Veedercrest produced one of the Chardonnays that was included in the 1976 Judgement of Paris. This wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Pym-Rae vineyard, which used to be owned by the late Robin Williams. Now the vineyard is owned by the family that owns Pontet Canet in Bordeaux under the name Tesseron Estate Pym-Rae and currently costs hundreds of dollars. This 15 year old Veedercrest was only $50.
One of my favorites of the 7 Cabs in the tasting overall. Perhaps it’s the age but it’s more restrained than most Napa wines despite the 15+% alcohol. It still has ripe fruit and notes from the oak, but everything is well integrated and seamless. It has medium acid with pretty dark fruit intermixed with vanilla, spice and savory notes. There are still some tannins yet to be resolved, but it’s in a good place now with a little air. This reminds me more of classic styled Napa Cab from the 80’s, which is when Veedercrest was in its heyday, but there’s a little more oak.
It did fade by the third day, so it won't go super long but there's no rush either.
https://winediplomats.com/cali-cab/
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Holy crap. This wine is freakishly good. Now I am certain that the first bottle from my note a week ago was flawed. This was a crazy stupid good bottle of wine. I have 2 more bottles left.
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I poured two 4 oz glasses using a Coravin last night. My initial feeling was that the wine was just slightly maderized, but initial tastings did not follow that impression. The first glass I had with filet mignon, and it held up fine to food. It had some bright acidity, earthy flavors, but like other have mentioned, not a lot of fruit remaining. The color was still quite dark - no sign of oxidation at all.
I enjoyed the second glass less so with goat cheese. I allowed this 4 oz to breathe in the glass for about an hour before tasting. Perhaps it needs even more time breathing, but i found the finish to be tertiary in a bad way. I'm going to try to slow-decant the remaining bottle this weekend. I have 3 more in the cellar.
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This couldn't hold it's own against the 2009 Veedercrest and 2009 Von Strasser Sori Bricco that we also tasted. Quite muted fruit and lacking the power and better balance that the 2009's offered. Still a very tasty wine, just not great.
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This was not as inviting as the '09 I had a few days ago. This was darker, more weight, a bit strident really with barely any fruit showing. Black fruit but a bit stewed perhaps. Has some secondary notes of leather and pencil lead, but not something I'd seek out again really. 90+pts.
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7/23/2021 - Wine Diplomats Likes this wine: 93 Points
Veedercrest produced one of the Chardonnays that was included in the 1976 Judgement of Paris. This wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Pym-Rae vineyard, which used to be owned by the late Robin Williams. Now the vineyard is owned by the family that owns Pontet Canet in Bordeaux under the name Tesseron Estate Pym-Rae and currently costs hundreds of dollars. This 15 year old Veedercrest was only $50.
One of my favorites of the 7 Cabs in the tasting overall. Perhaps it’s the age but it’s more restrained than most Napa wines despite the 15+% alcohol. It still has ripe fruit and notes from the oak, but everything is well integrated and seamless. It has medium acid with pretty dark fruit intermixed with vanilla, spice and savory notes. There are still some tannins yet to be resolved, but it’s in a good place now with a little air. This reminds me more of classic styled Napa Cab from the 80’s, which is when Veedercrest was in its heyday, but there’s a little more oak.
It did fade by the third day, so it won't go super long but there's no rush either.
https://winediplomats.com/cali-cab/
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2/1/2021 - daveste Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still fine, will keep some years more. Bought recently from K&L, probably released from Veedercrest recently, so well kept. Super w steak.
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12/11/2020 - Bordhead2000 wrote:
Holy crap. This wine is freakishly good. Now I am certain that the first bottle from my note a week ago was flawed. This was a crazy stupid good bottle of wine. I have 2 more bottles left.
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12/4/2020 - Bordhead2000 wrote:
I poured two 4 oz glasses using a Coravin last night. My initial feeling was that the wine was just slightly maderized, but initial tastings did not follow that impression. The first glass I had with filet mignon, and it held up fine to food. It had some bright acidity, earthy flavors, but like other have mentioned, not a lot of fruit remaining. The color was still quite dark - no sign of oxidation at all.
I enjoyed the second glass less so with goat cheese. I allowed this 4 oz to breathe in the glass for about an hour before tasting. Perhaps it needs even more time breathing, but i found the finish to be tertiary in a bad way. I'm going to try to slow-decant the remaining bottle this weekend. I have 3 more in the cellar.
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10/24/2020 - WineKnut Likes this wine: 90 Points
This couldn't hold it's own against the 2009 Veedercrest and 2009 Von Strasser Sori Bricco that we also tasted. Quite muted fruit and lacking the power and better balance that the 2009's offered. Still a very tasty wine, just not great.
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10/9/2020 - MK9786 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Has matured nicely, but still has enough acidity to be lively.
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9/25/2020 - John McCabe wrote: 90 Points
This was not as inviting as the '09 I had a few days ago. This was darker, more weight, a bit strident really with barely any fruit showing. Black fruit but a bit stewed perhaps. Has some secondary notes of leather and pencil lead, but not something I'd seek out again really. 90+pts.
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