cabernet sauvignon
Sept. 29, 2007
1. Charles Shaw
Cabernet Savuignon
California
2004
CS % unk., but prob. not
above 75%
Wood chips
Millions produced
Ground breaking for bringing
awareness of wine to mass
people
$1.99
2. Mount Eden Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon
Santa Cruz Mts
2003
CS 75%
M 22%
CF 3%
Ukn. oaking
Made to age;
Very important history in CA
wine; 2000 ft. high vineyards
$39
87 WS
3. Galleron
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
2000
CS 100%
Unk. oaking
455 Cases
14.2% Alc.; 2000 vintage not
considered great for CA, but
this shines.
$55
WE 92
4. Beaulieu Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
2004
CS 97%
M 2%
CF 1 %
18 mo. French & Amer. Oak
Lots
Huge Supermarket Production
wine
Est. 1900
$17.00
5. Joseph Phelps
Cabernet Sauvigon
Napa Valley
2001
CS 86%
M 14%
18 mo.
30% new-70% old
22,000 Cases
Important Winery
Created "Insignia" in 1978 -
1st cult wine
$55
WS 91
6. Chateau Cantemerle
Haut-Medoc, 5th Growth
Bordeaux
2000
CS 50%
M 40%
PV 5%
CF 5%
12 mo.
50% new oak (French)
25,000 Cases
Classified as top Growth in
1855;
Great Vintage in Bordeaux
$38
WS 91
7. Seven Hills Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon
Seven Hills Vineyard
Walla Walla, WA
2002
CS 90%
M 10%
23 mo.
French oak
Highly regarded vineyard
2002 is great vintage in WA
$34
91 WS
8. ZD Wines
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
2001
CS 90%
M 10%
24 mo. Amer. oak
6,000 Cases
ZD is for Zepponi & DeLeuze;
2001 is great vintage for CA
$38
91 WE
85 WS
9. Treana Red
Paso Robles
CS 70%
Syrah30%
14 mo.
65% new french
Big, oaky, but wears it well
$39
91 GV
Cabernet Savuignon
California
2004
CS % unk., but prob. not
above 75%
Wood chips
Millions produced
Ground breaking for bringing
awareness of wine to mass
people
$1.99
2. Mount Eden Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon
Santa Cruz Mts
2003
CS 75%
M 22%
CF 3%
Ukn. oaking
Made to age;
Very important history in CA
wine; 2000 ft. high vineyards
$39
87 WS
3. Galleron
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
2000
CS 100%
Unk. oaking
455 Cases
14.2% Alc.; 2000 vintage not
considered great for CA, but
this shines.
$55
WE 92
4. Beaulieu Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
2004
CS 97%
M 2%
CF 1 %
18 mo. French & Amer. Oak
Lots
Huge Supermarket Production
wine
Est. 1900
$17.00
5. Joseph Phelps
Cabernet Sauvigon
Napa Valley
2001
CS 86%
M 14%
18 mo.
30% new-70% old
22,000 Cases
Important Winery
Created "Insignia" in 1978 -
1st cult wine
$55
WS 91
6. Chateau Cantemerle
Haut-Medoc, 5th Growth
Bordeaux
2000
CS 50%
M 40%
PV 5%
CF 5%
12 mo.
50% new oak (French)
25,000 Cases
Classified as top Growth in
1855;
Great Vintage in Bordeaux
$38
WS 91
7. Seven Hills Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon
Seven Hills Vineyard
Walla Walla, WA
2002
CS 90%
M 10%
23 mo.
French oak
Highly regarded vineyard
2002 is great vintage in WA
$34
91 WS
8. ZD Wines
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
2001
CS 90%
M 10%
24 mo. Amer. oak
6,000 Cases
ZD is for Zepponi & DeLeuze;
2001 is great vintage for CA
$38
91 WE
85 WS
9. Treana Red
Paso Robles
CS 70%
Syrah30%
14 mo.
