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Higher End Domestic Cabs

Edina Country Club, MN

Tasted November 2, 2014 by 3daywinereview.com with 313 views

Introduction

Great event and all wines served blind on the first go around and then we revealed them. This is the final straw for Washington State wines for me and they are now off my radar with the exception of a handful producers.

Flight 1 (8 notes)

White
2009 Ramey Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
94 points
Excellent. Butterscotch, lemon, Carmel, mild oak and oily texture. Medium plus finish and flavorful. Should age a few more years but why wait.
Red
1995 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate USA, California, Napa Valley
95 points
Wine of the night. Forest floor, gravel, funk, blueberries and earth. Bordeaux like and long finish. Balanced and the first and second pour were both of equal quality. Top ten wines of 2014.
Red
1999 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
94 points
Fruit forward with blackberries, blueberries and cherry. Palate picks up underbrush and cedar. A big wine still in its infancy. Should age another 15 years. First pour a little more enjoyable than the second.
Red
2001 Dominus Estate USA, California, Napa Valley
93 points
First pour was underwhelming. I was surprise this wine was not decanted prior to the tasting which was a mistake. Medium purple. Damp earth, spice, blueberries and spice. Very New World in character and was expecting a little more Old World charm based on the history of this producer. 90 points
Second pour added a lot more insight into how good this wine will be. Much more concentrated and not thin like the first pour.
Recommendation to decant 2 to 3 hours prior to serving for best results.
Red
2005 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
95 points
Outstanding wine and a great future. Dark. Blueberries, dark cherries, violets chocolate and oak. A bit hot but that blew off. Very concentrated and intense, long finish. Decanted six hours and needed all of that. Hold for five plus and enjoy.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2001 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection USA, California, Napa Valley
94 points
Most balanced wine of the night with red fruits, plums, spice, coffee beans and nice acidity. Medium plus finish and in a perfect drinking window.
Red
2002 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon USA, Washington
92 points
A bit out of sorts. Vanilla, spice and oak on the nose. The palate picks up coffee beans, blueberries and minerals. Long finish and hold these. Not in the same place as the last time I had this wine.
White - Sweet/Dessert
1975 Château Suduiraut France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
flawed
Thought it was corked right away. Then tasted some nice fruit and 15 minutes later the inevitable of being actually corked. Give props to JJ Buckley for replacing this.
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