We tasted only red ones which were all chilled after decanting, using ice water due to the extreme heat. Most people tell me all the time that summertime is no red wine time. This is definitely not true! In contradiction to cold white wine or rosé you can´t drink red wine too fast which leads to a more moderate consumption. The trick is a really very carefully chilling - and on this playground Mr J is a master.
The tasting was subdivided into three vintage parts of US wine: 1997, 1998 and 2006. The following wines were tasted:
- 1997 Robert Craig Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder (92/100)
- 1997 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (91/100)
- 1998 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (93/100)
- 1998 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Gaudeamus Vineyard Upper Block (89/100)
- 2006 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard (94/100)
- 2006 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard (95/100)
The first five wines were from Napa Valley in California whereas the last (and best one) was from Columbia Valley (State Washington).
Let's start with the glorious '97 vintage.
1997 Robert Craig Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder
This wine offers a light, shimmering ruby red with clear maturity notes. The aromas are subtle: Licorice, leaves of black tea and a lot of different spices. On the palate very charming with a smooth fluent (long) finish. Drink it now. And pair it with creamy blue cheese. Perfect due to the wonderful overall sweetness of this beauty.
1997 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Deeper red than the Robert Craig. The maturity not so clearly visible. Therefore the smell shows noticeable ripeness notes. Forest floor, acorns and ripe blueberries. More tart. After one hour in the glass very structured and balanced. Like for the Robert Craig you should not wait any longer. Food pairing? Lamb chops, lamb chops, lamb chops!
The next flight with some wines of the underestimated vintage 1998 started with another Pride wine.
1998 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Deep cherry red. Wonderful aromas of very dark fruits. Some chocolate notes. Partly roses in full blossom. On the palate the fruits are clearly dominating, filling the mouth well right from the start. Extremely fruity, outstanding.
The wine was a real surprise. We drunk the higher rated 1997 just before but this wine was much better. The wine is of course on the top, but will hold this quality another two years. Drink it to flambéed turkey with whisky sauce.
1998 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Gaudeamus Vineyard Upper Block
Young, fresh and deep cherry red. A little bit austere. Nutmeg, tar and dark chocolate. Nearly no fruity notes noticeable. Very tarry and earthy in taste with a clear orientation in direction of truffles. Challenging and demanding. The wine remains long with a certain bitter note to the end which is not disturbing.
In total I believe the wine is already over the hill. Bummer! So if you have more in your cellar drink it now or sell it via auctions. I am quite sure you will get for this rare wine a good price. If you want to drink it, indeed as part of a nice BBQ is the very best solution.
Now the BBQ was nearly finished and it became slowly dark on the balcony. And we changed to the 2006 vintage.
2006 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard
In contradiction to the Quilceda Creek there was still enough daylight to recognize the wine's color. Wonderful deep purple red with some light rims. Extremely fruity. Blackberries and blueberries paired with some smoke hints which leads in total to a great scent experience. Very charming. On the palate the fruits are clearly dominating. The tannins are still noticeable but soft and velvety. Very long finish.
No doubt. This wine is absolutely on the top - perfect selection Mr J! - and will hold this quality for another five years. After that it will still provide a lot of fun for another five to ten years. Pair it with short ribs braised in red wine.
2006 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard
Last but not least we changed to State Washington. As I mentioned before it was now too dark to recognize the color. But if a wine can smell "black" I would describe the Galitzine Vineyard Cab in this way. Wonderful blackberry aromas paired with animalistic earth and spice notes. In parallel young and vital. During the next hour the wine changed nearly every minute its taste. A real fruit bomb in a frozen moment, then dissolved to a tannin beast of a wine. Fascinating.
Fact. This wine is just at the beginning. Waiting another three to five years is not a mistake. But who cared at this very special hour on the balcony of Mr and Ms J? Definitely not me and also not the Js. It was definitely the wine exactly for this moment. Thanks Mr and Ms J!
