WCC 2005 California Cabernet Blind Tasting
Home of Chef Andrew Plummer, East Greenbush, NY
4/16/2015

My regular Albany group met to taste 2005 California Cabernet and Cabernet blends in the home of the great local chef Andrew Plummer. 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.

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

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The Menu.


Flight 1.
East Coast Skate Wing with Foie Gras Froth, Hen of the Woods Mushrooms, Spring Oyster Mushrooms & Vidalia Onion Confit, and Sauteed Kai-Lan.
  1. 2005 Geyser Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Block Collection Walking Tree Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
    [Double-decanted at 1pm.] Blackberry nose. Big, ripe, rich, tannic. Very young, but lots of potential. (93-95 points)
  2. 2005 Fisher Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Unity - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Decanted for one hour.] Another ripe nose but with some secondary aromas starting. Silky. Long finish. Drink now-2025. (94 points)
  3. 2005 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Decanted for 3.5 hours.] Muted woodsy, red and black fruit nose. Old world character. Some think it's a Bordeaux ringer. Tight and complex. 92-??
    Day 2: Brought home one glass in the bottle. Showing more flamboyance today. Terrific wine with a great future, but didn't show well on day one. 95 points today. (95 points)

Flight 2.
Veal Tenderloin Medallions Saltimbocca with Sage & Gruyere Cream, Crispy Prosciutto & Roasted Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes. Shirred Quail Egg & Pernod Spinach.
  1. 2005 Longfellow Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Double-decanted at 5pm.] Big smoky black fruit and licorice nose. Tannic. Showing better with food. I would wait a few more years, but this should be really good. Group #1 WOTN. (94 points)
  2. 2005 Vin Roc Wine Caves Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Atlas Peak
    [Decanted for 11 hours.] Oily nose. Rich tight. Served too warm. Elegant. (92 points)
  3. 2005 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Double-decanted at 7am.] Black fruit and licorice nose. Silky in the mouth. Bottle a bit warm. Group #3 WOTN. (93 points)
  4. 2005 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five - USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
    [Decanted for 5.5 hours.] Woodsy nose. Silky, lush, long and complex. Impressive. Group #4 WOTN. (93 points)

Flight 3.
Hudson Valley Duck: Seared Breast and Braised Leg, with Clairborne Hill Honey Shiraz Sauce, Colossal Asparagus and Roasted Fennel.
  1. 2005 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Right Bank - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Decanted for 2 hours.] Muted nose. Juicy, tart, tight, appealing, but needs more time. (92-94 points)
  2. 2005 Flora Springs Trilogy - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Decanted for one hour, fifteen minutes.] Flowers and red fruit nose. Long and juicy. A lovely wine that should drink well for 10 more years. (93 points)
  3. 2005 Peter Michael Les Pavots - USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
    [Double-decanted at 5:30pm.] Red fruit nose. Thick and silky up front, but really tannic in the mouth. I hope it will soften over time. Group #2 WOTN. (92-94 points)

Flight 4.
Beef Short Rib with Unagi Glaze with Braised Sprout Leaves, Chinese Black Rice & Celeriac Silk.
  1. 2005 Cloud View Pritchard Hill - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Double-decanted at noon.] Big, red fruit and roast beef nose. Very tart in the mouth. Some nail polish. Others like it better. Not Rated.
  2. 2005 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select - USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
    [Double-decanted at 8am.] Huge, black fruit and licorice nose. Young and huge. Needs a lot of time, but the potential is obvious. (94-?? points)
  3. 2005 Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
    [Double-decanted at 7am.] Minerally red fruit nose. Long, black fruit finish. Nice stuff. (93 points)

Dessert

Conclusion

These 2005 California Cabs are all good, but too young to really show their stuff or really to differentiate them much.

Notes posted from CellarTracker.


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

RankPts#Wine
12142005 Longfellow Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
217102005 Peter Michael Les Pavots
31062005 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
4972005 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five
5682005 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Right Bank
6(tie)522005 Fisher Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Unity
6(tie)5122005 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select
8492005 Flora Springs Trilogy
92132005 Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard

People Photos

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Andrew telling us about the food.

Plating the food.

Plating the food.

Mike W, Bill H, Mike T, Bob S.

Steve M, Tom M.

Dick L, Bob F, Joel S, George W.

Joel S, George W, John F, Larry S.

Dick L, Bob F, Joel S, George W, John F, Larry S.

Tom M, Mike W, Bill H, Mike T, Bob S.

 

 

 

All original content © Ken Vastola