Blind High-end Cali Cab Tasting

An embarrassment of riches on this New Years day tasting. Theme was "well respected" Cali Cabs from the 2000's and, oh boy, did the group over-deliver on that theme! With each flight better than the prior we truly got a glimpse of some of the best Cali has to offer in Cabernet. Clearly the forward "Foley" style wines did well in the blind format, but just about all of these wines has the potential to be outstanding if not classic (95+).

The Rivers Marie and ACV stuck out for me in this flight. With the RM showing better initially but the ACV edging it out for wine of the flight. Both are crazy good values given Napa pricing these days.

• 2004 Carina Cellars Iconoclast 90 Points

  USA, California

  Ruby color. Nose of fresh red berries and light herbs. Palate is smooth with straight forward red fruits, blueberry and chocolate. Some gritty tannins on the finish provide grip. Group's 4 of 4.

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• 2004 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Inky purple in color. Nose starts tight but picks up to reveal red fruits and currants. Palate is round with rich fruit and crunchy tannin. Terrific balance. Long finish has sweet red fruit, tobacco, herbs and mocha. Group's 2 of 4.

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• 2002 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Deep ruby color. Nose of cranberry, herbs, licorice and spice. Round, rich fruited palate has a beautiful classic herb and bell pepper note. Keeps getting better and better in the glass. Full bodied with nice chewy tannins. Long flavorful, fresh finish. Group's 1 of 1.

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• 2004 Terlato Vineyards Episode 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Deep ruby color. Full nose is candied with sweet red fruit, blueberries, mocha and a cotton candy note. Round and rich in the mouth. Tannins not yet integrated and clip the finish. Should improve -- but no doubt that this is Cali Cab given the flavor profile. Groups 3 of 4.

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With random fighting this "Foley Fest" was meant to be. Very forward and rich wines with a massive YUM factor. Hard to pick a favorite among the first three.

• 2006 Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Inky black. Explosive nose of creamy black fruit, chocolate, herbs and green pepper. Palate is big, rich and creamy with layers of massive fruit. Very well balanced but unquestionably rich and low acid in style. Long, creamy, delicious finish. Groups 2 of 4.

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• 2003 Delectus Cuvée Julia 97 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

  Inky black. Full, explosive, layered nose of black fruit, asphalt and herbs. Big, rich and tannic on the palate -- just huge. Rich red fruit, mocha, coffee, chocolate. Creamy massive fruit is well matched with big tannin. Crazy long. Delicious. Groups 3 of 4.

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• 2002 Robert Foley Claret 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Dark ruby. Soaring nose of currants, dark chocolate. Full bodied, with chocolaty red fruit, mint, herbs. Long, big-time finish. Groups 2 of 4.

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• 2005 Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Peterson Family Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Inky black. Rich, ultra-sweet nose. Full of jammy fruit, blackberry pie. Full bodied with jammy ultra-ripe fruit and toasty oak. Even in this massive, forward fruit flight --- this one seemed over the top. Seems to get more tame with air. Picks up some herbs and nuance. I've liked this more in the past. A controversial wine - half the group rated this #1 and very highly the other half towards the bottom. Groups 4 of 4.

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• 2004 Harlan Estate 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Inky ruby. Full, smoky nose of milk chocolate and rich dark fruit. Rich and chocolaty palate. Long and rich across the palate. Shows some heat on the finish. Groups 3 of 4.

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• 1997 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard Flawed

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Dark ruby. Nose shows dull and older with cumin and tomato. Palate seems thin. Shocking to see this as over-the-hill. Hopefully just a bad bottle. Groups 4 of 4.

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• 2005 Robert Foley Claret 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Inky purple. Huge nose is young, primary and not yet delineated. Mocha and some heat. Palate is huge with rich, massive fruits, mocha and toasty oak. Big tannins on the finish. Delicious -- in a raw and rough around the edges manner. Groups 1 of 4.

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• 2006 D.R. Stephens Cabernet Sauvignon Premiere Napa Valley Lot 203 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Inky purple. Full nose of rich red fruit with a big kick of herbs and green pepper. Round palate is richly fruited with red currants, chocolate and green herbs. Delicious for its fruit and herby complexity. Great balance with smooth tannins. Long. Groups 2 of 4.

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Notes fading fast after 12 wines!

• 2004 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Purple. Nose shows primary red fruits with some underlying herb notes. Smooth and suave palate has medium to full bodied fruit. Great integration and length. Bright fruit shows nice delineation across the palate. Group's 4 of 4.

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• 2004 Abreu Thorevilos 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very dark ruby. Nose starts tight. Opens to reveal dried chocolate and currants. Medium to full bodied palate. This is just beautiful with an impeccable balance of big fruit and nuance. High quality fruit is well married with chalky, dusty tannin. Long finish. This should age for years and years. Groups 3 of 4.

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• 2003 Harlan Estate 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Inky ruby. Shy nose of currants and herbs. Smooth with effortless rich fruit. Suave tannins. Opens and gains weight, length and complexity. Groups 1 of 4.

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• 2003 Harlan Estate The Maiden 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Purple color. Reticent nose. Medium-to-full bodied fruits. High quality, sweet red fruits. Groups 2 of 4.

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Thank you, Ken. Very generous!

• 2007 Saxum James Berry Vineyard 95 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  Dark purple. Full nose with bright, rich berries. Palate has big-time fruit. Very bright and high toned with loads of pepper and spice. Good balance for the waves of rich fruit. Delicious.

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• 2007 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape Deus-Ex Machina 97 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Dark ruby to purple. Nose is full of red berries and herbs. Palate has rich, bright fruit (cherry, blueberry, raspberry) and loads of herbs. High toned. Long finish with waves and waves of flavor.

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Thanks to all for their generosity in kicking off the new year!