2013 Substance Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard Collection Jack's Vineyard

Community Tasting Notes (3)

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  5/18/2019 - srh Likes this wine:

  [A bottle taken home, NOT from the bottle tasted this date @ Vintage Wines]
  
  Uncorked for ≈1 hr
  
  N: RIPE, something I can't ID; Certainly berries (blks, boys) + a minerality, poss pyrazines? [My bro-in-law, born in Argentina, mentioned mate tea?]
  
  P: Med, *poss* MF, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt firmed by minimal astringent pucker which QUITE resolves by the LONG, fairly elegant, balanced finish. Drink now & through '20. 13% ABV; My EXC-; 92 pts ea WA & WE @ $55, and 90 Vinous. [I'm not sure whether or not Vintage Wines Ltd in San Diego still has this in stock. Otherwise, as of early Aug '19, wine-searcher still shows 2 sources @ $50 & $58].

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  5/18/2019 - srh Likes this wine:

  Cabernets & Blends [4-Napa, 1-Paso, & 1-Walla Walla Valley] (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Open ≈2 1/2 hrs in a small tasting glass
  
  100% C.S., planted (1999) in a "stony, ancient riverbed, located on the floor of the Walla Walla Valley; Very cobbly, Freewater, loam-cobbles over gravel over sand, dried riverbed; In the rocky soils of this part of the valley, low vigor keeps flavors concentrated." [Apparently this Vyd (named after Charles Smith's father, & next to River Rock Vyd) is part of the since authorized Rocks District AVA, though WA vintners tend STILL to list *just* Walla Walla Valley to avoid having to put OR as the state source?]
  
  "Yield: 2 Tons per Acre
; 100% Whole Berry
 fermentation using native yeasts; 47 Days on Skins; 75% New Barriques, 22 mos Barrel Aged
;" 13.0% ABV, 0.6 g/100ml T.A., & 3.95 pH
  
  N: Intensely RIPE berries, poss choc?
  
  P: LM body; NICE, almost swtish frt met by a BIT of puckerish astringency which evolves into a LONG finish with a beckoning tangy/swtness to the few, innocuous tannins. An elegant style for now & through '20! My EXC-; 92 pts ea WA & WE @ $55, and 90 Vinous. [Check with this vendor if interested in their *very* COMPETITIVE price.]

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  5/11/2019 - srh Likes this wine:

  Winebar [1 Rosé, 3 Whites, 8 Reds, & 6 *shared* bottles] from 05/10/19 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 100% C.S., planted (1999) in a "stony, ancient riverbed, located on the floor of the Walla Walla Valley; Very cobbly, Freewater, loam-cobbles over gravel over sand, dried riverbed; In the rocky soils of this part of the valley, low vigor keeps flavors concentrated." [Apparently this Vyd (named after Charles Smith's father, & next to River Rock Vyd) is part of the since authorized Rocks District AVA, though WA vintners tend STILL to list *just* Walla Walla Valley to avoid having to put OR as the state source?]
  
  "Yield: 2 Tons per Acre
; 100% Whole Berry
 fermentation using native yeasts; 47 Days on Skins; 75% New Barriques, 22 mos Barrel Aged
;" 13.0% ABV, 0.6 g/100ml T.A., & 3.95 pH
  
  N: RIPE berries combined (TY, budosyu) with tar & creosote; While DECIDEDLY unusual (2 experienced tasters said it would NEVER be blindly ID'd as a C.S.)™, I did not in the LEAST find it UNattractive!
  
  P: Med body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by tangy acidity which morphs into a LONG, decently balanced, tangy/swt finish to the VERY few tannins. For now & through '21, poss more. My EXC-, though likely NOT so high for those desiring a readily identifiable C.S. 92 pts ea WA & WE @ $55, and 90 Vinous. [Check with this vendor if interested in their *very* COMPETITIVE price.]
  
  ™ Of the Charles Smith wines I've tasted, few if ANY have been "typical" for their varietals. Add to that the fact that the Rocks District ALSO tends to produce atypical wines, likely as a result of its fist-sized basalt cobblestones which are RARE, if not unique, in viticulture.

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