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2001 CALIFORNIA CABERNET SAUVIGNON VINTAGE RATES EXCELLENT TO OUTSTANDING
The 2001 California Cabernet Sauvignon vintage rates excellent to outstanding based on my tasting of over 50 barrel samples provided by the California Cabernet Society at their annual tasting on May 6, 2002. This vintage is the best since the awesome 1997, which it may eventually rival. About 70 California wineries offered samples, which means many outstanding producers’ were absent. However, this sampling represents a sufficient range and depth to allow me to conclude that 2001 is an excellent, and maybe, outstanding vintage. The long growing season spanned over six months from bud break to harvest, and is reminiscent of 1997 except with lower yields. Although it is early in the development of these wines, most possess excellent concentration of flavor and a firm, but yielding, tannic structural backbone. However, the proof of the pudding will be in the bottle when these wines are released. Some wines will experience further blending or different aging or processing regiments that will affect their outcome. My general impressions of different producers are separated into Outstanding, Excellent and Good potential. There is a fourth category for those wines that were too tannic to evaluate at this time, but which merit further evaluation at a later time. Cabernet Sauvignon is the principal component of all these wines. WINES WITH OUTSTANDING POTENTIAL (Producer, appellation): Alexander Valley Vineyards, Alexander Valley Beaulieu Vineyard, Georges De Latour, Private Reserve, Napa Valley Cain Five (54% Cabernet Sauvignon), Napa Valley Clos Pegase, Napa Valley Diamond Creek, Volcanic Hill, Napa Valley Far Niente, Master Blend, Napa Valley La Jota Vineyards, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, SLV4, Napa Valley WINES WITH EXCELLENT POTENTIAL: Arrowood Vineyards & Winery, Sonoma County Chalk Hill, Sonoma County Cosentino Winery, Napa Valley Merryvale Vineyards, Napa Valley Nickel & Nickel, Stelling Vineyard, Oakville, Napa Valley Robert Keenan Winery, Napa Valley Robert Mondavi, To-Kalon Vineyard, Oakville, Napa Valley Silverado Vineyards, Limited Reserve, Napa Valley Staglin Family Vineyard, Rutherford, Napa Valley Whitehall Lane Winery, Napa Valley WINES WITH GOOD POTENTIAL: Amizetta Vineyards, Napa Valley Cinnabar, Santa Cruz Mountains Delectus, Napa Valley Eberle, Paso Robles Fisher Vineyards, Coach Insignia, Napa & Sonoma Honig Vineyard & Winery, Napa Valley Judd’s Hill, Napa Valley Michel-Schlumberger, Dry Creek Valley Peterson Winery, Dry Creek Valley Ritchie Creek Vineyard, Napa Valley S. Anderson, Napa Valley St. Francis Vineyards & Winery, Sonoma Valley Steltzner Vineyards, Napa Valley Tudal Winery, Napa Valley
OTHER WINES WITH POTENTIAL but too tannic (astringent) to properly evaluate at this time. They definitely merit future consideration after the tannins have a chance to soften. Barnett Vineyards, Napa Valley Franciscan Oakville Estate, Magnificat, Napa Valley Harrison Vineyards, Napa Valley Hendry Ranch Winery, Block 8, Napa Valley Mount Veeder, Napa Valley Rudd Winery, Napa Valley Salvestrin, Napa Valley Truchard Vineyards, Pepperhill, Napa Valley May 21, 2002 |
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