horizontal Rutherford red blind tasting of 2011 mascot vs 2011 futo ov. Drank both w/ dinner of beef stroganoff.
common notes for both: Dark ruby, little/no bricking, both were very modern. aromatic intensity of both was med+. acidity of both was med+. And both showed hints of blackberry, black currant, and cedar.
Mascot Blend -
at first pour the two Rutherfords were indistinguishable. by 10 minute mark, the futo showed more topsoil, and the Mascot stayed cleaner, allbeit “dustier”. Wine showed a black fruit core high + tannin (nearing “backwards”), elements of cedar + blackberry spice, young.Most tannic wines Ive had since a truly backwards 2009 barolo half a year back.
Wine tasted youthful - 5-10 yrs old. I dont know how long it will hold might be 3-5 years or might plateau for several decades!! Wish we had more to see. I havent popped a harlan or promontory but their mascot knows how to sell it! For an off year, wicked good juice. -95 pts
vs
Blind Futo notes - . by 10 minute mark, the futo showed some barnyard funk, wet topsoil, more restrained fruit, slightly greener tobacco aroma, over medium + tannins (in hindsight it was the cab franc shining thru). Mom and Robin prefered this one. Sarah and I liked both, but leaned towards the pure fruit notes on the Mascot. Likely Drink by 2027-2030 93pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The Mascot vertical tasting, Trinity (Spit jack): Wet, cold vintage -/- The color looks quite evolved In the nose, the profile is very different, entirely decadent, spicy, earthy, wood paint, black olive notes, there is a more european sytle here with some smoke and black pepper notes. Palate shows again the more european style with its earthy and spicy character but the alcohol sticks out a lot, the tannins are very dry and aggressive, the fruit is blue and black, cherry and currant but on the drier, raisin side, black fruit liqueur, med to full body, long finish -//- The wine feels very uneven and unbalanced which makes sense for its vintage conditions
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A powerful wine. Decanting an hour plus helped but needs 2-4 hours to fully open up. Very floral nose, strong but integrated tannins, cedar, spices and red berries. Paired well with grilled NY strip.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
decanted for 1 hour before drinking. Very fragrant with lots of cedar in the nose. Very concentrated, some vanilla from the oak. After 2½ hours in the decanter this was showing really well, much sweeter fruit on the nose, much bigger minty nose, really fragrant and open. Softened on the palate with higher acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened an hour before dinner. Leather, forest floor, herbs and toast on the nose. Initially very restrained fruit but good structure and tannic. Over the course of the meal evolved to reveal bright red cherry and a rounder mouthfeel.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
No one is kidding when they say this one needs plenty of air. At 10 years old I wouldn’t give it less than 4 hours and 6 or 8 won’t hurt. It is, though, with that much air impeccable black fruits, rich and together, with great length. And loads of potential ahead.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another solid Mascot even in a tough vintage for Napa. Opened for 2 hours, great nose and fruit on the palate, nice finish. Tannins well integrated at 10 years. Drink now or hold for 5.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice nose. Opened for 3 hours before dinner. I thought it was best after 4.5+ hours. Saved half the bottle for Day 2. The body of wine was good on day two with some decent tannins. Finish seemed a bit unexciting on Day 2. I have 4 other bottles. 1 to enjoy with friends this summer and I'll wait until 2022 for the fourth.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Compared to a 2010 had some months ago, this one has a lot more dark fruit. The 2010 had more of a red fruit in cola notes. This was more blackberry, cassis, chocolate. Very rounded wine in the front and middle. Full bodied, almost chewy, in your face. Finishes with a load of sweet oak tannin. And, considering that this is 'the damned' 2011 vintage as hailed by many, I would like to know what those people say about this one! I probably would have revisited this one several times if there weren't so many wines on the table.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
At least two hours decant,nose with black fruits,vanilla and spices.full tannins and long after taste.really nice wine but needs to be aged more in order to soften up and improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not a great year for Napa, but this bottle is stellar. Dark fruits, cinnamon. We gave this a couple hours of air and the tannins were still pretty grippy. Decent finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
One hour decant. Deep dark rusty maroonish magenta. Lavender, prune, moss and shortbread on the pleasant nose. Velvety palate with acidity that lingers on the tongue. Firm, full tannins on long finish. This was not as green as I expected for an ‘11 Napa Cab. Very nice drinker.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark. Fragrant nose of black fruits. Cassis, vanilla, hint of leather. Full body, good structure with grippy tannins. Balanced, but a little heat from alcohol. Long finish. Well made wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fabulous! Made from “younger vines”. If Harlan’s estate. A beauty, showing its age well with integrated flavors, soft tannins and good acidity. Great with a dry-aged rib eye.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cigar box and dark red fruit on the nose. Light fruit falls off your palate like a negative edge pool. The alcohol still needs to settle a bit which should happen with more time. Has a good structure and nice smooth texture. Some pomegranate flavors. Easy drinking, pretty wine, but definitely from a cold, wet year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2.5 hour decant. Deep, viscous, pinkish ruby color. Cola, wet wool, turnip and black fruit on the “green” nose. Super satiny smooth, dry palate with very full mouthfeel. Soft tannins on the medium finish with a lingering quality in the mouth.
