'94 vs '97 California Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasted Wednesday, December 23, 2009 by Alex G. with 702 views

Flight 1 (3 Notes)

  • 1994 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    A massive, structured wine that demands hours of decanting - which the format of the tasting regrettably did not support. Reminds me of the '96 Pauillac wines - loads of structure demanding time in bottle, yet already hinting at greatness. This is not as good as the Diamond Creek Volcanic today, but the Pahlmeyer will be the better wine in 5 years.

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

  • 1994 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Hill

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain

    Reference standard Napa Cab, a delightful wine that is absolutely at peak. Superb balance, very soft tannins, excellent fruit and structure, and great length. 12.5% alcohol -- when was the last time anyone saw that on the label of a Napa red wine? Highly recommended

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

  • 1994 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    The fruitiest of the three '94's tasted, but less structured than the others. A tasty wine, but simple by comparison. Drink this one sooner than later.

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

Flight 2 (4 Notes)

  • 1997 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

    A decent wine that suffered next to its competition this evening. I wouldn't seek out this wine, but there's nothing wrong with it. It's an 80's action movie you'd never go rent, but if it's on TV one day and you're bored...

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

  • 1997 ZD Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    The most promising wine of the '97 flight, very structured with lots of fruit. A bit tight tonight, this would show better with an extended decant. This would be the only wine of the '97's that I think would be much improved in 5+ years, where the others will be on the downslope.

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

  • 1997 Opus One

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    It's easy to take potshots at Opus One given the size of production and the prodigious marketing budget. However, if you like Mouton Rothschild, you'll probably like this wine. It was the most Pauillac of all the wines tasted tonight, with notes of bell pepper and pencil lead. Personally, I've always found Mouton to be the weakest of the First Growths, but I know others that love it. Anyway, this Opus One was a solid wine that was reasonably balanced and had a good finish. It wasn't a brilliant wine, certainly got outclassed by the '94's, but it's definitely respectable.

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

  • 1997 Harlan Estate The Maiden

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Well it wasn't loaded with V.A. like just about every '97 Harlan Estate I've tasted, but sadly that's about the best thing I can say about this wine. It tastes nothing like a Cabernet Sauvignon, it could have just as easily been Syrah it was so spoofulated. Jammy, hot, flabby. In sum, everything I hate about what's happened to California wine.

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

×
×