Boardwide Virtual Tasting of 2001 Cabernets Fully TABULATED

WINE TALK
101

COuldn’t find any 2001 in the Wineshop by me except for a Vine Cliff Oakville. Will report on it later on tonight.

102

This was a great theme for a boardwide tasting. I’ve avoided my 01’s for a few years now as I’ve always found that vintage difficult to peg for drinking windows. (1999 is another like that for me.) Anyway, it will be interesting to read everyone’s thoughts. Based on these three, I would say the 2001 Napa Cab are entering primetime.

  • 2001 Hundred Acre Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan - USA, California, Napa Valley (2/12/2009)
    I’ve never really cared much for this wine, always considering it over-extracted and over-manipulated. That being said, the wine has tamed a bit and was quite good with sour cherries, milk chocolate, rich and creamy espresso. Structure was a bit flabby. Not a long-term ager, drink up. Decanted 1 hour. Small amount of sediment. Part of a week of 2001 Napa Cabernet organized on WineBerserkers.com. (90 pts.)
  • 2001 Jones Family Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (2/11/2009)
    Earthier than the ’01 Barbour with aromas from the forest. Complex cigar box spices, pepper, currant, anise and tea leaf. Fantastic wine. This wine is certainly ready to go but may even improve over the next couple of years. Decanted 1 hour. Quite a bit of sediment. Part of a week of 2001 Napa Cabernet organized on WineBerserkers.com. (94 pts.)
  • 2001 Barbour Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (2/6/2009)
    Initial minty aroma gave way to stewed plums. Flavors of dark fruits, plums, black cherries, cocoa powder, mint leaf, cedar, and graphite. Terrific round mouthfeel with a medium finish. Brooding and smokey. Tannins are smooth and well integrated. Drinking at a really nice place right now but there’s no rush. Decanted 1 hour. Part of a week of tasting 2001 Napa Cabernet organized on WineBerserkers.com. (93 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

103

Opened a 2001 Dominus last night . . . brought to a BYO restaurant after a quick double decant . . . it was freaking CORKED!!! Nothing like a corked bottle of expensive wine at a restaurant without a liquor license to put a damper on your evening! [diablo.gif]

104

Randy, great notes. The Jones is such a great under the radar wine, at least in this day and age.

Sherri, OUCH! Lesson for next time? BACKUP! :shock:

105

As my list of potential victims showed, my stock of 2001s is wide (over 20 producers) but not very deep (a lot of 1s and 2s), so I’ve been sitting on them. Thanks to Mike for the impetus to pop a few.

2001 Kobalt - Opened around the time this sticky was created. The blueberry/chocolate nose touched with floral notes was a little more reticent and not as flamboyant as in its youth, but has now added darker fruits to the mix. Indeed the darker fruits are now probably the strongest elements in the melange. On the palate, the baby fat is gone and the balance of the wine much better than it was a couple of years ago. Darker fruits evident on the palate as the blueberry aspect has receded a bit, with hints of milk chocolate and spice. Not quite as complex as I had hoped, but decently so. I’m not sure where it’s headed, but it could be at a plateau of excellent drinkability right now. Ex-

2001 Rudd Oakville Estate (white label) - Last night. Creme de cassis and vanilla are strong on the nose. It reminded me of a very good Beaulieu GLTPR from 1996 we had about a year ago (see Mike Pobega’s Budbreak entry from January 14, 2008). Very pure fruit on the nose - and the palate, which was pretty consistent with the nose. Secondary characteristics were not very developed, but all elements were well intergrated. Maybe a couple more years would be in order. Right now, a very pure expression of Oakville fruit, with not much complexity. But the purity was what I kept coming back to - very charming wine, if a little simple at this point of its life. VG may become Ex-

2001 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Fay Vineyard - Decided to rent “Bottle Shock” (I totally understand the criticisms of the film’s liberties with history and schmaltzy additions, btw), and the Rudd was gone, so this wine was opened in honor of WW’s winemaking (even if he and Mike Grgich were ignored by the movie - OK, I guess the Mexican Gustavo was a little bit of MG). I don’t understand the stick this wine has received. On the the nose, a complex blend of dark and red fruits, tobacco and a small touch of barnyard funk. On the palate, pretty rich body with the black and red fruits evident, as well as the tobacco and a good spiciness. The mouthfeel was very silky. Both I and my wife preferred it to the Rudd. VG/Ex

106
  • 2001 Vine Cliff Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (2/14/2009)
    This seems to be just starting it’s downward spiral. It’s not a bad wine by any means but if you have this, I suggest drinking it soon. I’m surprised as I thought this would be just entering it’s drinking window. Reddish color leading to a pink around the rim. Nose was a bit reminicent of a Bordeaux with a bit of age on it. Leather, some earth, maybe even a bit of that lead pencil that you sometimes get and oddly enough, Pine Tree. Medium bodied wine with Tannins fully resolved and still some good acidity left. Medium length finish.

All in all this was a good not great wine, but I see it going downhill rather that getting any better.

Posted from CellarTracker

107

Nice notes gentlemen.

My '01s go ‘a-popping’ tomorrow as I throw my pizza-cab bash!

108

ouch!!! you didn’t get an inkling during the double decant?

109

I wasn’t able to make it to the offsite this week, so the merryvale will have to wait!

Damn work.

110

I have a 01 Neal Napa Cabernet in the decanter, and it does not smell very promising. Very porty, overripe, but not yet down the drain.