This is a well balanced, high quality wine, but the overall green character prevents it from getting a higher score from me. I’m very much looking forward to trying the ‘12.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour at steakhouse. This wine is outstanding! Probably the best 2011 Napa cab I have ever tasted. Initially the wine showed some very expressive dark fruits on the nose, as well as some green pepper, black pepper and pencil shavings. On the palate it was very smooth, rich, and with a medium finish. It just dances on your palate.
Poured into a decanter and drank over the next 2 hours and it just continued to evolve and show expressive scents and flavors. Towards the end of the night, after about 2 hours - it started to show its secondary characteristics with lots of cigar box, cedar, pencil shavings, and still a good amount of dark fruit. Paired this with a steak and two of them just complemented each other perfectly.
This is a really special wine, probably just entering its prime drinking window, though if you do drink it now - I would recommend at least a 2 hour decant. This will continue to improve and evolve over the next decade. Outstanding wine!
Three hour decant. Deep, dark maroon color. Cherry Jolly Rancher, kale, prune syrup and pencil lead on the rich nose. Full mouthfeel on the velvety palate. Rounded tannins on medium (almost long) finish. More fruit forward than most 2011s.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lean, vegetal, austere. Tannin dominant. Medium palate feel. Decent concentration but no layers. Not much of a finish, just kinda disappears. A lot of bark but not much bite with this one. Vintage partly to blame. No 90 for you!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 3 hours. Still has a bit of the bitter green profile of the vintage though not as prevalent as others. Drinks more like a full bodied Bordeaux. Prunes, stewed black fruit, and herbs dominate the nose. Very complex palate wise with tart blackberry, dark chocolate, cassis, damp earth, and a touch of green pepper. Layers continued to develop with time. Easily one of the better 2011's.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had with dinner at Meadowood bar. After long exploration of the wine list, I gave up and just asked the sommelier for a big Napa cab that cost <$500 and he pointed us here. I was happy where he led us but found this to be a pretty typical Napa cab with medium at best body and the oaky finish. Nice, but nothing I would go out of my for.
Blood red, almost purple. Rich, chocolaty nose with hints of cinnamon, leather and cedar. First notes echoed the nose. A little less balanced than in other vintages -- may need more time in bottle. Silky mouthfeel and a flavor palate that is characteristic of the Mascot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This will be a fabulous wine with time. Full-bodied silky tannins dark fruit subtle forest floor with a hint of hint of minerality and tobacco in the background. 60 second finish. Hold for a decade try again
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/9/2024 - Rhone Rick Likes this wine: 94 Points
Just amazing. Super well integrated, cab fwd Bordeaux. Very soft tannins, mellow and enjoyable. Crowd-pleaser out of a 1.5l
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2023 - VinoGeeko Likes this wine: 95 Points
Great young vine blend!
horizontal Rutherford red blind tasting of 2011 mascot vs 2011 futo ov. Drank both w/ dinner of beef stroganoff.
common notes for both:
Dark ruby, little/no bricking, both were very modern. aromatic intensity of both was med+. acidity of both was med+. And both showed hints of blackberry, black currant, and cedar.
Mascot Blend -
at first pour the two Rutherfords were indistinguishable. by 10 minute mark, the futo showed more topsoil, and the Mascot stayed cleaner, allbeit “dustier”. Wine showed a black fruit core high + tannin (nearing “backwards”), elements of cedar + blackberry spice, young.Most tannic wines Ive had since a truly backwards 2009 barolo half a year back.
Wine tasted youthful - 5-10 yrs old. I dont know how long it will hold might be 3-5 years or might plateau for several decades!! Wish we had more to see. I havent popped a harlan or promontory but their mascot knows how to sell it! For an off year, wicked good juice.
-95 pts
vs
Blind Futo notes - . by 10 minute mark, the futo showed some barnyard funk, wet topsoil, more restrained fruit, slightly greener tobacco aroma, over medium + tannins (in hindsight it was the cab franc shining thru). Mom and Robin prefered this one. Sarah and I liked both, but leaned towards the pure fruit notes on the Mascot. Likely Drink by 2027-2030
93pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2023 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 93 Points
not expecting much from this difficult year
but was singing with polished excellence
liked by all at Vie
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2023 - kostaslonis Does not like this wine:
The Mascot vertical tasting, Trinity (Spit jack): Wet, cold vintage
-/-
The color looks quite evolved
In the nose, the profile is very different, entirely decadent, spicy, earthy, wood paint, black olive notes, there is a more european sytle here with some smoke and black pepper notes.