65% new french
Big, oaky, but wears it well
$39
91 GV
Thanks to Pat and Lisa for hosting a very fun wine tasting at their house on "California Cabernets".
There were 9 wines, all tasted blind, but actually 2 were not from California. There was a Bordeaux, and
a Washington State Cabernet as well. They were all good, if not superb, except for one, which was
unanimously found to be lacking! The surprise of the night was that the Washington wine from Walla
Walla ended up being the wine of the night. But really there were 3 winners as the top 3 were all within
1 point of eachother (the other 2 being Galleron and Joseph Phelps). The following is a list of all of the
wines served, in the order tasted, along with my notes, and the group's ranking of each wine. The
following wine statistics are listed after each wine: Grape blend, oak used in aging, production if
available, general notes, price, and scores if available.
There were 9 wines, all tasted blind, but actually 2 were not from California. There was a Bordeaux, and
a Washington State Cabernet as well. They were all good, if not superb, except for one, which was
unanimously found to be lacking! The surprise of the night was that the Washington wine from Walla
Walla ended up being the wine of the night. But really there were 3 winners as the top 3 were all within
1 point of eachother (the other 2 being Galleron and Joseph Phelps). The following is a list of all of the
wines served, in the order tasted, along with my notes, and the group's ranking of each wine. The
following wine statistics are listed after each wine: Grape blend, oak used in aging, production if
available, general notes, price, and scores if available.
Bright violet/purple, light and limpid; smells of grape gum & tart
raspberries; little to no tannin, unpleasant acidity--sort of sour, slightly
fumey, light, simple, and absolutely no cabernet character. Will pass
for red wine, is really not offensive, and fully worth the $1.99.
My score: 82
Group: 7th (and last) place with 24 points.
Dark purple; lovely concentrated blackberry & cassis, hints of
eucalyptus; smooth, balanced, good tannins, long finish. Very nice.
My score: 91
Group: 5th place with 36.5 points
Dark purple; blackberry with hints of blueberry, a bit sweet in the nose
as well, with a touch of mintiness; very round and lush in the mouth,
some sweet vanilla notes, along with black fruits are present, giving off
a flavor of what I like to call blueberry pie. Very well made, lots of
concentration, but a bit too sweet, and not enough structure. Not bad
for a 2000. A lot of people will like this for its easy-going smoothness.
My score: 89-90
Group: tied for 2nd place with 44.5 points
Low aromatics in this at first, then some dusty, earthy notes with a hint
of blackberry, and to me a touch of white pepper and asparagus mixed
with black fruit. Smooth, rich tannins, medium mouthfeel, really not
bad, with a dry, somewhat dusty finish. A lot of people liked this for it's
lighter, easy going style, and less concentration in the mouth. I found
quite well made, and a good basic cab with some character.
My score: 87
Group: 3rd place with 41 points
This wine had nice classic cabernet character, tobacco, blackberry,
earth notes, and well integrated for a 2001; the mouth/flavors were
smooth, intense, beautiful. This had nice balance, classic character,
and showed well at 6 yrs old.
My score: 91
Group: tied for 2nd with 44.5 points
Slight brown color showing through with purple; Wow! this had a very
distinctive nose of spice box, cigar leaf, sweet leather, and maybe a
mix of old cherry and cassis; the mouth showed up front tannins, and
dust & leather, and minerals; it was tight, not quite as rich as the CA
wines, but had plenty of structure. I was surprised at the maturity of
this 2000, especially in the nose. It showed very well, but judging by
the mouth, it still has 4-7 years left (or more) to develop. Some loved it,
others not at all.
My score: 92
Group: 6th with 34 points
Deep scarlet purple; leather, tobacco, complex fruit notes of blackberry
and small forest berries; very smooth, compact, and concentrated
flavors; just a hint of well integrated oak, and great balance; also got
some tart blueberry notes, and a "foresty" type of smell. Great
character, long finish, a very good wine all around.
