WCC 2001 California Cabernet Blind

My regular Albany group met to taste 2001 California Cabernet and Cabernet blends. The one ringer was a 2000 Ch. Certan de May, which was my #2 wine and the group's #3.

Photos and more details can be found here:

http://www.finewinegeek.com/tn/2014-11-20_WCC_2001-Cab_AndyP/

• 2001 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon Signature 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Big smoky black fruit nose. Still tannic with tart bright red fruit. Good length. Sweet and juicy. Appealing. 92-93

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Muted nose of cocoa and red fruit. Tannic, rich complex. Needs time.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Staglin Family Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Dark, brooding, complex. Long finish. Loads of rich black fruits. Impressive. Big but balanced. My #4 WOTN.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very surprised that this is the Beringer PR. It seemed hot and alcoholic with over-ripe, super extracted red fruit.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Smokey red fruit. Super ripe and young but much more balanced than #4. Great future. My #3 WOTN.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

• 2001 Dominus Estate

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  A little green in the nose with a bit of red fruit. Tart. Not a good bottle.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2000 Château Certan de May 96 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Spicy red fruit nose. Long, complex. Great balance and harmony. Wow! My #2 WOTN.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Sullivan Vineyards Coeur de Vigne 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Big aromatic complex nose. Still very young and monolithic in the mouth. Needs time. 92-95

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Niebaum-Coppola Rubicon 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Muted nose. Quite tannic and tart. I'm always amazed how much this wine reminds me of a young Barolo. In this case, not a very good one.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Ramian Estate Chapter 2001 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

  Green nose. Tart and tannic without much character.
  An hour later, it is showing much better with nice sweet fruit.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Joseph Phelps Insignia 97 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  [Double-decanted at 6pm.] Hands down WOTN for me. Big ripe complex nose. Rich long and complex in the mouth. A stunning, wow wine. Great length. Still very young, but the richness has such harmony to it. A great wine.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

• 2001 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Dark black fruit. Sweet and delicious. An excellent classically made wine.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Cloud View Pritchard Hill 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  [Double-decanted at 6pm.] Big smokey nose. Medium body. Complex, but a bit austere.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Clark-Claudon Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Getting near the end. Maybe too much wine for me, but the alcohol just seems too high on this. Like a bit of brandy was added.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  A huge wine. Massive rich, but monolithic. Enjoyable, but will it ever develop complexity?

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

This is a very good vintage and most of these wines are still too young.