2009 EMH Cabernet Sauvignon Black Cat 10th Anniversary Special Selection

Community Tasting Notes (16) Avg Score: 94.8 points

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  10/10/2022 - odds Likes this wine: 96 Points

  It’s been five plus years since the last time I opened one so it was time for a proper revisit. It was worth the wait(!)
  
  We decanted for 2.5-3 hours, but it was clear from PnP that this one has matured well and is not going to fade anytime soon. It maintains the ‘black cat’ signature nose, and it is notable even from a longer distance. The floral did continue to evolve over dinner. I would note more of the peppers and some leather on the nose (maybe. There is a lot of fruit left, and I’m happy that it does not seem to fade but to mature with the secondary tasty. The black cherry and raspberry that were there on younger age remain, and clearly became more ‘widely open’. A notch more of the black currant compared with my last tasting, and certainly, by the vote of the bottle it was the winning cab of the evening. Long finish and wine that calls for more. Some tasters in the room estimated it would last another 10 years, and I actually lean towards even 20-25 in good storage conditions. I plan to open my last one in about ~20 years, aiming that both (the wine and I, lol) will age well. It lives to and exceeds the expectations. A true treat, and an outstanding representation of the terroir of the vineyard.
  
  (96+)

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  6/17/2022 - coremill wrote: 91 Points

  A dense, rich version of Black Cat, with a lot of dark, silky fruit. Still light on its feet despite the weight of fruit thanks to the silky tannins and good acid. Kind of at an in between spot where it's shed the brightness of youth but hasn't added a lot of mature complexity. Delicious but no rush here.

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  1/30/2021 - Charlie Carnes Likes this wine: 94 Points

  This is excellent, Merrill. It's just starting to shed some of its youth. It's dark, but not heavy, with tart blackberry, and dark cherry, pretty spices, and a nice recurring dark soil component.

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  2/14/2018 - J o e wrote: 95 Points

  Blackberries, licorice, mint and a floral note on powerful nose. Medium-bodied in the mouth, with good refinement and a plush mouthfeel, loads of red fruits, herbs, minerals, earth, as well as excellent acidity and overall balance. This is still quite young, and I would recommend cellaring this outstanding Cabernet for a few more years. Great stuff! 95.

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  6/16/2017 - odds Likes this wine:

  We opened it for dinner, gave it about an hour decant and then drank about 1/2 bottle in the evening. Overnight to the cellar, and drank the second half with the brunch.
  I remain in the opinion this may be the best EMH ever produced. Even with only an hour decant (but certainly with the overnight in the cool setting) it had the 'black cat' signature nose. Much 'bigger' in the morning if it makes sense. Very little sediments, and great pepper spice on the palate. Lots of fruit on the palate and nose and it certainly does not seem to 'fade' in the foresee future. Interestingly, from last year's tasting I do notice more of the leather/chocolate notes, abit more earthy notes especially after few hours decanting. Somewhat more also of the blackcurrant. Long finish. Okay, the part I was able to finish because the wine was in high demand by other tasters. A true upgrade to the evening. And I could still feel the nose smelling the glass. A true treat.
  
  (Given that ranked the wine few times before at 96 or 96+ I would not add a grade, so that the scale won't be biased. But, its not- try it for yourselves. You deserve it!)

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