My score: 91
Group: 1st place with 45.5 points
Typical cassis, blackberry, tobacco notes and some vanilla-oak notes
were found in the nose; The mouth was rich with sweet fruit and cedar
nuances. This wine appealed to some with its rich, sweet and fruity
style. Very well made for this type of in your face flashy Napa Cab.
My score: 90
Group: 4th place with 40 points
Opaque, almost black espresso color with touch of dark purple; Big red
fresh fruit here, more Syrah influence, less dark fruit notes; super lush
soft silky entry (the 15.2% alc. talking); big ripe fruity mouth of
raspberry/blackberry jam, but also lots of tannins and enough acidity
to keep it fairly balanced. Huge power house. I went back and forth on
this, but in the end my palate got tired of it.
My score: 89-90
Group: tied for 3rd place with 41 points
raspberries; little to no tannin, unpleasant acidity--sort of sour, slightly
fumey, light, simple, and absolutely no cabernet character. Will pass
for red wine, is really not offensive, and fully worth the $1.99.
My score: 82
Group: 7th (and last) place with 24 points.
Dark purple; lovely concentrated blackberry & cassis, hints of
eucalyptus; smooth, balanced, good tannins, long finish. Very nice.
My score: 91
Group: 5th place with 36.5 points
Dark purple; blackberry with hints of blueberry, a bit sweet in the nose
as well, with a touch of mintiness; very round and lush in the mouth,
some sweet vanilla notes, along with black fruits are present, giving off
a flavor of what I like to call blueberry pie. Very well made, lots of
concentration, but a bit too sweet, and not enough structure. Not bad
for a 2000. A lot of people will like this for its easy-going smoothness.
My score: 89-90
Group: tied for 2nd place with 44.5 points
Low aromatics in this at first, then some dusty, earthy notes with a hint
of blackberry, and to me a touch of white pepper and asparagus mixed
with black fruit. Smooth, rich tannins, medium mouthfeel, really not
bad, with a dry, somewhat dusty finish. A lot of people liked this for it's
lighter, easy going style, and less concentration in the mouth. I found
quite well made, and a good basic cab with some character.
My score: 87
Group: 3rd place with 41 points
This wine had nice classic cabernet character, tobacco, blackberry,
earth notes, and well integrated for a 2001; the mouth/flavors were
smooth, intense, beautiful. This had nice balance, classic character,
and showed well at 6 yrs old.
My score: 91
Group: tied for 2nd with 44.5 points
Slight brown color showing through with purple; Wow! this had a very
distinctive nose of spice box, cigar leaf, sweet leather, and maybe a
mix of old cherry and cassis; the mouth showed up front tannins, and
dust & leather, and minerals; it was tight, not quite as rich as the CA
wines, but had plenty of structure. I was surprised at the maturity of
this 2000, especially in the nose. It showed very well, but judging by
the mouth, it still has 4-7 years left (or more) to develop. Some loved it,
others not at all.
My score: 92
Group: 6th with 34 points
Deep scarlet purple; leather, tobacco, complex fruit notes of blackberry
and small forest berries; very smooth, compact, and concentrated
flavors; just a hint of well integrated oak, and great balance; also got
some tart blueberry notes, and a "foresty" type of smell. Great
character, long finish, a very good wine all around.
My score: 91
Group: 1st place with 45.5 points
Typical cassis, blackberry, tobacco notes and some vanilla-oak notes
were found in the nose; The mouth was rich with sweet fruit and cedar
nuances. This wine appealed to some with its rich, sweet and fruity
style. Very well made for this type of in your face flashy Napa Cab.
My score: 90
Group: 4th place with 40 points
Opaque, almost black espresso color with touch of dark purple; Big red
fresh fruit here, more Syrah influence, less dark fruit notes; super lush
soft silky entry (the 15.2% alc. talking); big ripe fruity mouth of
raspberry/blackberry jam, but also lots of tannins and enough acidity
to keep it fairly balanced. Huge power house. I went back and forth on
this, but in the end my palate got tired of it.
My score: 89-90
Group: tied for 3rd place with 41 points