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Tasting notes from a Cabernet, Meritage & Merlot tasting - Saturday, July 31, 2004, at the Wine Exchange in Orange, CA. Nineteen wines were poured for a tasting fee of $25.

Overall impressions: a tasting of mostly 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon, with a smattering of Merlot or blends. Of the Cabs, the top three were excellent - if $55-60 each. Of these, the Merryvale the standout. This leaves the Zhatilia, Chimney Rock, Ritchie Creek, Sinann, and August Briggs as the "value" labels in the top tier. The Twomey Merlot continues to impress me, though at $60, it's still out of reach.

Wandering down a little farther, the "regular" Justin Cabernet was a nicely balanced wine - especially at less than $20. The BV clearly wants to become a player once again, and appears to be on the right track. This might be the best Judd's Hill I've tasted in awhile. Though, at $70, it's certainly not a steal. Finally, Silver Oak is always controversial - though this time out, maybe less so.

Tasting Notes

2002 Waterbrook Melange - Columbia Valley. $10.99. Medium ruby garnet color. Quite Rhone-like in the nose, with slightly candied aromas of raspberry and blackberry, and a bit of leather. Very fruity mouthfeel, nice balance, very tasty, with a medium-long finish. Not a wine to sit and discuss, but certainly a nice one to drink. A blend of Cab, Merlot, Syrah, and Sangiovese.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B Overall score: B

2001 Grove Street Cabernet Sauvignon - Alexander Valley. $8.99. Medium-dark ruby color. Notes of cherry, black cherry, and a touch of cheesy oak in the nose. Lots of cherry in the mouth, with a freshly macerated fruit quality. Seems very nice in initial mouthfeel, but the fruit get a bit disjointed and the coarser tannins start to wear on the palate rather quickly. More complexity than a Two-Buck Chuck, but the oak/tannins will get to you in the long run.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B Overall score: B

2001 Twomey Merlot - Napa Valley $59.99. Medium-dark ruby garnet color. Very nice nose, with lots of black cherry, chocolate, and toast. Excellent balance, off-sweet chewy fruit, with what seems like French oak adding a nice touch to the very long smooth finish. Somewhat plusher in mouthfeel than the Paloma...which is why I prefer the Paloma.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2002 Ramey Claret - Napa Valley. $29.99. Medium dark garnet-ruby color. Nose of smoky and toasty cassis, with a light blackberry scent - almost like a nice older Syrah. Excellent balance on the palate, smooth fine grained tannins, and long finish. Ready, willing and able to drink now, but will improve with some time.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2001 Benziger Tribute Cabernet Sauvignon - Sonoma Mountain. $44.99. Dark ruby color. Nose of dense cassis, raspberry, and black cherry, with just of hint of celery seed. Very nice flavor profile, good balance, long finish. The nose is a bit more enticing than the mouthfeel, which seemed just the slightest bit underfilled. 80% bio-dynamically farmed Cabernet Sauvignon.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+ Overall score: A-

2001 S.P. Drummer - Sonoma County/Napa County. $44.99. Dark ruby-garnet color. Quite ripe in the nose, with sweet dark fruit and a touch of toast and vanilla. Slightly less ripe in mouthfeel, with very nice balance, and long smooth finish. 60/40 Sonoma/Napa fruit, and 60% Merlot, 20% Cab Franc and 20% Cab Sauv. Interesting blend, and nicely made, if a bit unusual in appellation.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2001 Judd's Hill Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley. $69.99. Medium ruby-garnet color. Very nice black cherry fruit in the nose. Smooth mouthfeel, very good balance - more to the Claret style in mouthfeel, and long finish. I'vealways felt Judd's Hill wines have had a higher acid balance than I care for. This one's very nice.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2001 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon - Paso Robles. $18.99. Medium garnet-ruby color. Ripe - but not overripe nose of cassis and black cherry, with just a bit of toast. Full and rich on the palate, with lots of ripe chewy fruit, and long finish that shows just a bit of oak. probably the best "regular" Justin Cab in awhile.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2001 Beaulieu Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley. $17.99. Medium ruby-garnet color. Nose of cassis, light oak, touch of vanilla - very much like a lesser Cru Bordeaux. Clingy and slightly macerated mouthfeel, and nice long finish. A very nice wine, that - if priced less than $15 - would squash the competition.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B Overall score: B

