TN's: Quick Ones On CA Cult Cab Wannabees

2005 Seven Stones: This was served blind to everyone as they arrived. The wine screamed '05 Napa Cab to me. Fruit forward with a nice finish of sweet anise and integrated oak. More finesse than power and I really enjoyed it. When the label was revealed, I was actually a little shocked that this was showing this well so early on.

2006 Corra: Very good right out of the gate. The '06 is more restrained than the '05, but I liked the very pronounced nose of dark cherries and vanilla. Palate was reserved, but not muted. Glad Celia’s personal label is still under the radar.

2006 Scarecrow: Another blinded wine. When I first tasted it, I had no clue on what it was. It had a touch of VA on the nose but I couldn’t detect anything on the palate that would detract from the fruit. It is a massive wine that has a brutish power to it. Good fruit and a medium long finish. I am not sure that I wold seek this wine out for what it is selling for. As the evening progressed, the wine seemed to fall off a bit and get a stewed characteristic that I found very unappealing.

2006 Maybach: Monster…almost black in the glass. Loads of glycerin. Very expressive nose of cassis and graphite. Palate is more refined than the other three here with dark fruits, glycerin, smoke and a hint of anise on th finish. Very happy to have plenty on hand at the house.

If I were to rank them:

Maybach tied with Seven Stones
Corra
Scarecrow

Would you go so far as to call these, NEAR CULT

Nice notes Bill.

You representin’ the Lonestar state pretty pretty good.

Possibly.

Great wine needs no moniker.
Calling it ‘great wine’ is enough…