K&L Saturday tasting: US Cab 2007/10/20

Year	Wine	Price	Rating
2005	Poppy Cabernet, California A negociant wine. For a wine with generic California appellation, this is an amazing effort and value. Boysenberry, sweet jam, (off dry?), blue fruit, long although simple finish. Buy it. Second tasting at night in Ben's home: overly jammy. May have zinfandel in blend. Not elegant. - so - ws	11.99	***
2004	Cadence Klipsun Vineyard Red Mountain Red Wine, Washington dusty, blackberry, earth, full body, very powerful, licorice - so - ws	39.99	****½
2002	Dusset Woodhouse Family Cellars Cabernet, Walla Walla smells like an elegant Haut-Medoc, coffee, full body, blackberry, elegant. Bought one for tonight. Second tasting at Ben's home. Same notes. - so - ws	31.99	****½
2004	Blue Rock Cabernet, Alexander Valley restrained nose, plum, chocolate, vanilla, very long finish - so - ws	44.99	****½
2004	Hunnicutt Cabernet, Napa Valley earthy, sweet, chocolate, vanilla, blackberry, raspberry, long finish. This smells a bit like Margaux. - so - ws	43.99	****
2004	Lyndenhurst Spottswoode Estate Cabernet, Napa Valley mineral, velvety, white chocolate, plum, hollow mid palate - so - ws	59.99	***½
2005	Caymus Cabernet, Napa Valley spicy, full body, plum, blackberry, violet, lavender, long finish - so - ws	64.99	*****
2004	Lewelling Cabernet, Napa Valley black cherry, vanilla, tea, comparatively short finish and simple - so - ws	46.99	***½
2005	Lewis Cabernet, Napa Valley licorice, plum, chalky, vanilla, astringent, chocolate, extremely well balanced. For this vintage, I slightly preferred the Caymus to this. - so - ws	79.99	*****
2004	Robert Craig Cabernet, Mount Veeder complex, earth, black plum, dusty, raspberry, super long finish, sanguine, very nice effort to be able to follow Caymus and Lewis. - so - ws	59.99	*****
2005	Caymus Special Selection, Napa Valley Not for general tasters, this wine was opened yesterday probably for staff tasting and was put under the tasting table. I kind of asked about the Special Selection and the host let me taste it. jammy, grapy, plum, sugar, very soft, some complex herbs and pepper lie underneath that should be more prominent when first opened. No sign of tiredness but the power has been softened. 4.5 stars at this stage. Most likely a 5-star wine when open fresh. - so - ws	159	****½