Showdown
Cade
Estate Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Cade vs Davis Howell Mountain showdown - 2016 edition - tasted blind
Cade was the group favorite. Deep blueberry and blackberry, vanilla, cinnamon, but not overwhelming, grippy yet fine and integrated tannin, medium pleasant acidity. Long finish. Ready to go.
Davis: nice redcurrant, red cherry, blueberry notes. A distinct cooling mintiness and some herbal notes. More structured with dusty tannin and higher acidity, very slight bitterness on an otherwise pleasing long finish. This was the more obvious mountain cab. The Davis has at least 5 years to improve...would probably show better than the Cade then. — 3 years ago
Château Meyney
Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1990
One half of a double-blind, France Vs. USA 1990 vintage showdown that also included A. Rafanelli’s Dry Creek Cabernet Sauvignon. Both wines had great provenance and were properly cellared over the last thirty years. I opened both bottles about three hours before we got into them. Corks on both wines had held up very well but looked pretty gnarly. The Meyney still looked quite youthful and was remarkably clear and exhibited gorgeous aromatics. Tobacco, green bell pepper, leather, berries, forest floor and smoke in that order. Tannins are fine and well integrated. Persistent acid. The finish was long and had a hint of burnt toast. In many respects, an evergreen wine that, while showing certain signs of age, certainly has many years of life ahead. It was really hard to chose a favorite between the two. I think the Meyney had a more compelling nose but the Rafanelli had a slightly more gratifying palate. Regardless, we were all winners tonight! — 5 years ago
Showdown
The Bird Malbec 2020
Pretty bold for a supermarket wine: a leather, smoke, plum, vanilla. Medium. My first malbec from California. — a year ago
Balletto Vineyards
Winery Block Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2018
Balletto Pinot showdown no.3
Second highest rating but third as far as potential. I would wait another 6 mos to a year before opening another '18.
Medium ruby, clear.
Nose: fall leaves, earthy, less fruit expression.
Mouth: Airy, light body. Tart, more open than the '19 Cedar Ridge but not much depth, finished quickly. — 2 years ago
Balletto Vineyards
Burnside Road Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018
Balletto Pinot showdown no. 1
Best in the mouth.
Light ruby-garnet. Visually appears to have age beyond it's 4 years to me.
Not a great nose- overripe fruit, some blue notes, oaky spice- maybe has seen new American oak?
Mouth: wow, great full++ mouth feel, a really nice roundness here, unexpected.
This wine is ready to drink right now! — 2 years ago
A. Rafanelli
Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1990
One half of a double-blind, France Vs. USA 1990 vintage showdown that also included a Chateau Meyney Saint-Estephe. Both wines had great provenance and were properly cellared over the last thirty years. I opened both bottles about three hours before we got into them. Corks on both wines had held up very well but looked pretty gnarly. The Rafanelli exhibited great color, noticeable darker than the Meyney and quite a bit of sediment too which left the appearance a bit cloudy but certainly not murky. The fruit was remarkably fresh! Red and dark fruits with leather, red rope licorice, mushrooms and a heavier amount of smoke than the Meyney. Full bodied. This was remarkably tannic still! As I mentioned in my note about the Meyney, it was really hard to chose a favorite between the two. I think the Meyney had a more compelling nose but the Rafanelli had a slightly more gratifying palate. Regardless, we were all winners tonight! Sort of blown away how well this Rafanelli has aged and it has years to go before it dies. Bravo! — 5 years ago
Joe DAscoli
Excellent wine but comes in 2nd in the night of our 2010 Cabernet showdown. 90 min decant and the wine was very good but was missing some of the dark fruits that make this wine pop. Paired very well with the steak — 6 months ago