2014 Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley- USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley (3/9/2017)
Ok, finally found the infamous 97ptr from RP, and all of $24! To be honest, I’ve been drinking a few of the 13 to get ready for the 14, and found them very enjoyable in that price point.
On to the 14. Definitely richer and darker than the 13…don’t know if there was Petite Sirah in the 13, but seems to show in the 14. Liqueured berry fruits…cherry, raspberry, plum, currants…sweet and full bodied, but not too so. Not as dry with graphite as I usually like, but definitely not overtly sweet. Really like the smoked cherry wood, and earth mulch…dried tobacco leaf, licorice and cedar spice. Firm structure, but more accessible tannins then the big boys at this stage. Seems to have the fruit and stuffing to age for a decade or so? I find this wine very tasty and correct in young Ca. Cab Sauv…a grab-n-grill some steaks on a tues kind of wine…especially at this price! A case buy all day long…but really don’t get the score? Maybe Parker’s touché to Galloni’s 13 Clos du Val? Don’t know…but I do know this is good juice for $24-35! (93 pts.)
Hold on to these! The 68 Special Selection in 1985 helped propel me down this path–couldn’t believe grape juice could taste so good at that age. (Should have quit then.)
Sounds like you ve had a few of these vintages. Any knowledge on the 12s? I just picked up a bottle for 20 bucks locally. Usually they run 27-30 around here. Don’t believe I ve had the Alexander but usually find the Napa bottling a relatively good buy at the 20 dollar price point. I’m on a bit of drinking hiatus so can’t crack it open just yet.
Nice, thanks Buzz! Still have the 13 here locally and I’ve been waiting for the 14…but maybe I should snag a 13 in the meantime (art the very least for a reference point).
You drinking the Alexander Valley stuff or the Napa bottlings Michael? Sounds like the AV bottles are a little more prime, but haven’t tried either recently
This just arrived in NJ a week or so ago. I tried it with high expectations due to the 97 or whatever score. You obviously got a lot more out of it than I did. I was looking for “wow” and instead got a “not bad”. I thought the wine had nice viscosity and balance, the fruit was there but not overtly forward, but I did not get any of the complexity you allude to, but that is probably just me. I would likely score it a 90, which in of itself is a very good wine. I think the main issue is that original score- just too high.
I am still drinking through a case of the '07 L M Napa bottling and it is drinking very well. In good vintages the “regular” bottlings from many of the “legacy” Napa and Sonoma wineries can represent tremendous values in delicious age worthy cabs.
