Sign of the Apocalypse approaching: A cabernet sauvignon I liked

SteveTimko

Steve Timko
2006 Von Hvel Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (9/13/2009)
I talked about the boytritis in this wine and how unusual that is for a kabinett and needless to say it didn't show up in this bottle. Still in a good spot, though. Slate and spices on the palate along with white fruits. Also, honey, apples, and lime on the palate. Glenn thought it had good acidity. Maybe more acid than the last bottle but it didn't jump out at me. Good finish. A Dee Vine Wines import

2006 Marlargo Riesling - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (9/13/2009)
This was almost too dry for me. But it's a nice wine. The nose was excellent with citrus and white flowers (no diesel). On the palate, some nice zip with flavors of limes and some spice. One flaw was a bitter quinine flavor, but it didn't overwhelm the wine. Okay finish. So few of the Grocery Outlet bargain wines are any good. This one turned out to be quite nice for $2. Imported by Soulful Selections of Denver.

1998 Domaine La Tour Boise Minervois - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Minervois (9/13/2009)
Never even heard of Minervois before today. This is obviously a rustic wine. Lots of black fruit and kind of leathery and briary. Not real elegant but refined in a way that some of the more rustic southern Rhones are refined. Tannins have resolved. I'd say drink 'em if you've got 'em. I liked this. A North Berkeley Imports import.

1984 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain (9/13/2009)
I so seldom find a cabernet sauvignon I like but this one tasted quite nice. I have no idea why. The only major flaw was a tartness in the mid palate and finish. Otherwise, there was nice dark fruits throughout with some cedar and tobacco more promininent in the mid palate and the finish. Some nice earthiness, too. A big wine. Good finish. Some tannins left. I'd say this wine still has a few years to go. So my rate of finding cabernet sauvignon I like is about one in 20.
 
originally posted by SteveTimko:
Sign of the Apocalypse approaching: A cabernet sauvignon I liked
1984 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain (9/13/2009)

Another sign of the Apocalypse: a Dunn Howell Mtn with resolved tannins. way to go, Steve!

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by MLipton:
originally posted by SteveTimko:
Sign of the Apocalypse approaching: A cabernet sauvignon I liked
1984 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain (9/13/2009)

Another sign of the Apocalypse: a Dunn Howell Mtn with resolved tannins. way to go, Steve!

Mark Lipton

A 1991 in the last 6 months or so was also pretty resolved, much to my surprise.
 
My last drink of Dunn was fine, but maybe it was too young.

It's probably spoofed to the extent of yeasts and such, but I also recently found a Cabernet Sauvignon I could drink, my first one in years: 2007 Les Traverses de Fontanes. Maybe I'm giving it allowances because of the price: ~$15 in Michigan.

It's suspiciously dark and velvety. Maybe 2007 can explain some of that. And whatever was been done "to" it, it didn't erase a healthy ripe herbal flavor. Maybe the tannins are a little pillowy. So serve it chilled if that's a problem.

Vigneron Cyriac Rozier is also involved with Jaques Figuette and Chateau la Roque, as manager by one account. The new renditions of those wines indicate a turn toward richness and concentration. It's not apparent that this is a bad thing either, especially for the Mourvedre cuvee.

I suspect other Disorderlies have already encountered these wines and I welcome your thoughts.
 
originally posted by Putnam Weekley:
My last drink of Dunn was fine, but maybe it was too young.

Too young? Shit hell. If you can drink it, it's not too young, but it does speak of changes to the winemaking there, as I'm still sitting on Howell Mtns from '90, '94 and '95 that, by most accounts, are nowhere near ready.

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by VLM:
A 1991 in the last 6 months or so was also pretty resolved, much to my surprise.

The Howell Mountain?
That is quite a surprise to me as we had it two years ago and it gave every indication of being a ten year or more process.
Best, Jim
 
I think that Dunn and Diamond Creek made the best cabernets in the 80s up to and including 1987. Both makers challenge your patience with their wines, but the rewards are clearly there. I had a 1984 Dunn HM earlier this summer. Oddly enough it seemed a little over the hill. Since it is my son's birthyear, I bought several a few years ago. For 1984 there aren't really any French alternatives. In the early 90s the 1984 Dunn Napa was just a beautiful wine. I think today it is easy to dismiss Cali cabs because of the style that evolved in the early 90s. The 70s and 80s cabs were made in a totally different style than those of today.
 
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