Palate shows again the more european style with its earthy and spicy character but the alcohol sticks out a lot, the tannins are very dry and aggressive, the fruit is blue and black, cherry and currant but on the drier, raisin side, black fruit liqueur, med to full body, long finish
-//-
The wine feels very uneven and unbalanced which makes sense for its vintage conditions
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2023 - beatles wrote: 91 Points
Is this not from Paulliac? I could have sworn, had it been served blind; dry, vertical, notes of tobacco, cassis, true, blue style
#MASH
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/8/2022 - ppandian wrote: 90 Points
A powerful wine. Decanting an hour plus helped but needs 2-4 hours to fully open up.
Very floral nose, strong but integrated tannins, cedar, spices and red berries. Paired well with grilled NY strip.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2022 - Peech Likes this wine: 93 Points
decanted for 1 hour before drinking. Very fragrant with lots of cedar in the nose. Very concentrated, some vanilla from the oak. After 2½ hours in the decanter this was showing really well, much sweeter fruit on the nose, much bigger minty nose, really fragrant and open. Softened on the palate with higher acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2022 - EvanRose wrote: 94 Points
Opened an hour before dinner. Leather, forest floor, herbs and toast on the nose. Initially very restrained fruit but good structure and tannic. Over the course of the meal evolved to reveal bright red cherry and a rounder mouthfeel.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2021 - AlanM68 Likes this wine: 94 Points
No one is kidding when they say this one needs plenty of air. At 10 years old I wouldn’t give it less than 4 hours and 6 or 8 won’t hurt. It is, though, with that much air impeccable black fruits, rich and together, with great length. And loads of potential ahead.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2021 - GaryHOhio Likes this wine: 93 Points
Another solid Mascot even in a tough vintage for Napa. Opened for 2 hours, great nose and fruit on the palate, nice finish. Tannins well integrated at 10 years. Drink now or hold for 5.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2021 - sfbikeguy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice nose. Opened for 3 hours before dinner. I thought it was best after 4.5+ hours. Saved half the bottle for Day 2. The body of wine was good on day two with some decent tannins. Finish seemed a bit unexciting on Day 2. I have 4 other bottles. 1 to enjoy with friends this summer and I'll wait until 2022 for the fourth.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2020 - jicreixell wrote: 93 Points
Deep red color, smooth chocolate and leather aroma. Elegant body with long legs. Deep forest berry taste and lasting finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2019 - mflesh wrote: 93 Points
Compared to a 2010 had some months ago, this one has a lot more dark fruit. The 2010 had more of a red fruit in cola notes. This was more blackberry, cassis, chocolate. Very rounded wine in the front and middle. Full bodied, almost chewy, in your face. Finishes with a load of sweet oak tannin. And, considering that this is 'the damned' 2011 vintage as hailed by many, I would like to know what those people say about this one! I probably would have revisited this one several times if there weren't so many wines on the table.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2019 - jrtaylor Likes this wine: 93 Points
Will Harlan’s son’s first vineyard, exceptional cab that gets even better once it has opened up. Bold on the nose with a nice tannin on the tongue.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2019 - ManhattanBeach wrote:
A private tasting hosted by Honest Grapes (Durrants Hotel, London): A bit big, dark and heavy for me. £175/btl
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2019 - Binkey wrote: 92 Points
At least two hours decant,nose with black fruits,vanilla and spices.full tannins and long after taste.really nice wine but needs to be aged more in order to soften up and improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2019 - Tonythefish wrote: 94 Points
See prior notes - and enjoy
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2018 - PDavisMarble wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with past bottles
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2018 - Tonythefish wrote: 92 Points
See prior notes
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/31/2018 - Tonythefish wrote: 92 Points
One hour decant and wine was really nice. More floral notes and fruit really expressive
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2018 - jgreco Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not a great year for Napa, but this bottle is stellar. Dark fruits, cinnamon.
