2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Oakville
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Tasting notes
(bottled with a screwcap; 15.2% alcohol): Good full ruby. Reduced but not funky on the nose, clearing quickly in the glass to reveal aromas of black raspberry, kirsch , cassis, violet and bitter chocolate. Sweet, plush, slightly gamey dark fruit flavors boast noteworthy depth. A taste of exotic dark chocolate adds another dimension. Offers enticing sweetness and excellent concentration but the strong wave of tannins still needs time to evolve. Still a bit youthfully medicinal. I'd love to have been able to taste this very youthful bottle next to the same wine sealed with a cork (at the time, the winery offered both closures, and if memory serves, the screwcapped version was a bit more expensive).
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (finished with the ubiquitous screw cap) was aged in 100% new French oak with malolactic in barrel, and was kept in wood 27 months prior to bottling. Dark as a moonless night in the Hindu Kush, its aromatics are more reserved and restrained than in the 2004 Estate cuvee, but it makes a full frontal attack on the palate. Stunning concentration, rich creme de cassis, cedar and spice box emerge from this wine with fabulous depth, a compelling texture and a finish to die for. Despite the wine’s sweet tannins and abundant opulence as well as richness, my instincts suggest this 2004 is still a baby, and all the aromatic nuances and secondary, complex elements have yet to emerge. That should happen over the next decade, so purchasers need to have patience. This spectacular effort should keep for 15-20 years. Plumpjack emerges from one of the truly great terroirs of central Napa Valley, the Oakville Corridor, which also supports such remarkable vineyards as Screaming Eagle, Rudd Estate, and what was once the Villa Mt. Eden estate in the 1970s when Nils Venge was turning out some gorgeous wines from this land. Tel. (707) 945-1220; Fax (707) 944-0744