WCC 2001 California Cabernet Blind Tasting
Home of Chef Andrew Plummer, East Greenbush, NY
11/20/2014

My regular Albany group met to taste 2001 California Cabernet and Cabernet blends in the home of the great local chef Andrew Plummer. The one ringer was a 2000 Ch. Certan de May, which was my #2 wine and the group's #3. We have been enjoying Andrew's brilliant food for more than 20 years now, at Cafe Capriccio, at Allegro Cafe, at McGuire's, at Creo, and now with his own catering company, Plummer's Private Dining.

Andrew did not disappoint. It was widely agreed that the food was terrific and well-matched to the wine. There was talk of making Andrew's place our permanent home for these dinners!

All wines double-decanted. Dinner was from 7:30 to 10pm.

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The Menu.

Andrew tells us about the first dish. And the group listens intently.


Flight 1
Paella with Grilled Octopus, Lobster, Fried Pancetta, and Crispy Duck Tongue.
  1. 2001 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Double-decanted at 1pm.] Big smoky black fruit nose. Still tannic with tart bright red fruit. Good length. Sweet and juicy. Appealing. (92-93 points)
  2. 2001 Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Double-decanted at 10am.] Muted nose of cocoa and red fruit. Tannic, rich complex. Needs time. (93 points)
  3. 2001 Staglin Family Cabernet Sauvignon Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
    [Double-decanted at 6pm.] Dark, brooding, complex. Long finish. Loads of rich black fruits. Impressive. Big but balanced. My #4 WOTN. (94 points)

Flight 2
Crown Roast of Rabbit & Rabbit Leg Confit on Spinach with Stewed Plums, Cippolini Onion, & Mashed Sweet Potato and Carrot.
This was the dish of the night. Delicate and flavorful, and very wine friendly.
  1. 2001 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Double-decanted at 1pm.] Very surprised that this is the Beringer PR. It seemed hot and alcoholic with over-ripe, super extracted red fruit. (88 points)
  2. 2001 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Double-decanted at 1pm.] Smokey red fruit. Super ripe and young but much more balanced than #4. Great future. My #3 WOTN. (95 points)
  3. 2001 Dominus Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Double-decanted at 1pm.] A little green in the nose with a bit of red fruit. Tart. Not a good bottle.
  4. 2000 Château Certan de May - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
    [Double-decanted at 1pm.] Spicy red fruit nose. Long, complex. Great balance and harmony. Wow! My #2 WOTN. (96 points)

Flight 3
Tenderloin of Beef with Oxtail Demi-glace, Honest Weight Vegetable Medley & Foie Gras Semolina Pudding.
So rich and delicious!
  1. 2001 Sullivan Vineyards Coeur de Vigne - USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
    [Double-decanted at 6pm.] Big aromatic complex nose. Still very young and monolithic in the mouth. Needs time. (92-95 points)
  2. 2001 Niebaum-Coppola Rubicon Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
    [Double-decanted at 1pm.] Muted nose. Quite tannic and tart. I'm always amazed how much this wine reminds me of a young Barolo. In this case, not a very good one. (89 points)
  3. 2001 Ramian Estate Chapter 2001 - USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder
    [Double-decanted at 5pm.] Green nose. Tart and tannic without much character.
    An hour later, it is showing much better with nice sweet fruit. (90 points)
  4. 2001 Joseph Phelps Insignia - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Double-decanted at 6pm.] Hands down WOTN for me. Big ripe complex nose. Rich long and complex in the mouth. A stunning, wow wine. Great length. Still very young, but the richness has such harmony to it. A great wine. (97 points)

Andrew tells us about the lamb course.

Flight 4
Double-Thick Lamb Porterhouse with Port Wine Chestnut Reduction, a Mini-Apple with Mint Jelly, a Brandied Chestnut, & Brussels Sprouts.
This was great. So flavorful and so delicious.
  1. 2001 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve To-Kalon Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
    [Double-decanted at 7am.] Dark black fruit. Sweet and delicious. An excellent classically made wine. (93 points)
  2. 2001 Cloud View Pritchard Hill - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Double-decanted at 6pm.] Big smokey nose. Medium body. Complex, but a bit austere. (93 points)
  3. 2001 Clark-Claudon Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Double-decanted at 7am.] Getting near the end. Maybe too much wine for me, but the alcohol just seems too high on this. Like a bit of brandy was added. Again, much liked by the group, but not by me.
  4. 2001 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Double-decanted at 5pm.] A huge wine. Massive rich, but monolithic. Enjoyable, but will it ever develop complexity? (92 points)

Conclusion

This is a very good vintage and most of these wines are still too young.


Notes posted from CellarTracker.

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

RankPts#Wine
112112001 Joseph Phelps Insignia
2982001 Sullivan Vineyards Coeur de Vigne
3872000 Château Certan de May
4(tie)712001 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon
4(tie)7142001 Clark-Claudon Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown
6(tie)632001 Staglin Family Cabernet Sauvignon Estate
6(tie)6122001 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve To-Kalon
85152001 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
9(tie)422001 Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon
9(tie)4102001 Ramian Estate Chapter 2001
11342001 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve

People Photos

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Jared's hand, Joel S, Bob B, Joel H, Steve M, Bob S, Andrew,
Keith, Bob F, Mike & Mike (W & T), George's hand.
Keith, Bob F, Mike & Mike, George W, John F.
Hi, I'm Andrew Plummer for Asian Market Duck Tongues.
Duck Tongues. Really, Duck Tongues.

 

 

 

All original content © Ken Vastola