 |
|
|
|
|
|
Overall impressions: a look at some of the stragglers from 1999, along with some more '00s and a few '01 of Cabernets, Merlots and blended red wines. In addition, there were a couple of "oldies" in the lineup, which I assume were re-releases, since '97s aren't exactly the happening thing right now. The notes below cover only 18 of the 19 wines that were actually being poured. Apparently, the store ran out of the '99 Field Stone Staten Family Reserve Cab shortly before the end of the tasting. Ordinarily, they go to grab one from the sales floor when this happens. This time, however, the dales floor was out of stock! In its absence, we were offered a 2nd taste of one of the other wines. The Forman and the Duckhorn were my favorites, followed by the very nice Liparita and the Stags's Leap. I think the '00 Silver Oak is a very nice wine as well. Sixty bucks nice? - well, probably for SO fans. But, the clear bargain here is the Chappellet. This would be a very nice wine at $30 - but at $19, it's a fabulous bargain. Phil Titus is making the Chappellet wines, and he's doing a great job. The Twomey Merlot was something to behold. Built like a Cabernet and loaded with dark chewy fruit, it's a winner. Of course, it also sets some sort of $$ record for Merlot as well. Working down the list, the Conn Creek was a major find, and the Surh Luchtel blend was very nice - and very reasonably priced. On the less-sunny side of the street, the regular '97 Freemark Abbey was abysmal. I didn't hear any comments made about flaws, but this was a stinker of a bottle, or a bottling. Finally, the Justin was something of a letdown, and just a little too much of a stewed thing for my tastes. |
2000 Twomey Merlot - Napa Valley. $59.99. Very dark ruby color. Massive herbed black cherry nose. Big, rich and chewy mouthfeel, slight stemmy quality to the sweet fruit, excellent balance, long finish. Still think Merlot is for the ladies? Try this one. Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A- 2000 Surh Luchtel Mosaique - Napa Valley. $21.99. Dark ruby color. Nose of toasty cherry, vanilla, clove, and a vague touch of mint. Off-sweet tasty mouthfeel, nice balance with a long, slightly grippy finish. Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+ 2000
Amici - Napa Valley. $36.99. Very dark ruby color. Beautiful
toasted clove and black cherry nose. Slightly sweet dark cherry
fruit, very nice mouthfeel from attack through mid-palate; gets
a bit soft toward the otherswise long finish. 2001
Emily Elizabeth Cabernet - Napa Valley. $17.99. Medium
dark ruby garnet color. Nose of cassis, cheddar, and toast, with
a nice cake spice background aroma. Slightly sharp-edged on the
palate, the wine seems to have an acid balance that demands food
as an accompaniment. Moderate fruit, well balanced, with a nice
long finish. A Joe Cafaro 2nd label, named after his two daughters. 2001
Justin Cabernet - Paso Robles. $18.99. Dark ruby garnet color.
Nose of very ripe fruit, beet, charred hardwoods, and a touch of...
egg. Quite ripe in mouthfeel, chewy on the palate, lots of concentrated
- almost stewy fruit and spice, long finish. 2000
Chappellet Cabernet Mountain Cuvee - Napa Valley. $18.99.
Medium-dark garnet ruby color. Killer nose of vanilla-scented cassis,
toast, and exotic spices. Slightly off-sweet mouthfeel, nice sweet-sour
fruit, tasty long finish. 1999
Belvedere Cabernet Healdsburg Ranches - Sonoma County.
$14.99. Dark garnet ruby color. Nose shows a bit of alcohol,
and appears somewhat ripe and Porty. Flavorful mouthfeel and taste;
gets just a bit soft on the finish. 1999
Conn Creek Cabernet Limited Release - Napa Valley. $21.99.
Medium dark ruby color. Very nice nose of cassis, grilled meat,
and toasty vanilla. Creamy mouthfeel, lots of nicely ripened fruit,
very good balance, long finish. 2000
Seven Hills Cabernet - Klipsun Vnyd, Columbia Valley. $24.99.
Medium dark garnet ruby color. Slightly candied sweet-sour nose.
The flavor is exactly like the nose, sweet-sour slightly
candied fruit, with a full, slightly grippy mouthfeel and long finish. 1999
Woodward Canyon Cabernet Artist Series #8 - WA. $31.99. Medium
dark ruby color. Lots of clove-scented toast and dark cherry fruit
in the nose. Somewhat off-sweet mouthfeel, with a tasty long finish. 2000
S. Anderson Cabernet - Stags Leap District. $22.99. Dark ruby
color. Classic SLD nose, with light vanilla and toasty notes to
the black cherry fruit. Fairly soft in mouthfeel, nice fruit and
balance, but something of a middleweight overall |
|
1997
Freemark Abbey Cabernet - Napa Valley. $27.99. Very dark ruby
color. Skunky and dirty in the nose, it seemed slightly less-so
with time in the glass. I didn't even try putting it in my mouth. 1999
Liparita Cabernet - Napa Valley. $29.99. Dark ruby color. Lovely
black cherry fruit, with very interesting notes of toasted grain,
clover, and light stemmy and mineral qualities. Moderately chewy
texture, lots of black cherry fruit, excellent balance, long tasty
finish. 2000
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet - Napa Valley. $35.99.
Very dark ruby color. Nicely integrated nose of toast and fruit
- lovely! Full mouthfeel, long on fruit, and seamless finish. Nicely
done. 2000
Duckhorn Cabernet - Napa Valley. $45.99. Very dark ruby color.
Beautiful nose of cassis, cheese toast, and a touch of vanilla.
Slightly sweet mouthfeel, chewy fruit, excellent balance, long tasty
finish. 2000
Forman Cabernet - Napa Valley. $48.99. Dark ruby color. Stunning
nose, that has a little of everything - all fabulously integrated.
Hints of pipe tobacco, toast and sage seem to peek out from the
black cherry fruit. Smooth and silky on the palate, very nice mouthfeel
- smooth and succulent, with a tasty long finish. 1997
Freemark Abbey Cabernet -Sycamore Vnyds, Napa Valley. $37.99.
Dark ruby color. Slightly funky nose that seems to blow off with
time. Seems to have more bottle bouquet than one might expect for
a '97, which adds a nice complexity to the nose. Off-sweet fruit,
yet a bit sharp across the palate, with a slightly acidic quality
to the long finish. 2000
Silver Oak Cabernet - Alexander Valley. $59.99. Dark ruby garnet
color. Unmistakable dill scent that seems to define Silver Oak.
Ripe cassis and cherry aromas, with touch of toast. Kind of warm
and jammy on the palate, chewy, good balance, long finish. |
|||
|
|
|
No original material may be reproduced without written consent Mail & Comments - Eric Anderson |