2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder
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Tasting notes
The deep garnet colored 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder needs a little coaxing to reveal notes of crème de cassis, espresso, pencil lead and prunes with touches of cigar box, chargrill, truffles and cast iron pan. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with expressive black fruit preserves and loads of earthy/mineral nuances, framed by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and enticing freshness, finishing long and savory. This still has loads of cellaring potential!
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(100% cabernet sauvignon): Good bright ruby-red. Slightly higher-toned on the nose than the Howell Mountain offering, with sexy oak spices lifting aromas of blackberry, black cherry, licorice and bitter chocolate. Offers noteworthy intensity to its dusty spice and blackberry flavors. Fatter and sweeter than the Howell Mountain bottling. Finishes with lovely ripe tannins and building length. The tannins here make those of the Howell Mountain come off as a bit clenched. This is excellent.
Bright medium ruby. Aromas of briary mountain berries, licorice pastille, violet, bitter chocolate and roast coffee convey an impression of medicinal reserve. Dense, tactile and savory, displaying a restrained sweetness and a distinctly saline minerality. The wine's substantial tannins are currently to the fore, but the finishing black fruit flavors nonetheless build slowly and inexorably on the aftertaste. This is still very young. (AG)
Bright ruby. Dark berries, black cherry, violet and licorice on the nose; smells more austere than the Howell Mountain cuvee. At once creamy and medicinal, showing superb intensity and lift to the crunchy mountain blackberry and menthol flavors. A bit higher-toned than the Howell Mountain version but also seems higher in acidity owing to its firm tannic spine. As always, this should be slow to evolve.