March 7, 2024 - WCC 2004 California Cab Blind Tasting (Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY): Wasn't a fan of this. There's a core of very rich, primary black fruit tinged with vanilla and a higher-toned green herbal note on the nose that I like, which adds freshness. But the palate feels foursquare; burly and extracted with a lot of tannin and a hot, alcoholic finish.
March 7, 2024 - WCC 2004 California Cab Blind Tasting (Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY): [Double decanted all at 1:00 PM, recorked at 5:00 PM.] Huge black fruit nose. Rich, complex. Still young, but no harm in drinking it now.
February 16, 2024 - The wine exhibits brilliance, although the initial sip reveals a slight prominence of its 15% alcohol by volume. Setting aside this observation, it boasts remarkable depth, volume, and ripeness, epitomizing a luxuriously rich and full-bodied palate. The fruit presents itself as dark and brooding, yet notably balanced after an ample decanting period. There is no urgency to consume this wine; in fact, I would estimate it to be approximately 2-3 years away from reaching its peak drinking window.
November 12, 2023 - 1 hour in decanter. Spectacular. Spiciness, eucalyptus, black fruit, plumps, some earthy notes. Enormous power, well integrated though prominent tannins, superb freshness. Mind blowing. 96/97. This wine, in its youth, confirms, as Bordeaux lover, my long existing interest in high level Californian wines. I will start drinking the older vintages of this great wine.
October 22, 2022 - Wow! This wine is having a moment. Opened just for the hell of it on a Saturday night with Filet Mignon. Decanted for an hour. Absolutely stunning - especially with an extra 30 min in the glass. Pronounced aromas of fresh black cherry, black plum, blackberry and hints of mint and eucalyptus. Notes of chocolate and toast from oak. Tertiary aromas galore - dried fruit, tobacco and cigar box and earth/forest floor. The wine feel like it’s at its ideal moment on the palate - medium garnet color, solid acidity, perfectly integrated and velvety tannins, and full body. And the flavors are very pronounced following the nose - with tons of primary and tertiary fruit, well integrated oak and those great age-driven flavors. Finish is very long. So glad I opened this tonight!
August 8, 2022 - Ripe red lush fruits with creamy hedonistic flavors. Yummy sweetness and a sense of purity. Just enough acidity to keep it fresh, but lacking nuance and detail. Nice with a steak, no rush to drink up, but likely at peak.
January 1, 2022 - Identical to a bottle consumed last summer.....very good......but a little off from where it was a while back. One bottle left.....am going to have it over the coming months.
January 1, 2022 - Drank from a 3 liter. A little faded but otherwise right around peak. Brownish coloration. Ripe blue fruit, vanilla, cassis, aged leather and cedar. Drink up if you have them.
November 27, 2021 - Rarities dinner “Spectacular Californians” late Nov 2021: rubin red color; intense bouquet of cassis, red berries, cherries, fresh bread and mint; well-balanced on the palate; long finish. 94-95/100
Simultaneously tasted the Caymus Special Selection 2005 which performed a bit weaker (93-94/100, see CT tasting note).
August 12, 2021 - This is the second bottle I have consumed this year. Both have been off from where this one was two to four years ago. It is not bad, but just not what it used to be. My bottles have been well stored. I have two bottles left and will not let them sit much longer.