNP, Drank a 1.5 oz pour over 60 minutes. The nose shows dark fruits, carmel, oak. The palate was actually better early on, very pretty, red and black fruits, elegant. But there is a green streak here that shows through though and becomes more noticeable with time. Medium-full body, nice finish, medium and somewhat youthful tannins. May get a little better.

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• 1991 Cardinale 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Just got a little pour, enough to appreciate where this was at. Well preserved and very pretty, a pleasure to drink. Balanced and tasty. Nice red fruits. 91+pts.

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• 1995 Laurel Glen Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Sonoma Mountain 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain

  Another one that I just got enough to appreciate it. Very elegant and refined, resolved, leather, florals, pretty dark fruits. Lingering finish. Nice!

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• 2009 Aubert Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  This was at room temp by the time got it. Seemed to show more oak than expected, but the intensity is there on the palate, nice fruit, concentrated, apple, pear, some citrus. Long finish. 91+(+?)

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• 2001 Abreu Madrona Ranch 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very dark-purple red color. Small pour. Drank over 30 minutes plus. The nose is evocative, menthol, eucalyptus, red fruits, herbs, tar, scorched earth, pine needles. The palate strikes with intensity, but restraint, young - yet well integrate already. dark red fruits, black currants, spice, cedar, graphite, pine needle. Long finish. This was mesmerizing and I only wish there was more to watch evolve over the night. Still very young, but definitely going to be great. Thanks for sharing Candace!!!!! 94(+)pts.

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• 2009 Jordan Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 88 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  Very dark red color. Small pour. This was a bit too herbal and stemmy tonight, tart black cherry, firm tannins, spicy, young. Expected more, hopefully mellows with time.

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