The Wine Club Sunday Tasting: Best Of 2001 California Cabernet 2004/12/05

Year	Wine	Price	Rating
2001	Ridge Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains closed, austere, tannic, blueberry, oak, blackberry, full body, vanilla, cedar, great potential - so - ws	99.99	*****
2001	Far Niente Cabernet, Napa Valley red fruit, raspberry, cherry, perhaps strawberry, chocolate, mocha, tannic - so - ws	79.99	****
2001	Etude Cabernet, Napa Valley Sweet vanilla cherry, a little hint of menthol, spice, alcoholic - so - ws	79.99	****
2001	Opus One, Napa Valley Thick blackberry, juicy, sweet oak, no aroma. Is there something wrong with the temperature of the tasting room or the glass or me? All wines have very minimal aroma. They did give me a Riedel glass but design for water drinking. Terrible. Should demand a refund or bring my glass next time. In any case, this is tighter and less elegant than other Op 1 vintages. - so - ws	124.99	****
2001	Caymus Special Selection, Napa Valley jammy, mint, plum, berry, spice, complex, extremely long finish. Still my favorite among these. - so - ws	129.99	*****
2001	Chappellet Pritchard Hill Cabernet, Napa Valley chalky, blackcurrant, mild earth, licorice, full body, extremely long finish - so - ws	94.99	*****
2001	Staglin Family Cabernet, Napa Valley coffee, amaretto, a plummy flavor that I often associate with Dominus, velvety, chocolaty - so - ws	89.99	*****
2001	Insignia, Napa Valley oak, spice, licorice, blackberry, vanilla, coffee, balanced, everything else. - so - ws	99.99	*****
2001	Cask 23, Napa Valley closed, barnyardy, plum, mocha, biting long finish. Not ready to even judge. But I don't think it is a classic example of SLWC's style, nor is it a standard of Stags Leap District flavor profile either. - so - ws	144.99	****
2001	Frog's Leap Rutherford Cabernet, Napa Valley slightly herbal, blackberry, acidic, long finish. A very good wine, quite a progress from their other vintages. - so - ws	52.99	****
2001	Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet, Napa Valley earthy, black currants, chalky, very complex, a bit of tar and flower, teeth gritting tannins. This is the first time I have heard of a RM Reserve Cab listed at less than $99. Quite a good deal. Perhaps they won't achieve this quality any more after the Mondavi family left the enterprise? - so - ws	79.99	*****