TN: Couple of 2007's: ERA & Rivers Marie Cab

WINE TALK
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2007 ERA, Alpha Omega

With minimal decanting, aromatically a little reticent (probably still a bit cold), great color. The palate was massive - very tall, very round. I would almost liken it to stuffing a few Campfire marshmallows in your mouth. One of the more palate covering wines I’ve had. Right along the bottom, there was a blanket of finely grained tannin. 45 minutes later, this shut down hard. The plushness, the roundness was gone. It went tight, linear and the tannins were obviously more apparent. I would think this needs years, not months.



2007 Rivers Marie Cabernet

As I am wont to do, I open RM’s on special events. This time was my birthday and I wanted to check in on these as I have found in the past that the RM Cabs offer a nice window right after release before closing down again. I think I waited too long to pick them up, as the window was nailed shut. The components are there - red & black fruit, nice structure, long finish – but painfully young and not ready. As most of you know I am an unabashed RM fan – and this might be the best of his RM cabs to date, but that judgment will have to be passed on a date much later than now. Retry in 12-18 months?


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I’ve now been through a fair number of 2007’s from Napa. The barrel samples were everything everyone posted on and more. I believe all of those raw components are still in the bottle and the best winemakers have made Outstanding+ wines. Today, however, isn’t the day to be drinking and passing judgement on them. These aren’t 2002’s or 2004’s - these are brooding youngsters that will almost certainly reward some short term cellaring. Drink your 2006’s – a vintage I think was painfully tannic on release and brushed aside as being the redheaded step child in-between 05 & 07’s. The 06’s have shed that tannin wall and started to show what got many winemakers excited early on.



It seems ridiculous to be posting a note basically saying a new released wine/vintage is too early for consumption – but we all do it, so I’ll try to offer a data point for expectation management.

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On ePantload, they do it the day the shipment arrives at the front door!!! [wink.gif] [berserker.gif]

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And I’m not usually much better. But TRB allows for pick-up, so I never seem to make it as early as I could/should.

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Will,

I tried the 2007 RM about a week after delivery and it was every bit as good as you would have expected. Popped and poured at a restaurant and a pleasure to drink with a big ribeye. The tannins were present but hidden behind some lush fruit, although they did become more prevalent as the wine aired through the dinner. But even at the end, it never got to the level of me calling it tight or the tannins becoming drying. I can agree that it was obvioulsy a young wine, and the components could use some time to integrate a little, but it really enjoyable. I guess I am glad I jumped on it early rather than having to wait for it to be ready to be consumed if your bottle is an accurate indication at this point.