We gave this a couple hours of air and the tannins were still pretty grippy. Decent finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2018 - Tonythefish wrote:
Very nice. Off year in Napa, but this wine just lovely. Dark fruits and lasting finish after 20-30 minutes of air. Hints of rose petals and cedar
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/8/2018 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 92 Points
One hour decant. Deep dark rusty maroonish magenta. Lavender, prune, moss and shortbread on the pleasant nose. Velvety palate with acidity that lingers on the tongue. Firm, full tannins on long finish. This was not as green as I expected for an ‘11 Napa Cab. Very nice drinker.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2018 - mvande21 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark. Fragrant nose of black fruits. Cassis, vanilla, hint of leather. Full body, good structure with grippy tannins. Balanced, but a little heat from alcohol. Long finish. Well made wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2018 - doug374 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rehersal picnic. Great full flavors for a warm afternoon
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/21/2018 - andrewdl Likes this wine: 92 Points
5 hr decant. Still tight.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2018 - jkvedar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fabulous! Made from “younger vines”. If Harlan’s estate. A beauty, showing its age well with integrated flavors, soft tannins and good acidity. Great with a dry-aged rib eye.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2018 - dkentaustin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cigar box and dark red fruit on the nose. Light fruit falls off your palate like a negative edge pool. The alcohol still needs to settle a bit which should happen with more time. Has a good structure and nice smooth texture. Some pomegranate flavors. Easy drinking, pretty wine, but definitely from a cold, wet year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2018 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 90 Points
2.5 hour decant. Deep, viscous, pinkish ruby color. Cola, wet wool, turnip and black fruit on the “green” nose. Super satiny smooth, dry palate with very full mouthfeel. Soft tannins on the medium finish with a lingering quality in the mouth.
This is a well balanced, high quality wine, but the overall green character prevents it from getting a higher score from me. I’m very much looking forward to trying the ‘12.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2018 - jkvedar Likes this wine: 93 Points
More dark cherry than is typical for Napa cab. Vanilla, graphite as well on the nose. Less cassis and black fruit than usual. Some hints of pepper.
On the palate, clean. Very pleasant. Predominance of pepper and acid. Fruit takes a back seat.
Long pleasant finish. Enjoyed this with grilled steak, baked potato and salad. It was a good match for all of it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2017 - pgrzesik Likes this wine: 95 Points
Pop and pour at steakhouse. This wine is outstanding! Probably the best 2011 Napa cab I have ever tasted. Initially the wine showed some very expressive dark fruits on the nose, as well as some green pepper, black pepper and pencil shavings. On the palate it was very smooth, rich, and with a medium finish. It just dances on your palate.
Poured into a decanter and drank over the next 2 hours and it just continued to evolve and show expressive scents and flavors. Towards the end of the night, after about 2 hours - it started to show its secondary characteristics with lots of cigar box, cedar, pencil shavings, and still a good amount of dark fruit. Paired this with a steak and two of them just complemented each other perfectly.
This is a really special wine, probably just entering its prime drinking window, though if you do drink it now - I would recommend at least a 2 hour decant. This will continue to improve and evolve over the next decade. Outstanding wine!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
10/21/2017 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 95 Points
Three hour decant. Deep, dark maroon color. Cherry Jolly Rancher, kale, prune syrup and pencil lead on the rich nose. Full mouthfeel on the velvety palate. Rounded tannins on medium (almost long) finish. More fruit forward than most 2011s.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2017 - ecola Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious wine. Medium to full body. Dark red fruit with toasty oak that compliments nicely. Long finish with bright acidity and smooth tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2017 - Ecbatana wrote: 89 Points
Lean, vegetal, austere. Tannin dominant. Medium palate feel. Decent concentration but no layers. Not much of a finish, just kinda disappears. A lot of bark but not much bite with this one. Vintage partly to blame. No 90 for you!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2017 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 3 hours. Still has a bit of the bitter green profile of the vintage though not as prevalent as others. Drinks more like a full bodied Bordeaux. Prunes, stewed black fruit, and herbs dominate the nose. Very complex palate wise with tart blackberry, dark chocolate, cassis, damp earth, and a touch of green pepper. Layers continued to develop with time. Easily one of the better 2011's.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2017 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 92 Points
thought this might be ready and was correct
has integrated nicely and dark fruit in line with the underlying earth tones
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/16/2017 - SlimShaney wrote: 91 Points
Big with somewhat sour tannin. Full bodied and somewhat textbook without going deeper.
11am ish at Wally's Beverly Hills. Hopefully a good start to more wine later in the day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2017 - TCKM wrote: 92 Points
Elegant, well made Napa cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2017 - tjross Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had with dinner at Meadowood bar. After long exploration of the wine list, I gave up and just asked the sommelier for a big Napa cab that cost <$500 and he pointed us here. I was happy where he led us but found this to be a pretty typical Napa cab with medium at best body and the oaky finish. Nice, but nothing I would go out of my for.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/14/2017 - Zuperdaave wrote: 95 Points
Delicious!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2016 - PDavisMarble wrote: 90 Points
Blood red, almost purple. Rich, chocolaty nose with hints of cinnamon, leather and cedar. First notes echoed the nose. A little less balanced than in other vintages -- may need more time in bottle. Silky mouthfeel and a flavor palate that is characteristic of the Mascot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2016 - Pluecht Likes this wine: 94 Points
This will be a fabulous wine with time. Full-bodied silky tannins dark fruit subtle forest floor with a hint of hint of minerality and tobacco in the background. 60 second finish. Hold for a decade try again
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment