2001 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Estate

Randy_Sloan · May 29, 2009, 2:08am

2001 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain (5/27/2009)
Tight with cedar and sour blackberries. A bit austere and angular right now but should improve with 2-3 more years in the cellar. By about hour 4 in the decanter, it edges had softened a bit and the wine displayed a smokier character.(88 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

(Edited to add last sentence.)

M_M_c_C_a_l_l · May 29, 2009, 2:11am

It’s nice to see that someone on a wine board is drinking wine tonight! Thanks for the note, Randy.

Cris_Whetstone · May 29, 2009, 2:33am

I think that’s the first time I’ve seen a Neal described as tight, cedar and austere.

Daniel_Posner · May 29, 2009, 3:28am

I love 2003 and 2004 Neal HM Cab.

Melissa,

I drank a 2003 Stewart Cab tonight. AWESOME!

William_Segui · May 29, 2009, 5:48am

Every note is teh same – tight, austere, etc. – are these things ever going to come around?

Randy_Sloan · May 29, 2009, 3:08pm

I think so. But it sure needs time. I should have mentioned in my TN that the wine was showing better at hour 4. I’ll go back and edit.

One could try decanting for half a day or so, but I don’t ever do that.