World's End
If Six Was Nine Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
I have been fairly critical of the 2010 Napa Cabernet vintage. This 2010 World’s End is one of the Napa producers that breaks with the many others I’ve had that were leaner, lacked structure, tannins & complexity.
This wine was just under $45 when I bought it upon release. Tonight, it is far out delivering that price point. In fact, as good as it is with tri-tip tonight, I wouldn’t open my next bottle for five more years.
The nose shows; some smoke & char, ruby, moist, forest floor with dry leaves, candied/ruby, candied, perfumed, brilliantly, floral fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plums, plums, blueberries, sour strawberries & raspberries. Dark berry, liqueured cola, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, anise to black licorice, steeped, black fruit tea, mellow, dark spices, dry crushed rocks, clay, dry, top soil, mint/eucalyptus, bay leaf, dry crushed rocks, dry stems, tobacco, dry leather, graphite, bright limestone with fresh & just withering/candied; dark, purple, black, red, blue florals framed in violets and lavender.
The body is; full, ripe, lush & juicy. The palate guide is that of a very well made & expensive Cabernet. Tannins are; dark, tarry, chewy, sweet with baby to adolescent teeth. This 2010 has 15-20 years of good drinking ahead with proper storage. The tension, structure, length and balance are just starting their singing lessons. It is very Bordeaux like; moist, forest floor with dry leaves, truffles, mushrooms, candied/ruby, candied, perfumed, brilliantly, floral fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plums, plums, blueberries, sour strawberries & raspberries. Dark berry, liqueured cola, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, anise to black licorice, steeped, black fruit tea, mellow, very, dark Indian & Asian spices with just the right amount of palate heat, saline, smoke & char, black, cracked, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, clay, dry, top soil, dry, river stones, mint/eucalyptus, bay leaf, dry crushed rocks, dry stems, tobacco, dry leather, graphite, bright limestone with fresh & just withering/candied; dark, purple, red, blue florals framed in violets and lavender. The acidy is good to very good but, could be a little better. However, it does hold the alcohol level just in check. The long, complex finish is; ripe, well balanced fruit & earth, nicely knitted & balance which; slides into earthy, dark spicy, dry, dusty, tarry tannins on the long set that persist for several minutes.
Still needed a two to three hour decant.
One of the more complex wines I’ve had in some time.
Cuvée note, “If 6 Was 9" is a song written by Jimi Hendrix and recorded on his Jimi Hendrix Experience LP in 1967.
Photos of; World’s End Winery, staff at the sorting table, the famous & picturesque Napa Valley sign and their barrel room.
I have been fairly critical of the 2010 Napa Cabernet vintage. This 2010 World’s End is one of the Napa producers that breaks with the many others I’ve had that were leaner, lacked structure, tannins & complexity.
This wine was just under $45 when I bought it upon release. Tonight, it is far out delivering that price point. In fact, as good as it is with tri-tip tonight, I wouldn’t open my next bottle for five more years.
The nose shows; some smoke & char, ruby, moist, forest floor with dry leaves, candied/ruby, candied, perfumed, brilliantly, floral fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plums, plums, blueberries, sour strawberries & raspberries. Dark berry, liqueured cola, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, anise to black licorice, steeped, black fruit tea, mellow, dark spices, dry crushed rocks, clay, dry, top soil, mint/eucalyptus, bay leaf, dry crushed rocks, dry stems, tobacco, dry leather, graphite, bright limestone with fresh & just withering/candied; dark, purple, black, red, blue florals framed in violets and lavender.
The body is; full, ripe, lush & juicy. The palate guide is that of a very well made & expensive Cabernet. Tannins are; dark, tarry, chewy, sweet with baby to adolescent teeth. This 2010 has 15-20 years of good drinking ahead with proper storage. The tension, structure, length and balance are just starting their singing lessons. It is very Bordeaux like; moist, forest floor with dry leaves, truffles, mushrooms, candied/ruby, candied, perfumed, brilliantly, floral fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plums, plums, blueberries, sour strawberries & raspberries. Dark berry, liqueured cola, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, anise to black licorice, steeped, black fruit tea, mellow, very, dark Indian & Asian spices with just the right amount of palate heat, saline, smoke & char, black, cracked, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, clay, dry, top soil, dry, river stones, mint/eucalyptus, bay leaf, dry crushed rocks, dry stems, tobacco, dry leather, graphite, bright limestone with fresh & just withering/candied; dark, purple, red, blue florals framed in violets and lavender. The acidy is good to very good but, could be a little better. However, it does hold the alcohol level just in check. The long, complex finish is; ripe, well balanced fruit & earth, nicely knitted & balance which; slides into earthy, dark spicy, dry, dusty, tarry tannins on the long set that persist for several minutes.
