08 Cabs. Maybach beats up on the twins.

WINE TALK
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Brandon Tai came to visit and we dug into some 08 Napa Cabs.

We started with the 2008 Hourglass and Spottswoode. The two vineyards are only a few miles apart as the crow flies so it does stand to reason that they could be similar but I was amazed at how they were nearly identical in every way. Touches of eucalyptus on the nose for both of them and the same silky mouth-feel that had hints of vanilla. Tasted blind, I could not tell which was which and therefore I referred to them as “the twins from different parents”…

Once Brandon’s red-eye flight got messed up and we determined he had to spend another night, we popped an 08 Maybach which absolutely decimated the other two wines with it’s uber goodness.

  • 2008 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (5/23/2011)
    Wow. Open for business right from the start and does not stop giving it up all night long. Luscious blackberry fruit mixed with an amazingly soft texture. It’ll be very hard to avoid opening more of this in the future as it is absolutely delicious right now. Easily topped the 08 Spottswoode and 08 Hourglass tonight. (97 pts.)

  • 2008 Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (5/23/2011)
    Excellent mix of acidity, tannins and ripe fruits. Hints of eucalyptus on the nose threw me for a loop as I mixed this up with the 08 Spottswoode in a blind comparison as these two wines were nearly identical in every way. Improved with extended air and should age gracefully for a few years but very tasty if you like to drink young Napa Cabs. (95 pts.)

  • 2008 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (5/23/2011)
    Pop and pour. Consumed over a period of 3 or 4 hours. Excellent mix of ripe fruit, a touch of vanilla and a great silky mouth-feel. Just a hint of eucalyptus on the nose. Seemed to close up a little bit with aeration, if that’s possible. Hold for a few years for sure. A notch or two below the 07, but still quite nice. (94 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

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Not shocking.

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Any decant at all on the Maybach or pop and pour?

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all pop and pour… still have about a glass and a half of the Maybach left today so I’ll be able to see how it is with that extended “bottle air”

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Rob MacKay: Doin’ it right.

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Go big or go home. [cheers.gif]

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Exactly. [cheers.gif]

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I’m saving my 2 for an offline, or waiting for MP to give me a green light to drink. flirtysmile

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Go ahead and steal my line…

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Great times! That Maybach certainly packed in the goodness. Regards to decanting or P&P, it was pretty crazy expressive with just a pop n pour. I wouldn’t think you’d be unhappy drinking one early. I think the Spottswoode could definitely slumber for a bit…

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I have no faith in mine lasting more than 4/5 years. Right now I am loving the 06. I just reloaded.
Hourglass is on my short list of 08s too.
Blueline too.

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Every time I read a TN on Maybach, I [head-bang.gif] for passing on my 07 allocation which subsequently moved me off the active list for the 08. I need to try this one day…

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Well allllright. [thumbs-up.gif]