Tusk Estates
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
After being completely disappointed with the 2010 and feeling like I bought the "Emperor's New Wine," the 2011 blew me away. Leaves me wondering if the 2010 was flawed because this one was amazing. Smooth, brooding but balanced after a two hour decant - on the palate: beautiful and intense dark fruits, cocoa, faintest minerality, silky tannins. I'm still not entirely sure it's worth the price tag and the "luxury" themed marketing of it sorely undercuts the serious juice in the bottle. This was wine of the (early) night...and a nice surprise given I expected not to like it and for a 2011 I'm blown away.
After being completely disappointed with the 2010 and feeling like I bought the "Emperor's New Wine," the 2011 blew me away. Leaves me wondering if the 2010 was flawed because this one was amazing. Smooth, brooding but balanced after a two hour decant - on the palate: beautiful and intense dark fruits, cocoa, faintest minerality, silky tannins. I'm still not entirely sure it's worth the price tag and the "luxury" themed marketing of it sorely undercuts the serious juice in the bottle. This was wine of the (early) night...and a nice surprise given I expected not to like it and for a 2011 I'm blown away.
3 people found it helpfulNov 14th, 2015
Will had this 9 years ago
Will had this 9 years ago
2 people found it helpfulOct 18th, 2015
2011 vintage. Delightful to the nose! Beautiful oak and cedar notes along with fruit. On the palate the fruit is full bodied and rich, but there is some tannin on the center palate before the finish that makes it less elegant than one might expect. I have higher hopes for the next two vintages. Perhaps the tannin will settle down with some more time.
2011 vintage. Delightful to the nose! Beautiful oak and cedar notes along with fruit. On the palate the fruit is full bodied and rich, but there is some tannin on the center palate before the finish that makes it less elegant than one might expect. I have higher hopes for the next two vintages. Perhaps the tannin will settle down with some more time.
2 people found it helpfulApr 1st, 2015First account to get the 2010! Only account to have a 3 year vertical! Ballers only ;)
First account to get the 2010! Only account to have a 3 year vertical! Ballers only ;)
2 people found it helpfulFeb 21st, 2014
What can you say about a wine like this? I don't think there's any arguing that if nothing else it constitutes an incredible feat of engineering and basic human ingenuity. Dry extract is absolutely off the charts; fruit is borderline jammy but somehow still vibrant and succulent; and the structure is at once dense enough to cause a mild histamine reaction (not a frequent occurence for me) yet utterly silken in texture. It's incredible. Truly incredible. But frankly, nothing about this wine tastes like it came from this earth. Every sensory element of its overall gestalt is so exaggerated in scale as to seem utterly unnatural. It's cyborg wine. It performs all the tasks we expect of wine better than any natural wine ever could and yet there's no beauty to it. I'm scoring this highly because as a winemaker and vineyard manager I can only begin to conceive of the astronomical sums and herculean effort involved in producing such a monument to oenological wizardry. But when it comes to wine, all the money in the world can't buy a soul.
What can you say about a wine like this? I don't think there's any arguing that if nothing else it constitutes an incredible feat of engineering and basic human ingenuity. Dry extract is absolutely off the charts; fruit is borderline jammy but somehow still vibrant and succulent; and the structure is at once dense enough to cause a mild histamine reaction (not a frequent occurence for me) yet utterly silken in texture. It's incredible. Truly incredible. But frankly, nothing about this wine tastes like it came from this earth. Every sensory element of its overall gestalt is so exaggerated in scale as to seem utterly unnatural. It's cyborg wine. It performs all the tasks we expect of wine better than any natural wine ever could and yet there's no beauty to it. I'm scoring this highly because as a winemaker and vineyard manager I can only begin to conceive of the astronomical sums and herculean effort involved in producing such a monument to oenological wizardry. But when it comes to wine, all the money in the world can't buy a soul.
1 person found it helpfulFeb 3rd, 2019
Insane. This wine is ridiculous and large in every sense. This is Bevan-esque! So much blue fruit in a velvet glove. For a Melka wine, I was surprised at the softness and accessibility. Hedonistic style. Begs to be enjoyed early...blueberry pie, nutmeg, cocoa nibs, bay leaf, and vanilla extract. Not for the faint of heart!
Insane. This wine is ridiculous and large in every sense. This is Bevan-esque! So much blue fruit in a velvet glove. For a Melka wine, I was surprised at the softness and accessibility. Hedonistic style. Begs to be enjoyed early...blueberry pie, nutmeg, cocoa nibs, bay leaf, and vanilla extract. Not for the faint of heart!
1 person found it helpfulApr 28th, 2018
Wow. First time for me to taste this. Amazing.
Wow. First time for me to taste this. Amazing.
1 person found it helpfulNov 23rd, 2017
Dear WNH,
What an amazing weekend! Thank you Martin and Christine. A selfless act of kindness and generosity putting this together we cannot thank you enough. What a way to introduce wines, and more so, wine connoisseurs to each other. Upon leaving, Jamie and I were sad not knowing when we will see our new friends again. We wish everyone traveling safe travels and let's keep in touch. Cheers!!! 🍷 Panther
Dear WNH,
What an amazing weekend! Thank you Martin and Christine. A selfless act of kindness and generosity putting this together we cannot thank you enough. What a way to introduce wines, and more so, wine connoisseurs to each other. Upon leaving, Jamie and I were sad not knowing when we will see our new friends again. We wish everyone traveling safe travels and let's keep in touch. Cheers!!! 🍷 Panther
Jesus had this 9 years ago
Jesus had this 9 years ago
1 person found it helpfulOct 16th, 2015Bentley had this 9 years ago
Bentley had this 9 years ago
1 person found it helpfulSep 7th, 2015