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1999 Shafer
Cabernet Sauvignon
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Hillside Select
(USA / California / Napa / Stags Leap District)
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RATED: 04/07/2004 |
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| COMMENTS: |
That Parker guy sure knows his stuff. As an amateur reviewer, I'd say this vintage is easily one of the best young CA Cabernets I've ever had. A noseful of berries and licorice set the tone. Each sip revealed another level of richness with flavors that changed in the glass. The finish seemed never to go away completely. Although it's too soon to drink this amazing wine, resisting the temptation (even at $150/bottle) was impossible. After another 10-15 years in storage, this one will still be approaching infinity.
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1993 Diamond Creek
Cabernet Sauvignon
- Volcanic Hill
(USA / California / Napa / Diamond Mountain)
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RATED: 04/07/2004 |
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| COMMENTS: |
Don't believe everything you read in magazines. After 10 years in the bottle, this vintage was a welcome surprise; in fact, I believe this wine will drink well for another 5-8 years. The smooth texture and well-balanced fruit in combination with a ripe fragrance led me to wonder why the seller decided to part with such a pleasing wine. This is one of my favorite Bordeaux-style Napa Cabs. For the price I paid (let's just say less than the current vintage), I'd buy another case if I could find it.
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2001 Casa Lapostolle
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Clos Apalta
(Chile / Valle Central / Rapel)
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RATED: 04/09/2004 |
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| COMMENTS: |
We had this wine with authentic Greek cuisine at Kyma in Atlanta. I thought it might work well with the spicy Argentinean and was pleasantly surprised. Although somewhat young, after an hour in the bottle, this beautifully structured wine opened up completely. A spicy nose combined with plums and berries, finishing long and sleek. It wasn't overly fruity, nor did the tannins get in the way. I went out and bought four more bottles the following week; this Clos Apalta vintage will continue to improve over the next 5-8 years.
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2000 Martinelli
Pinot Noir
- Martinelli Vineyard
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Reserve
(USA / California / Sonoma)
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RATED: 04/09/2004 |
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| COMMENTS: |
This vintage seems a little young still; definitely decant for at least an hour before serving. I've never had the Martinelli Vineyard Reserve before and it struck me with overripe fruit at first whiff, almost Shiraz-like. It mellowed over dinner and the tannins faded, revealing a fine PN with flavors ranging from figs & dates to currant & blackberry. The finish was nice and long, leaving me thirsty for another glass after we'd finished the bottle, three hours later. Give it up to four more years and enjoy.
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1984 Silver Oak
Cabernet Sauvignon
(USA / California / Napa)
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RATED: 04/09/2004 |
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| COMMENTS: |
Because of its age, I'd recommend decanting for at least an hour, which we did. For an older CA Cab, sediment was almost nonexistent in the bottle. The nose is classic oak/fruit that Silver Oak seems to have patented; the dense fruit concentration of cooked cherries, plums & berries was amazing on the tongue. Combine this with cocoa and a little vanilla and it was like drinking dessert with our dinner. VERY smooth with no tannic interference. I discovered my two bottles in a Nashville wine shop that was clearing out the cellar for $80/each. If you can find any, definitely invest and drink it soon; this wine is peaking now.
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1997 Howell Mountain Vineyards
Zinfandel
- Black Sears Vineyard
(USA / California / Napa / Howell Mountain)
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RATED: 04/09/2004 |
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| COMMENTS: |
The Black sears Vineyard was made famous by Turley, but the folks at Howell Mountain Vineyards are making a statement with this wine. I'm not sure why it's so much better than other HMV vintages, other than growing conditions. We had this at the end of the night in a 14-bottle tasting, but it was a favorite for the Zin-drinkers. The ripe fruit and concentrated spicy/sweet flavors in this classic Zin left me wanting more. An almost floral-fragrant nose and beautiful long finish give this wine a spot on my Cardinal Zin list. It might be the best I've ever tasted. I have no doubt that it will age well for another 5 years, but why wait? Drink Now!
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1995 Luce
(Italy / Central / Tuscany)
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RATED: 04/12/2004 |
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| COMMENTS: |
Being new to supertuscans, and a bigger Chianti fan than other Italian reds, I was thoroughly impressed with this wine. A group of friends drank a magnum of this with chicken parmesan and tortellini, which was a wonderful complement to this rich, smooth, full-bodied wine. The structure was straightforward; the flavors of fruit were deep and ripe. The finish is what truly made me not want to set down my glass; the initial taste lasted over a minute. I could have eaten crackers and been happy, to be honest. I think some time in the bottle has helped improve the character; this wine is likely in its prime, so if you can find it, enjoy it soon.
