Wineflock - Cabernets from Anywhere

This was supposed to be a vertical tasting of Ridge Monte Bello which got postponed so the theme was a bit of a last minute flier. Turns out we got quite a good variety of different examples that showed pretty well for the level of most of the wines. Specific theme was cabernet-based wines from anywhere, vintage 2003-2006 (with the one 2001 exception). All wines blind as usual.

• 2003 Château Monbousquet Bordeaux Blanc 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux

  Very bright yellow color. Big full rich and smooth on the palate with a thick mouthfeel and plenty of ripe fruit. Very nice.

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• 2002 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Paler in color and everything else. This is a perfectly nice wine, but little of the concentration or character that you usually find in Chave blanc. On the other hand, it is pretty much open for business already.

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• 2004 Ilsley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Single Vineyard Estate 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Group #4, My #7 - Full deep black red color. Forward round bright cassis nose with graphite and a bit of warmth - also lifted. Big purple fruit and violet notes on the palate with a dustry tannic puckering finish.

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• 2004 DeLille Cellars Harrison Hill 91 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Group #5, My #8 - Ful lred color. Lovely spicy ripe red currant nose with lifted acidity. Medium red currant fruit with black notes and a serious finish. Tastes like a good splash of merlot in here.

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• 2003 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore

  Group #9, My #9 - Full opaque red color. Big tight nose of black fruit and spice - ripe. Big mouthful of juicy black fruit with a long coffee finish.

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• 2001 Golan Heights Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Yarden El Rom Vineyard 94 Points

  Israel, Galilee, Golan Heights

  Group #6, My #1 - Full deep ruby red color. forward nose of black fruit with green pepper and just a slight note of mint. Mmmn, nice rich eucalyptus black fruit with wonderful balance and acidity - lots going on here. I would have bet money this was from Coonawara...

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• 2005 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Group #1, My #2 - Opaque black/red color. Lovely sweet black cherry nose with a hint of blueberry spice. Big black fruit, ripe with that 'cultish' note (Ken called it pie filling). A surprisingly good showing as WOTN for the basic Napa bottling from Hobbs...

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• 2003 Spring Valley Vineyard Frederick 93 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  Group #3, My #5 - Opaque red color. Medium slightly canned black fruit nose with just a touch of heat. Nice big mouthful of black fruit with nice complexity and ripeness. Some chocolate and rose notes emerged with air.

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• 2004 Château Pontet-Canet 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Group #8, My #6 - Opaque red/black color. Medium clean earthy nose with some black fruit and a hint of coffee. Big mouthful of leathery blcak fruit with a haunting coffee finish that emerges after about 20 seconds. This showed much better than the last time I had it back in Jan, surprisingly...

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• 2005 TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 6 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Duplicate bottles (though I had them ranked the same, it was surprising the amount of bottle variation perceived by the group for such a young wine):
  Group #2, My #3 - Full deep red color. Full nose of black cassis fruit and spice with some acidity - nice. Nice rich red currant fruit with some spice - serious breed here.
  
  Group #8, My #4 - Full deep red color. Forward nose of sweet black fruit with hints of green pepper and leather. Big mouthful of sweet ripe black fruit with gripping tannins on the finish. Very nice.

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• 2004 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor 87 Points

  Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto

  Group #10, My #10 - Another really disappointing showing for this wine - I wonder why this hasn't lived up to its showing at WS since then?? Opaque deep red color. Awkward/angular spicy red fruit and coffee - a bit odd. Odd black fruit with an angular acidic quality and some coffee on the finish.

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• 1998 Alois Kracher Chardonnay TBA #9 Nouvelle Vague 95 Points

  Austria, Burgenland, Neusiedlersee

  Medium caramel color. Big rich spicy butterscotch nose with some molasses and acidity. Rich thick mouthfeel with pefect aciidity and sweetness balanced on the palate, showing huge honey notes and a hint of coffee on the finish. This bottle was showing wonderfully.

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