In my last posting about these tasting opportunities I titled the article…”In Search of the Perfect Wine”… that would be for my palate of course. Perfect in this context refers to a wine that I would score “100” points. I know the debate rages on about the 100 point scoring system but I use it and will continue to use it simply for it’s universal acceptance. Would either of these two wines have a Stan palate score of 100 points?
I forgot to mention in my last article that Bob scored the One Hundred Acre “Deep Time” Cabernet Sauvignon a perfect 100. A shared his enthusiasm about this great wine to a lesser degree. He asked me if there was such a huge difference between a 98 point score and 100. It got me thinking, and I realized that when a wine critic gets in the 90 plus range, each point carries more weight. I have noticed this over and over again with wine writers and critics. The same is true for me in the lower 80 point range. If I am going to score a wine low, I take that responsibility very serious. So each point lower then 85 carries more weight to me. A lot of wines fall in the 85 to 90 category and they are good bottles just not in the upper stratosphere.
Sorry for going off on a tangent there but I thought it was necessary to clarify my personal wine scoring approach. So as I tasted these two wines I wanted to be quite careful in my scoring approach, knowing that these wines would more then likely demand a 90 plus.
2008 Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
Very explosive on the nose with rich notes of dark cherry, blackberry, black raspberry and hints of chocolate. Definitely got hits of alcohol on the nose. Bright acidity on the palate with big notes of kirsch and blackberry. Big mid-palate with notes of charcoal, lots of spice and blackberry that flows into a persistent finish. This wine is layered and smooth with some sweet tannins hitting you right up front. This is a baby, and the more it opened the better it was. Even though the alcohol came through on the nose, it was well hidden on the palate. The 2008 vintage in Napa was a challenge and Caymus comes through with a winner. 94 points
2001 Harlan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
Big shoulders with a smooth belly… That is how I describe this incredible bottle of wine. An intense bouquet of black currant, raspberry vine licorice,mint, minerals and a little marinated steak action. Chocolate, black currants, spice and boysenberry hit you big time up-front and intensify on the mid-palate with some wonderful spice box notes and sweet tannins. This wine is big and smooth with a slight alcohol hit on the finish that is easily consumed by dark fruit notes and a touch of vanilla and mocha that persist for what seems to be several minutes. This wine will continue to improve over the next 15 years. I would have to say that for my palate this wine is built perfectly. 100 points
So there you go, the perfect wine for MY palate. From this experience I have been inspired to greater heights to find a perfect wine for my palate that isn’t in the upper stratosphere of price. I know it’s out there and I know what I am looking for. For now however I will cherish the memory of these wines, and continue in my search for the best wines for the buck. Here’s to good friends, great wine and the ever generous Bacchus. Cheers! Stan The Wine Man