Still needed a two to three hour decant.
One of the more complex wines I’ve had in some time.
Cuvée note, “If 6 Was 9" is a song written by Jimi Hendrix and recorded on his Jimi Hendrix Experience LP in 1967.
Photos of; World’s End Winery, staff at the sorting table, the famous & picturesque Napa Valley sign and their barrel room.
2009 vintage. Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon with a little bit of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Serious juice from serious vineyards in Napa Valley (the lower slopes of Coombsville, Sugarloaf Mountain and Circle S, the latter one of the highest parts in the Napa Valley). Cassis, cedarwood, licorice and lead pencil, reminiscent of Pauillac. Concentrated, ripe black fruit, but not jammy. Powerful tannic structure and good acidity. Long finish with licorice and a distinctive minerality. Maltus obviously doesn't go for the easy commercial jammy style. Incredible Napa Valley value at 30 euro! Perfectly integrated 14,8% abv.
2009 vintage. Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon with a little bit of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Serious juice from serious vineyards in Napa Valley (the lower slopes of Coombsville, Sugarloaf Mountain and Circle S, the latter one of the highest parts in the Napa Valley). Cassis, cedarwood, licorice and lead pencil, reminiscent of Pauillac. Concentrated, ripe black fruit, but not jammy. Powerful tannic structure and good acidity. Long finish with licorice and a distinctive minerality. Maltus obviously doesn't go for the easy commercial jammy style. Incredible Napa Valley value at 30 euro! Perfectly integrated 14,8% abv.
1 person found it helpfulAug 30th, 2018
Flamboyant nose of sweet cherries, kirsch and a lovely note of oak.
On the palette, the first thing that registers is the heavy mouthfeel and a plush texture. Sweetness persists with sandalwood and ripe blackberries. However, the finish on the back of the palette is astringent. This ruins what would have otherwise been an outstanding example. Alas, RP was again economical with the truth, rating this at 92 - 94. He really should behave himself.
🙂
Flamboyant nose of sweet cherries, kirsch and a lovely note of oak.
On the palette, the first thing that registers is the heavy mouthfeel and a plush texture. Sweetness persists with sandalwood and ripe blackberries. However, the finish on the back of the palette is astringent. This ruins what would have otherwise been an outstanding example. Alas, RP was again economical with the truth, rating this at 92 - 94. He really should behave himself.
🙂
Somewhat brooding I not heavy. Could develop nicely with time.
Somewhat brooding I not heavy. Could develop nicely with time.
1 person found it helpfulApr 6th, 2016
More like Hendrix with the Band of Gypsies
More like Hendrix with the Band of Gypsies
1 person found it helpfulFeb 23rd, 2016
Dark and brooding. Grippy tannins. Meaty 🍖
Dark and brooding. Grippy tannins. Meaty 🍖
Dec 16th, 2016
Very good. But a bit tart on the finish. Unripened Forest berries.
Very good. But a bit tart on the finish. Unripened Forest berries.
Sep 29th, 2015
An exciting new discovered @BevNo for #CabernetDay #NapaStrong #BuyNapaWine. Wow!
An exciting new discovered @BevNo for #CabernetDay #NapaStrong #BuyNapaWine. Wow!
Aug 29th, 2014A bit of a tobacco smell. Smooth going down but a little bit of a more acidic/peppery finish to trigger a smidge of immediate heartburn. Probably my least fave of a higher end cab.
A bit of a tobacco smell. Smooth going down but a little bit of a more acidic/peppery finish to trigger a smidge of immediate heartburn. Probably my least fave of a higher end cab.
Feb 1st, 2023