TN: 2004 Hill Family Estate - Cabernet Sauvignon

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

• 2004 Hill Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - USA, California, Napa Valley (4/6/2009)
  – decanted for one hour before tasting –
  – tasted non-blind over a few hours –

NOSE: lots of brown sugary oak; blackberry pie; hints of cedar, earth; and soapy/chalky lavender; hint of cherry cough syrup; moderately expressive bouquet.

BODY: rusty garnet color of medium-great depth; medium-full bodied; lots of fine particulate matter.

TASTE: oak; eucalyptus; blackberries; well-balanced with dusty tannins; seems a bit lacking in Cab. Sauv. character – really comes across like a Bdx blend – maybe Cab. Sauv., Malbec & Petite Verdot … I’m awfully curious about the cepage of this wine; medium length finish (40-45 sec); I could see this improving with short-mid term cellaring; this seems like the work of a winemaker who could do amazing things with better fruit; 14.5% alc.

B: 50, 5, 11, 16, 7 = 89
A: 50, 5, 11, 16, 7 = 89

EDIT: found out the cepage is 95% Cab. Sauv, 5% Malbec (89 pts.)

[William_Segui]

I remember liking the 04 and loving the 05. Seeing as how their tasting room is across the street from my gym, maybe I’ll get a two-fer in this afternoon…