Here are the tasting notes from the event.
- 2014 Bethel Heights Pinot Gris – USA, Oregon
A simple wine with apple, lemon, subtle spice and floral notes. Decant acidity. Drink now. (86 pts.) - 2013 Adamant Cellars Merlot Winemaker’s Select – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
This was opened the night prior. Plum, cherry, tobacco and spices. Good use of oak. This should drink well through 2021. (90 pts.) - 2016 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley – USA, California, Napa Valley
This was tight on initial pour. This wine needs 2 plus hours of decanting. Other group said it opened up later in the night. Dark fruits, spices, oak, vanilla and black licorice. Medium finish. Hold until 2021. (88 pts.) - 2013 Long Shadows Wineries Cabernet Sauvignon Feather – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Big wine and solid from the 2013 vintage. Sample this twice on the night and got a bit better with a few hours of air. Earth, tobacco, spices, cherry, plums and oak. Medium to long finish. Could use a few more years in the cellar or a healthy decant. (92 pts.) - 2014 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Estate – USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
More refined than many of the big cabs tasted tonight. Sour cherry, cigar, minerals, earth and mild oak. Decanted 2 hours. I am not sure this wine is going to benefit with aging. It is a solid Cabernet but not a wow of some past vintages. Drink now to 2022. (91 pts.) - 2007 Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve – USA, California, Napa Valley
Another strong showing for an Anderson’s. Drinking window peak right now. Cherry, dust, blueberries, earth and tobacco. On the finish picks up some nice minerality notes. Very complex wine and my wine of the night. (94 pts.)
2014 Miner Family Cabernet Sauvignon Emily’s Cuvée – USA, California, Napa Valley
Normally not a Miner fan but enjoyed the Bordeaux like characteristics. Gravel, cigar, earth, softer fruits and pepper. Medium finish and good acidity. Drink now to 2022. (92 pts.)
2014 d’Arenberg Cabernet Sauvignon The Coppermine Road – Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
A bit over the top. Eucalyptus, ripe fruit, pepper, sweet peppers and spice. Maybe time will help this wine but not a fan of the style. (87 pts.)
2016 Amici Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California, Napa Valley
Straight forward Napa Cab. Plum, cherry, oak, vanilla and dust. Medium finish. Drink now to 2022. Not the kind of wine I would age. (88 pts.)
2013 Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Big wine and needs time which I find is consistent with Woodward wines for the most part. Earth, chalk, dark fruits, oak, and spice. A bit astringent for me at this point in time. Benchmark score 86-88.
2007 Meteor Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Perseid – USA, California, Napa Valley
My second favorite wine at the event. Had I gotten a bigger pour might have been wine of the night. Very elegant with spice, blueberries, sour cherries, dust and integrated oak. Medium finish and balanced. Would not mind trying this event at a smaller tasting over the course of a night. (93 pts.)
2011 Jessup Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California, Napa Valley
This wine did not fit in very well. Old and tired (probably bad storage). Thin, lacks fruit and acidity. Poorly made and consume in 2014. (82 pts.)
2011 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon District Collection Yountville – USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville
A good wine at the time of consumption (2 hours into the tasting) with cherry, plum, spice, bell peppers and mild oak. Medium finish. Tried this later on and all bell pepper. I would consume these now with no decant. (90 pts.)
2014 Bevan Cellars Ontogeny – USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
This wine got better in the night and we consumed this too early. Other group got the benefit on this one. Big wine but not over the top. Blackberries, dark cherries, spice, new oak and vanilla. Long finish. This will benefit with additional cellar time. Drink 2022 to 2030. (92 pts.)
2013 Woodward Canyon Charbonneau – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Nice bonus bottle from Mike’s cellar. Cigar, blueberries, plum, floral, dust and pepper. Very good concentration and long finish. A really well made wine. Drink now to 2022. (93 pts.)
2014 Château Coutet – France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
Apricots, peach, tangerine, honey and floral notes. Nice concentration and medium finish. Hold until 2024. (92 pts.)