I have to say that I liked a lot better the wine when it just came out. I remember decanting the wine for 24 hours in an open decanter to get the wine to come out and the tannins to soften a little. But it was delicious. This wine has changed into a charicature of what it once was. It is very much liqueur like. Tasty for sure, but not a wine that I would appreciate. Lots of fruit, but little depth to it, flavors without any dimensions. 88pts Otto.

Otto

111

2001 Bressler (2/13/2009)

I stood up the bottle for 10 days before opening. Not decanted. An alluring nose from the time the cork popped - menthol, saddle leather, cassis, brown sugar, and spice. The mouth feel was not heavy but was silky with integrated tannins and flavors of plum and blackberries with a medium finish. Very enjoyable on a cold rainy night. 90 pts.

112

2001 Ladera, Howell Mountain, Cabernet Sauvignon

Holy smokes was this good. Opened but not decanted about 3 hours prior to consumption and drank with NY strips, roasted fingerling potatoes and sauteed spinach. This was seemless, liquid blackberry/cassis, some mint and chocolate on the back end, medium length finish, super silky texture…I loved this wine…93/100.

113

2001 Dunn Napa Valley

Popped this into the decanter for two hours. Then prepared these ribeyes, cooked in a cast iron skillet. 1.5 mins sear and then pop the whole thing in a 450° oven for 6 mins. Let rest for 5 or 6 mins and oh my goodness they were tasty…





On to the wine.

  • 2001 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - USA, California, Napa Valley (2/14/2009)
    Decanted a little over two hours. Color looks like this was bottled last week. Dark and nearly opaque red violet. Very nice cassis, plum and new leather on the nose. Flavors are wonderfully complex with a great earthly, slightly mushroomy note that lets you know that this is actually a wine entering it’s youth and, in my opinion, only a year or so away from being perfect to pop and pour. (92 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

114

2001 Stewart Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Deep purple in color, this wine has developed beautifully for a mid-range Napa Cab. A delightful nose of cassis, violets, and plum lead to a palate with soft, ripe, warm tannins. Full and broad on the palate, with great acidity keeping it lively, excellent dark fruit, rich but not cloying, with a fine medium finish. Overall a great value for Napa these days, 90 points, drink now or over the next few years.

115

Went with a 2001 Plumpjack Estate. Opened for about an hour now but not decanted. Still a little cold out of the cellar. Nice fruit on the nose but not overpowering. Tannins are noticeable but nicely balanced. A little burn on the finish shows some alcohol. As this is my first experience with this wine and no reference point I’m not sure if this will improve or deteriorate with more age. I am hoping a slight increase in the temperature will bring out some more flavors. An enjoyable wine but not remarkable. 91 points.

Man this is more work than I thought. It took me almost 10 minutes to come up with that and let’s say I’m not impressed with my “notes”. I even have my 36 aromas from my Wine Bouquet Wine Enthusiast aroma kit in front of me and couldn’t come up with anything more specific. I give you guys credit for writing these notes. [cheers.gif]

116

Great notes so far.

I need to ask you a favor: In writing your notes please add somewhere either a point score (100) or a ‘bad’, ‘average’, ‘good’, ‘great’, or ‘excellent’. Reserve ‘Wow’ for wow. (words are preferred over points, and yes, I’ve been wowed before)

I like to tabulate the results somehow and hate guessing your impressions.

Thanks

117

I pulled the cork on the 2001 Phelps Insignia at around 3:00 p.m. yesterday and proceeded to cook dinner (seared foie gras with a port reduction and fig sauce, followed by braised Flannery short ribs over risotto with leeks and mushrooms). The Insignia accompanied the short ribs beginning at around 7:00 p.m.

An excellent young wine (I would say 95 points with room to improve), this had incredible power dominated by primary red fruit, with hints of cedar, spice, and vanillin, followed by a long finish. I have a few more of these, so I am not sorry to have tried the bottle so young. However, I think this wine will continue to improve for years and years and drink well for decades.

Our bout with the Insignia followed the foie gras, which was paired with a 2004 Domaine des Baumard Coteaux du Layon Clos de Sainte Catherine (also an impressive but young wine), so the Insignia is not finished. I will update my notes tonight if necessary.

118

2001 Karl Lawrence Cabernet Sauvignon
Very dark opaque purple, the nose is a little reticent, but reveals a wealth of dark fruit, blackberries, dark plum, cassis, and graphite. On the palate this wine is still firmly tannic, but incredibly well balanced, broad and mouth-coating, ripe round tannins, a firm backbone, lifting acidity, and a nice medium long finish. The wine screams well-made Cab, but is still in need of further cellaring. 92+, drink 2011-2015+

119

I just located an 01 Bressler. Can I play?

120

2001 Bressler

No one responded, so I’ll take that as a “Yes Mike, we would love to have you join us.”

A little background, I’ve been purchasing Bressler since the first 00 release. I’m a fan, but have not yet responded to the latest release. Thought the 00 was as good as any CA cab. The 01 (a much better vintage in general for Napa cab) was not generally thought to be top notch. St. Helena. 14.1% alcohol.

Popped and poured. Dark (almost syrah-like) ruby red. On the nose, nice, but slightly muted cabernet typicity. (to be continued)

This wine was very enjoyable, but did not stand out for an 01 Napa Cab. A little thin on the mid-palate, although the wine as a whole has gained weight over the past 18 months. A solid 89 point wine, although I would expect more from Bressler in a vintage like 01.