2002 Sineann Cabernet Sauvignon - Baby Poux Vnyd, Columbia Valley. $32.99. Dark ruby color. Beautiful nose of clove-scented dark cherry fruit, with just a hint of pine. Sweet-sour macerated fruit on the palate, excellent balance and chewy long finish. Despite the "cute" name, this wine is delicious!
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2001 Ritchie Creek Cabernet Sauvignon - Spring Mtn. $31.99. Very dark ruby color. Loads of black cherry, cassis, and Kiwi shoe wax in the nose. Big, robust, gutsy, moderately tannic - everything you want in a Cal Cab. An excellent wine, and priced like they want your business!
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

My Favorites - In Order of Preference

2001 Merryvale Cabernet Sauvignon - Beckstoffer Vnyd, Oakville. $55.99.
2001 Twomey Merlot - Napa Valley $59.99
2001 Amizetta Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley. $59.99.
2001 Zahtila Cabernet Sauvignon - Beckstoffer Vnyd, Rutherford. $38.99.
2001 Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon - Stags' Leap Dist. $39.99.
2001 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley. $49.99.
2001 Ritchie Creek Cabernet Sauvignon - Spring Mtn. $31.99.
2001 August Briggs Cabernet Sauvignon - Monte Rosso Vnyd, Sonoma Valley. $37.99.
2002 Sineann Cabernet Sauvignon - Baby Poux Vnyd, Columbia Valley. $32.99.
2001 Benziger Tribute Cabernet Sauvignon - Sonoma Mountain. $44.99.
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2001 Chiarello Family Eileen Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley. $38.99.
2000 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon - Alexander Valley. $59.99.
2001 S.P. Drummer - Sonoma County/Napa County. $44.99.
2001 Judd's Hill Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley. $69.99.
2002 Ramey Claret - Napa Valley. $29.99.
2001 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon - Paso Robles. $18.99.
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2001 Beaulieu Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley. $17.99.
2001 Grove Street Cabernet Sauvignon - Alexander Valley. $8.99.
2002 Waterbrook Melange - Columbia Valley. $10.99.

2001 August Briggs Cabernet Sauvignon - Monte Rosso Vnyd, Sonoma Valley. $37.99. Dark ruby-garnet color. Perfumy and ripe in the nose, with lots of black cherry and a touch of herbs. Lots of dusty cassis flavors, plenty of fruit and toast across the palate, with a smooth long finish that show just a light oak bite. The Briggs Cabs usually run more to the plusher side of things. This one's been working out at the gym.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2001 Chiarello Family Eileen Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley. $38.99. Medium dark ruby-garnet color. Very nice spice-laden nose, with lots of cassis, herbs, and toast. Ample flavors on the palate, though somewhat acid-based in mouthfeel, with a long slightly crisp finish. Liked the nose a lot, but the mouthfeel cries out for food.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2001 Zahtila Cabernet Sauvignon - Beckstoffer Vnyd, Rutherford. $38.99. Very dark ruby-garnet color. Clove-scented cassis and black cherry nose, with just a touch of toasted nuts and vanilla. Full rich mouthfeel, sweet fine-grained tannins, and very, very long finish. Only in their 2nd year of production, this winery is coming on strong. Don't let this one slip away.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2001 Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon - Stags' Leap Dist. $39.99. Dark ruby color. Nose of cassis, black cherry, light chocolate and herbs. Plenty of vanilla and spicy cassis on the palate, excellent balance, and lightly chocolate-influenced long finish. Classic SLD nose and taste.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2001 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley. $49.99. Medium-dark ruby color. Lots of cake spice and black cherry in the nose. Smooth, very fine-grained tannins, excellent balance, lovely smooth vanilla and dark cherry flavors through the long finish. These Cabs are always a pleasure to drink.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2001 Merryvale Cabernet Sauvignon - Beckstoffer Vnyd, Oakville. $55.99. Dark ruby-garnet color. Wow! Beautiful nose of cassis, black cherry, cake spices, and toast. Nearly perfect balance, fabulous flavors of dark fruit and vanilla on the palate, with a long very smooth seamless finish. Merryvale is back!
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2001 Amizetta Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley. $59.99. Medium dark ruby-garnet color. Terrific nose of dark cherry, vanilla, spices, with a touch of herbs and light toasty aromas. Big chewy mouthfeel, lots of juicy fruit throughout, seamless finish that seems to go on forever.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B Overall score: B+

2000 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon - Alexander Valley. $59.99. Medium dark ruby garnet color. Slightly herbaceous nose of cassis, toast, and vanilla. Moderately-full mouthfeel, good flavor profile and balance, the the wine seems a little underfilled. It appears the inherent dill-quality in the nose is not nearly a predominant this year. Wish the fruit level had been higher on the palate.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

     

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