WCC 2007 CALIFORNIA CABERNET BLIND at Dorato's Restaurant, Guilderland, NY (6/30/2011)

My regular Albany-area group met to taste 2007 California Cabernet blind, but it turned out all the wines were from Napa.

Most wines were double-decanted in the morning. Dinner began a little after 7:30pm.

FLIGHT 1

Portabella Mushroom Stuffed with Provolone & Casino Stuffing with a Cream Sauce.

• 2007 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve - Napa Valley
  [Vigorously double-decanted around 5pm. Tasted close to 8pm.] Gorgeous red fruit nose. Surprisingly acidic on the palate. Has some interesting and exotic flavors like sandalwood. Medium length. May be at an awkward stage now. 89-92 points.
  Day 2: Pretty much the same. Strange. I expect more from this usually outstanding wine.
  Day 10: [Yes, open 9 days with just the cork stuck in the bottle.] Black cherry liqueur nose. Heady and just a touch hot in the mouth, but the finish lasts a full minute. Dark black fruit, just a hint of caramel. This could be terrific in 5-10 years. 92-95? points. (90 pts.)
• 2007 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate - Napa Valley
  [Double decanted at 2pm. Tasted at 8pm.] Black cherry nose. Tart juicy and appealing, but I expect more from this wine. 92-?? points.
  Day 2: More like what I would expect. Blackberries and mild spice on the nose. Rich in the mouth. Notably thicker and silkier than yesterday. The acidity is still higher than would expect from this wine, but now balanced by more rich black fruit. 92-94 points.
  Day 10: [Yes, open 9 days with just the cork stuck in the bottle.] Big smoky nose of plums and red raspberries. Silky in the mouth. A really delicious wine. Hard to say that this will be one of the great Montelenas (e.g. 78, 91, 94, 97), but it is a delicious and classic Napa Cab. (92 pts.)
• 2007 Chappellet Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Signature - Napa Valley
  [Double decanted at 8am.] This is more what I was expecting. Richer and more full bodied than the first 2. Complex and delicious with a long tasty finish.
  Day 2: Silky sweet black fruit. A really delicious wine. 94 points. (94 pts.)

FLIGHT 2

• 2007 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch - Napa Valley, Oakville
  [Decanted 7am.] Black fruit nose. Big and rich with lots of tannin buried under loads of ripe fruit. A terrific complex wine. Big and ripe but with a sense of restraint. Delicious.
  Day 10: [Yes, open 9 days with just the cork stuck in the bottle.] Dark, slightly dried black fruit nose. Thick rich and touch alcoholic in the mouth. 92 points. (94 pts.)
• 2007 Stewart Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley
  [Double decanted at 1pm.] A stunning wine. Has a monumental quality to it. Ample black fruit. Not sure where it might go, but if you have it, give it try. Young but really special right now. (94 pts.)
• 2007 Mi Sueño Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley
  [Double decanted at 8am.] More muted nose of black fruit and beef. Very tannic. Backward, but lots of ripe fruit. Great potential. 93-?? points. Group WOTN#1. (94 pts.)

FLIGHT 3 (Meritage)

• 2007 Flora Springs Trilogy - Napa Valley
  [Double decanted at 8am.] Ethereal nose. Very extracted. Loads of sweet black fruit. Great length. Very drinkable right now. WOTN so far for me, esp. in terms of drinking now.
  Day 10: [Yes, open 9 days with just the cork stuck in the bottle.] Showing some signs of being open 9 days, but it is still quite a delicious wine! (95 pts.)
• 2007 14 Appellations - Napa Valley
  [Double decanted at 8am.] Smoky red fruit nose. Rich red fruit. Big, tart, tannic. Licorice. The first wine tonight to be noticeably oaked (perhaps over-oaked). (92 pts.)
• 2007 Ramey Cabernet Sauvignon Annum - Napa Valley
  [Double decanted at 8am.] Long minty black fruit nose. Tarry black fruit. Very serious stuff. A dark sensuous wine. Should be great in 10-20 years. 96-98 points. Group WOTN#3. (96 pts.)

FLIGHT 4

• 2007 Buoncristiani Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley
  [Double decanted at 8am.] Muted black fruit nose. Extracted. A touch hot now. Tannic and backward. I don't think it is at a good stage, but definitely has potential. 93-?? points.
  Day 10: [Yes, open 9 days with just the cork stuck in the bottle.] A hot alcoholic mess by now. (93 pts.)
• 2007 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard - Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
  [Double decanted at 2pm.] Dark black fruit. Smooth as silk covering a mountain of a wine. Huge and tannic under a layer of delicious smooth fruit. Group WOTN#2. (96 pts.)

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

SUMMARY

There are some terrific wines here, but this tasting did not convince me that 2007 is more than a very good vintage.

Notes posted from CellarTracker.

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All original content © Ken Vastola