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1993 Silver Oak
Cabernet Sauvignon
(USA / California / Napa)
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RATED: 04/12/2004 |
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| COMMENTS: |
Over Valentine's day, we enjoyed a bottle of this versatile Cabernet at Tamarind Thai restaurant in Atlanta with Chilean Sea Bass and Chicken Massaman. I'm beginning to believe that the Silver Oak 'Napa' Cabs NEED the extra 5-8 years of bottle time in order to truly show their colors. Decanting wasn't necessary and the floral nose familiar to Silver Oak fans was there, augmented by something deeper and friendlier. One taste and I knew the wait to drink this one was worth it. As dependable as SO usually is, there were sweeter berry flavors, a smooth, balanced structure and a cleaner finish than usual. The cherries, plums and oak staples in this wine are as ripe and open as ever. Very little notice of tannins by the second glass. I'm going to start buying magnums of this stuff.
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1999 Melini
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Riserva la Selvanella
(Italy / Central / Tuscany / Chianti Classico)
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RATED: 04/12/2004 |
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| COMMENTS: |
A true Chianti Classico, this big, ripe wine was surprisingly difficult to find at retail shops in Atlanta. Nothing was very inviting about my first sip, but after 20 minutes or so, I began to see why the waiter recommended it over the more expensive Nippozano. The tannins and youth of this wine fade quickly, revealing abundant fruit and loads of spice. Traces of cola lingered after each sip and the dry, sweet finish was 30+ seconds. We originally had this at Baraonda in Midtown; I bought half a case over the next two weeks. Tasted twice with consistent notes.
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1997 Turley
Zinfandel
- Vineyard 101
(USA / California / Sonoma / Alexander Valley)
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RATED: 04/12/2004 |
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All the signatures of Helen Turley are in this Sonoma Zin, including a well-balanced aroma and texture, a spicy complex flavor with many characteristcs and a long flat finish. As compared to the 2001 vintage of this same wine, I would say the 97 is better-developed with a little age. That said, five years is about the most I would want to age this wine, but it was a hit at the tasting that night. For the price, I would expect as much.
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2000 Chateau Malmaison
(France / Bordeaux / Moulis)
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RATED: 04/12/2004 |
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I've tasted this wine twice and, for the money, it's a nice wine. The first time I'd have given a 94, when my expectations were somewhat low. From the moment we opened the bottle to the last swig, each glass was a pleasure. For such a young wine, the tannins subsided very quickly and revealed a lush, full-bodied, well-balanced blend with a very clean crisp finish. The second time, I think I jinxed it by bragging to my friend how good it was. In a blind tasting, I ranked it third of four with only a 7/10 (the 2001 Simi won by a mile.) We decanted the second bottle for almost two hours, but still had harsh tannins and a lack of almost everything I listed above, except the finish. I wouldn't go over 86 on the second pass. I can't recommend one way or another on the decant...maybe waiting a couple years will do the trick.
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1999 Silver Oak
Cabernet Sauvignon
(USA / California / Sonoma / Alexander Valley)
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RATED: 04/12/2004 |
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I wish I were more excited about the classic flavor and solid character of most Silver Oak wines; this one included. I have tasted this vintage on several occasions and, while it's an admirable glass, there are so many other ways I could spend $60. From the nose to the close, prevailing flavors & aromas include the American oak, cooked fruit and fresh berries that pairs well with just about any cut of meat you can find. I think I'll discover that the longer I wait before consuming this wine again, the better I'll feel about it next time. I suppose I'm just being picky.
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2001 Miner Family
Cabernet Sauvignon
(USA / California / Napa / Oakville)
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CASES: 2,000
RATED: 04/12/2004 |
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On a cave tour of Miner last Summer, we were lucky enough to taste several different wines pre-release. The last two we tried were the 2000 Oakville Cab in the barrel and the 2001 Oakville Cab from the tank. The 2001 had been aging for close to two years and already blew away the 2000. The aromas were pure Oakville and the ripe, rich fruits dominated this big red. The finish is still developing and was semi-tart, but that will settle out in the barrel, if the 2000 proved anything to us. I have a case pre-ordered from my local shop, but I may have to go for the mags at the winery as well. I can't wait!
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2001 Las Rocas de San Alejandro
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Garnacha
(Spain / Aragon / Calatayud)
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RATED: 04/15/2004 |
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I'm always a little skeptical about wines I've never had before, especially with the hype this one carries. However, from the moment I opened it, I knew I would definitely need another case. Even the girlfriend said, "Wow" when she first tasted it. I would call the texture light, but not thin. Very pleasing to the nose and palate with a nice 20-second + finish. It wasn't quite as sweet as the blackberries we had with dessert; smooth black cherries better describe the main fruit character, with a hint of spice and wood. For the price, you can't possibly lose; buy now and drink over the next few years.
