04 Napa Cabs, plus a few more - Schrader, Merus, Foley, LLC

Tasted Wednesday, July 23, 2008 by dmoritz with 734 views

Introduction

Wanted to check out how some top 04 Napa Cabs were doing so got together with a few friends for a small impromptu dinner.

Flight 1 (1 Note)

With an assortment of cheeses:

  • 2007 Dry Stack Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Rosemary's Block Dry Stack Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley

    My third bottle of this wine, and always an enjoyable drinker. I love the nose, which jumps out of the glass with citrus, mango and tropical fruit. Not really a wine to sit and contemplate but a damn enjoyable bottle. Palate is very good with a lingering finish. Could only use a little more zip of acidity. Great summer wine.

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Flight 2 (1 Note)

Served blind before dinner:

  • 1985 Sterling Vineyards Reserve Red Table Wine 86 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    As it was served blind, my guess was a late 80s/early 90s Right Bank Bordeaux. I had some of the grapes right. Color was dark enough to lead me to believe this was not a 23 year old wine. Nose was earthy, leathery, though with some fruit still showing. Fruit was more cherry than the darker berries you would expect of a younger Cali Cab. Interesting wine, though seen better days.

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Flight 3 (1 Note)

With foie gras:

  • 1997 Château La Tour Blanche Sauternes 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Very nice Sauternes, showing a beautiful nose of honey and tropical fruits. Very good pairing with foie gras. Medium bodied and sweet on the palate, but lacking the zippy acidity to make it a great sticky.

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Flight 4 (3 Notes)

With dinner, starting with Rigatoni with olive oil, garlic, and diced tomatoes. Followed by steaks and a side of mushrooms:

  • 2004 Robert Foley Claret 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Maybe this was somewhat of an off bottle, since I've read some great reviews on the wine, or maybe just in an awkward stage. Decanted about an hour and a half. The oak just seemed to dominate the fruit in this wine, rendering it somewhat disjointed. I remembered an exotic mouthfeel the last time I tasted this back in October 07, which didn't show tonight. Hopefully just in a strange place and will someday revert to what I remembered as a great wine.

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  • 2004 Merus Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    The darkest of the 3 cabs in color. Like Cab on steriods. Big nose of blackberry, cassis and espresso. Super concentrated with strong tannins. This wine needs some time, but will be a stunner in the future.

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  • 2004 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 96 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    This is my kind of wine. The nose sings with dark fruit, showing a little cedar and vanilla (in a pleasant manner), which hints a bit at the oak on the wine. Easily the most structured of the 3 cabs. Nice concentration on the palate and great long finish. Superstar cab.

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Flight 5 (1 Note)

Because a little Bordeaux was in order, after dinner:

  • 1999 Château Léoville Las Cases 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

    This was a total contrast to the 3 young Cali Cabs it was drank after. Nose of tobacco, cedar, coffee and red fruits. Still pretty tight tannins, but excellent structure and nice long finish. Very solid effort.

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