WCC 2004 California Cabernet Blind Tasting
Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY, 3/7/2024


My Albany-area group (the Wine Collectors Club) got together to taste 2004 Cali Cabs blind at the Fort Orange Club in Albany. Dinner began around 7pm and ended around 10pm.

Executive Chef Lou Agostinello is doing a marvelous job of making wine-friendly, delicious food. Every course was outstanding.

We did a 2004 California Cabernet tasting ten years ago and another fourteen years ago with similar results.


Click on any image with a border for a larger view of that image.


Flight 1
Grilled Quail, maple pecan glaze, wilted frisée, shiitake, sherry poached gala apple:
  1. 2004 Corra Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Double-decanted around 2pm.] Dark chocolate and blackberry nose. Rich, expansive, complex. Gorgeous. (94 points)
  2. 2004 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder
    [Double-decanted around 2pm.] Big, waxy, red fruit nose. Rich and complex with lots of sour cherries. Should drink well for another decade. (93 points)
  3. 2004 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Double decanted all at 1:00 PM, recorked at 5:00 PM.] Huge black fruit nose. Rich, complex. Still young, but no harm in drinking it now. (94 points)

Flight 2
Lamb Tenderloin, cabernet–date reduction, sweet potato quenelles, grilled asparagus:
  1. 2004 Dominus Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Double decanted all at 1:00 PM, recorked at 5:00 PM.] Smoky black currant nose. This is still young, but already long and complex. Seems a little more Bordeaux-like than the previous wines. I suspect this isn't 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. (95 points)
  2. 2004 Pahlmeyer Merlot - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Double decanted all at 1:00 PM, recorked at 5:00 PM.] Rich black cherry nose. Long, complex, elegant. Again, not 100% Cab, but not as balanced as 2.1.
    [After the tasting, we realized that this was the Merlot, and not the 2004 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red. At least I was correct when I wrote, not 100% Cab.] (93 points)
  3. 2004 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
    [Double-decanted around 2pm.] Mildly corked. (NR/flawed)

Flight 3
Roasted Prime NY Strip, ballston blue demi-glace, roasted Peruvian potatoes, broccoli rabe:
  1. 2004 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Decanted from 3:15 to 5:30pm.] Huge blackberry nose. The tannin shows more boldly here, but still has a long complex finish with enough fruit for this Barolo Head. Group #2 WOTN. (94 points)
  2. 2004 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga
    [Double-decanted around 2pm.] Smoky black fruit nose. Juicy, tart. Has a sour quality not typical of Cali Cab. (91 points)
  3. 2004 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select - USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
    [Double-decanted around 2pm.] The muted nose of black currants slowly opens up to brighter fruit and flowers. Young, but so rich and complex. Very long finish. Easily the WOTN for me and the group. (97 points)

Dessert
Almond macaroons and chocolates:
Summary

The 2004 is really coming into its own. There were a couple of off bottles, but the rest were drinking beautifully (especially with food) and still have years to go.

Notes posted from CellarTracker.


People Pix

Executive Chef Lou Agostinello was asked to come out so that we could thank him for this brilliant dinner:
Around our table:
I even got a semi-selfie with Bob:



WOTN Voting (3pts each for #1, 2pts for #2, 1pt for #3)

RankPtsWine
1172004 Shafer Hillside Select
2122004 Corra
3102004 Vice Versa
452004 Dominus Estate
532004 Caymus Special Selection
612004 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red

 

 

 

All original content © Ken Vastola