***Addendum: I've had this wine twice since I wrote this rating and the rating stands, if not increase. I understand that there have been many cases of bottle variation, but I haven't seen it. Imagine digging into a big ol' berry pie with your fingers and gobbling down a handful.
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2001 Martinelli
Zinfandel
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Guiseppe and Louisa
(USA / California / Sonoma / Russian River Valley)
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CASES: 450
RATED: 04/15/2004 |
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I'm learning a lesson with boutique Zins. They tend to need a major decant and/or alot more bottle-time before drinking. This one in particular was very tightly wound for hours, with a tannic, almost metallic aftertaste. I kept the faith by re-corking it. The next day I decanted for several hours; only then was this wine ready to drink. After what I would describe as complete oxidation, it was actually a much more pleasant and approachable Zin. Bolder fruit was evident here than in other comparable wines and the tannins faded away nicely, but it lacked the complexity I expected. I finished the bottle with dinner and promised myself I'd wait another year before trying this vintage again.
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1999 PlumpJack
Cabernet Sauvignon
- Estate
(USA / California / Napa / Oakville)
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RATED: 04/20/2004 |
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As a fan of this winery, I expect good things, especially of the older vintages. I can truthfully say that I wasn't let down by this big, chewy Cab. It didn't knock my socks off, but I enjoy everything about the PJ Estate Cabernet. The ripe fruit in the nose and mouth are full-bodied with notes of leather and sweet spice. Tannins were palatable and there was a soft black licorice finish that lasted 30+ seconds. Its rich smooth texture made this wine a real pleasure to drink. Although you could age this one several more years, the newer vintages are even better. IMHO, Drink Now.
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2000 Behrens and Hitchcock
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Ode To Picasso
(USA / California / Napa)
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RATED: 04/21/2004 |
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This is a classic case of "never take advice from the guy at the wine store." However, we were at Oakville Grocery when I found this wine and the steward recommended it highly, saying it drank very well right now for a 2000. He probably won a bet with a co-worker or something. So we opened it at Mustard's that night and were all very disappointed. The wine was very tightly wound and overly tannic; in fact, the bottle may have been tainted. The aftertaste was almost sour, with a thin texture. I wouldn't recommend this wine to anyone and the score of 75 is generous. The $60 price tag was like adding insult to injury. Maybe several years in the bottle would improve this wine, but who's willing to wait if the it's going to suck? If this is the winery's tribute to a former pet, I'd hate to have ever met it.
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2000 Clark-Claudon
Cabernet Sauvignon
(USA / California / Napa)
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RATED: 04/21/2004 |
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After finally getting on this mailing list, I was anxious to try my new Cabernet, but I let it sit for several months. I had this bottle recently with dinner and over the course of the evening, it never made the stellar impression on me I'd been given from others. Granted, this is a nice bottle of wine...ripe fruit and rich (almost buttery) berry flavors dominate this full-bodied wine. A nice bouquet, the feel of a classic Oakville red and a sleek, pretty finish...but something is missing. Maybe I'm caught up in the fact that it cost $90/bottle and I wasn't blown away by it. If you have extra money to burn, then go buy a case, otherwise, the QPR for this wine just isn't there for me.
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1997 Ridge
Cabernet Sauvignon
- Monte Bello
(USA / California / Santa Cruz / Santa Cruz Mountains)
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RATED: 04/26/2004 |
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I bought this wine reluctantly last year for about $120/bottle, because I need another favorite expensive wine like I need another appendage. It was, however, certainly worth the money if you can find it. We consumed this beautiful Cabernet with pork chops and scallops at Horseradish Grille in Atlanta; it would be tough to find a dish this wine wouldn't improve. Although it took most of the meal to completely open up, I smelled and tasted ripe fruit, leather and anise from the get-go. Very full in the mouth and rich, it left a sweet, almost syrupy aftertaste that made us decide to stay for dessert. It's probably alright to drink this now, but I'll wait another couple years before treating myself again.
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1999 Adrian Fog
Pinot Noir
- Floodgate Vineyard
(USA / California / Mendocino / Anderson Valley)
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RATED: 04/29/2004 |
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I first tasted the AF '01 Savoy Pinot at a tasting dinner and it was truly amazing; Savoy obviously follows in Floodgate's footsteps. Most Pinots I've had are not nearly as big and rich as this one, so this review is meant to praise the winemaker's style as much as this particular vintage. Imagine blending a Turley Zin with a Martinelli Pinot. You'd get a complex structure; a well-balanced tannic backbone with big bold fruit & jam from first sip to minutes after you set down your glass. The nose was ripe with cherry-pie notes and oak; flavors in the mouth like cocoa, leather and berries combined to form a very pleasing and drinkable medium-bodied wine. The finish was long and lush, lasting sometimes until I picked up the glass again. This was my last bottle, but I believe this wine will age for another 3-5 years with the same outcome.
