April 24, 2023 - 2004 Darioush "Signature" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Excellent wine. Creme de Cassis, licorice, full bodied intense cassis, spices, sweet tannins, complex with multilayered texture and depth. Bordeaux style wine.
85% Cabaret Sauvignon 2% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec and 1% Petite Verdot.
(RP: 93) ( CG: 96) Drinking window 15+ Years.
At its peak to drink.
Purchased at $75.00 US
Last price $250.00 US
January 1, 2023 - 2004 Vintage drank on Jan 1 2023 (19 years old). OMG....I thought I held this wine too long and the cork broke when I opened it. But... It delivered. Very smooth...velvety goodness. Black cherry, oak, jam, syrup. So good!
October 1, 2022 - https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2022/10/pour-boys-fall-wine-dinner.html
June 9, 2022 - A crowd pleaser, this was not over the hill at all; rather ready to go. PnP this had lovely aromas of stewed berries, raw tobacco, cedar, and a flower garden. Absolutely perfect with brisket.
November 25, 2021 - Perfectly integrated tannins with just a touch of sweetness coming from the edge. Decanted for 3 hours from a magnum.
October 3, 2021 - So I am reading all of these recent notes and have to offer a different view. Like the writer who decanted for 20 minutes, I found that it went a long way to improve this wine, but it was still pretty over the hill. Plus it definitely had a nasty nose that made it hard to appreciate the good qualities that remained. The nose mostly off gassed (which is the nicest thong you can say about it) after 30-40 minutes in the decanter including some vigorous aeration.
It tasted acceptably after that, although raisiny and well over the hill. This wine has been in a 55° temp controlled cellar since it was purchased directly from Darioush. I have been through a lot of D over the years and am a big fan, but if you have 2004 in your cellar, it is probably time to “open that bottle” while it is still at least somewhat drinkable.
November 26, 2020 - Deep purple coated the glass so nicely it almost didn’t generate legs. Delicious from the opening sip. Opened broadly. Leather, courrant. Tiny touch of fruit.
June 29, 2020 - -- decanted 20 min. before initial taste --
-- tasted non-blind over 2 hours --
NOSE: expressive; aged, high-toned Cabernet Sauvignon Nose; hint of stony mineral.
BODY: medium-full bodied.
TASTE: plenty of oak --- chocolate & cedar; slightly warm (alc.); still minimal fine, drying tannins present dark-fruited; obviously big/CA, but not bad, but nonetheless glad to have it out of the cellar now. Drink Now and over the near term.
April 20, 2020 - This exceeded my wildest expectations. Peaking now! Better than bottles costing triple this one.
February 9, 2020 - Has aged amazingly well, better than expected!