Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Tasting Notes

2005 McManis Family Vineyards California Cabernet Sauvignon Score: 86.0 A big, mouthfilling wine with a core of dense ripe blackberry fruit accented with mocha and toast and sweet spices (allspice and cinnamon). Well structured with substantial (though soft) tannins. Good value. 2002 J. Lohr Vineyards Cuvee Pau Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon Score: 88.0 Pau refers to Pauillac, which this wine attempts to emulate with its blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Merlot. It shows blackberry fruit over herbs, and lots of well-integrated oak exhibiting cedar box and graham cracker spice. It has a classically tight structure and medium tannin, and should have excellent short-term ageing potential, say 5 to 7 years or more, though the alcohol is on the high side at 14.7%. 2001 Chateau Margene Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Score: 90.0 A good late harvest style Cabernet, with Intense aromatics. Cassis flavors dominate over subtle oak, a good acid backbone to give it structure, and soft tannins. It's a perfectly balanced wine in terms of flavor, but its high alcohol (15.4%) will limit most of us to one glass. Only 316 cases produced 2002 Justin Vineyards & Winery Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Score: 85.0 Winemaker Kevin Sass has crafted a wine that may have some ageing potential, but is currently a bit tight and blocky. It's well-extracted, displaying blackberry jam and dry herbal aromas. The flavors derive more from oak - roasted coffee and smoke. It has plenty of stuffing, but it's disjointed at the moment. Based on the medium tannin level, I suggest revisiting this wine in another 5 to 7 years. 2003 Saint Helena Road Roy J Maier Sonoma County Selection Cabernet Sauvignon Score: 90.0 You have to admire anyone foolish enough to sink a fortune in the wine business. It takes passion, focus and a certain reckless abandon. The Maier family?s 18-acre Spring Mountain vineyard produced this stellar offering from very young vines. A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, it's deep purple, with concentrated mountain fruit suggesting dark berries and black grapes. It?s vibrant, yet understated and well-proportioned, carrying the same intensity from the nose through the finish. Surrounding the fruit are layers of roasted coffee, dark bittersweet chocolate, a hint of vanilla, and elusive floral notes. With firm structure and velvety tannins, you'll be able to appreciate this wine now, though it should be capable of extended ageing for the next 12 years. Only 500 cases produced. To the Maiers we say, "Welcome to the big leagues." 2003 Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Score: 87.0 A super ripe Cab full of black plums, with a hint of black currants, bittersweet chocolate and nutmeg. Overall elegant, with good flavors and soft tannins. The finish is complex, but it's also too hot. 2003 Vine Cliff Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Score: 85.0 Like it's Oakville sibling, the Napa Valley bottling is a bit closed in its youth. Its flavor profile includes licorice, tight blackberry, dark chocolate and toast. It's hard to know if the frujit will still be there when the bitter tannins resolve. My best estimate is that it needs 7 to 10 years additional aging, so start drinking in 2013. 2003 Vine Cliff Winery Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Score: 86.0 Vine Cliff wines are meant to be aged, so if you're going to drink this in its youth, aerate it. It shows deep blackberry fruit and toasty oak, along with lightly bitter tannins. Not an easy wine to taste at the moment, it's tight and displaying more oak than I'd like at this stage, it still shows promise for further aging. I'd open it in 2011 or later. 2002 Ironstone Sierra Foothills Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Score: 86.0 Eminently drinkable now, this is a big, lush wine with blackberry and cassis character, a silky texture, and rather warm, chewy finish. I'd pair it with lasagna or steak. 1997 R.H. Phillips Toasted Head California Cabernet Sauvignon - Syrah Score: 88.0 "Aromatic chocolate covered cherries, medium tannin, cedar, and a tart, fruit and mineral finish of exceptional length." 1997 Smith-Madrone Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon estate bottled Score: 85.0 "Dry black currant fruit with its signature tobacco leaf overtones; astringent on the palate, with a hint of licorice and a drying finish. Tightly constructed and quite tannic, it benefits from decanting. This is a wine to lay away for a decade." 1997 Nickel & Nickel John C. Sullenger Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Score: 87.0 "Showing excellent aromatics, this Oakville Cabernet has cherry-berry fruit with a bit of dried herbal character, light vanilla, and moderate tannin."

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