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1982 Robert Mondavi
Cabernet Sauvignon
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Reserve
(USA / California / Napa)
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RATED: 05/02/2004 |
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A friend was nice enough to share this bottle with us this evening; We smelled it for 10 minutes prior to pouring; it had a beautiful oaky nose worthy of a classic Mondavi Reserve label; the first swig revealed a well-structured semi-tannic wine that's had plenty of time to develop in the bottle. The feel was a little thin, but it had solid flavors of of cherry, oak and leather. We decanted for about an hour an it still needed some time to completely open up. While the wine was still intact and very drinkable, it didn't overwhelm me. Most Mondavi Reserve Cabs do pretty well and I consider them to be age-worthy wines, but I fear this vintage is just past its prime.
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2001 Red Car
Syrah
- Thompson Vineyard
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The Dreaming Detective
(USA / California)
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RATED: 05/03/2004 |
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I've done a little research on Red Car's wines and discovered that the recommended decant time is several hours for the younger vintages. I found that this wine was very closed-up and couldn't be consumed with dinner; we decanted almost 4 hours over the course of the night, tasting every so often and we should have allowed at least twice that much time. Being new to very complex syrah, I'll try to do this one justice. Although the nose was beautiful with hints of berries, the best flavor characteristics were licorice, plums and blueberry-rhubarb pie with a long syrupy finish that tasted like honeysuckle on the back of my tongue. The heavy tannins indicate that this wine was built for aging; I wish I had another bottle to try in its natural state after a day in the decanter. I'll remain on the mailing list and exercise more patience in the future. My friends wouldn't have been so kind on the score.
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1998 Opus One
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Overture
(USA / California / Napa / Oakville)
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RATED: 05/03/2004 |
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This is Opus Overture. Although this wine is non-vintage, I purchased it prior to the 1999 Opus release. We opened my last two 98's with big ol' Ruth's Chris filets this weekend and it was really a hit. I personally feel that Overture is as good as any Opus release, especially at 25% of the bottle-price. This fantastic vintage had classic nose of wood and cherries that needed no time in the decanter. The flavors are what I would describe as cooked berries/cherries with spicy hints of currant and oak, supported by a medium-bodied, semi-tannic structure. The finish was long and pleasant, lasting 20-30 seconds. Overall, a very nice glass of wine, no matter what it accompanies. I think that this wine could age and/or improve in the bottle for several years. I'm buying two cases when I go back this summer.
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2001 Leasingham
Shiraz
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Bin 61
(Australia / South Australia / Clare Valley)
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RATED: 05/05/2004 |
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After trying this wine two months ago at a tasting, I had pretty high expectations because I liked it more than 90% of the other Aussies we tasted that night. I opened the bottle and determined it needed a decant; the tannins were high and the juice was a little tight. After about 30 minutes, I poured a glass and determined that I liked it; the nose was rosy ripe fruits. Black fruits dominated the first glass, which were almost overripe, as many 'cheap' Aussies are, but pleasant nonetheless. By the second and third glasses, the tannins subsided and revealed a truly drinkable medium-bodied wine; I now could taste smoky plums, cherries, oak and tobacco - the aroma was delicious. I don't know much about aging mid-grade Australian Shiraz, but I imagine this one will do pretty well within five years.
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2001 Pride
Cabernet Sauvignon
(USA / California / Napa / Spring Mountain District)
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RATED: 05/11/2004 |
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I'm never taking this to a tasting again...Instead I'm keeping it all for myself! The 2001 Atlanta WC Cab tasting was held at Cabernet in Alpharetta, GA, last night with 24 WCer's and guests. We had the Pride Cab second on the evening, so our palates weren't completely blown out yet.
The aromas were full and rich, the color was deep purple/red, almost black. This Cab really needed alot more time to open up, as the tannins were high and it was tightly wound around its core of deep berry and black fruit flavors, however, the extraction was deep...there are complex flavors here that never came to the surface due to the limited supply. Hints of baker's chocolate and tobacco hit near the back of my tongue as the finish was long and full. Currently, the 1999 Pride Cab is my favorite, but by the time I'm done with it, the 2001 is sure to take its place. This wine should age superbly into the next decade...I'd wait before opening, but if you can't resist, give it a couple hours of airtime first.
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Displaying [1-25] of 1000
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