Now that Robert Parker has another person reviewing California Cabernets, I will be very selective in my decisions to purchase based on the Wine Advocate's recommendations. I picked up a bottle of this 2014 based on the 95 point score it was given. Quite honestly, I didn't care for it. In all fairness, it's too young at this point, however there's not a whole lot to talk about with this wine in my opinion. 89-90 points at best. This one is not for me.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a typical mid-tier Thomas River Brown wine: very ripe, very round, with very few tannins - a pleasant wine to drink, but not one on which to linger. Some may love this kind of wine, but it tastes a bit too much like a candy bar to me - and it's as close to an off-the-shelf experience as you can have in fine Napa Cabernet (i.e., this tastes nearly identical to two other 2014 TRB projects I've tasted in the past month - Meyer, Gemstone).
Dark purple in color, full in body, nose of blueberry pie, pencil lead, and baking spices. Tastes of blackberry, milk chocolate, vanilla, and cedar, with a ripe finish that carries minimal tannins. 14.4% alcohol. Blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot.
Maybe I've just had too many TRB-consultant wines lately, but this seems to give credence to one of the most annoying (and lazy) critiques of high-end Napa reds - that they all taste the same. I don't believe the critique is true, since the best wines are quite different, but it might be true when it comes to wines like this: it's likable enough, but it's not unique enough to buy again.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2/21/2018 - Yack Man wrote: 90 Points
Now that Robert Parker has another person reviewing California Cabernets, I will be very selective in my decisions to purchase based on the Wine Advocate's recommendations. I picked up a bottle of this 2014 based on the 95 point score it was given. Quite honestly, I didn't care for it. In all fairness, it's too young at this point, however there's not a whole lot to talk about with this wine in my opinion. 89-90 points at best. This one is not for me.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2018 - msuwine wrote: 92 Points
This is a typical mid-tier Thomas River Brown wine: very ripe, very round, with very few tannins - a pleasant wine to drink, but not one on which to linger. Some may love this kind of wine, but it tastes a bit too much like a candy bar to me - and it's as close to an off-the-shelf experience as you can have in fine Napa Cabernet (i.e., this tastes nearly identical to two other 2014 TRB projects I've tasted in the past month - Meyer, Gemstone).
Dark purple in color, full in body, nose of blueberry pie, pencil lead, and baking spices. Tastes of blackberry, milk chocolate, vanilla, and cedar, with a ripe finish that carries minimal tannins. 14.4% alcohol. Blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot.
Maybe I've just had too many TRB-consultant wines lately, but this seems to give credence to one of the most annoying (and lazy) critiques of high-end Napa reds - that they all taste the same. I don't believe the critique is true, since the best wines are quite different, but it might be true when it comes to wines like this: it's likable enough, but it's not unique enough to buy again.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2017 - Panella Vineyards Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank this at Christmas. Smooth at first then reallly big on the back. Dry not fruity
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment