At a get-together last night in Vancouver:
1994 Peter Michael "Les Pavot" cabernet
Had these wines been served blind, from the sweet nose I'd have guessed this to be more merlot than not, but alas it's more cab. Somewhat mauve in color and more delicate than I'd have expected a 94 to be, but nice.
1994 Caymus Special Select cabernet, Napa
Brighter with more acid and lacking the sweetness of the Peter Michael, I preferred this of the two 94's but still found it rather one-noted and a bit underwelming on the mid-palate.
1995 Lokoya Mt. Veeder cabernet, Napa
Considerably more youthful than the first two with dried black cherry fruit and a satisfying, earthy minerality. Delicious, and my WOTN.
1997 Montelena cabernet, Napa
A wine that made me think of a long-ago conversation with Mark Horvatich wherein he said he likes Montelena better in the less ripe vintages. Well, I'm there. This wine was very good, plummy and inviting, but the edges were unexpectedly soft, and I could tell this wine would never have the focus of the 92's I've liked so much over the years.
2002 D. R. Stephens cabernet, Moose Valley Vineyard, Napa
'Ho' is right. Sweet, marshmallow vanilla nose and even sweeter flavors in the mouth, this is the sweetest California cab I've ever tasted, sweet in a way that occluded all traces of cabernet fruit as I know it. Loud and obvious, whoring around for points that, if it gets them, will be a sure sign of the apocalypse. Highly thought of by the traveller from Los Angeles who brought it and described it as almost making cult status but not quite, it was without question the worst 'pointy' wine I've ever tasted. Even the committed Aussie fan in the group hated it.
2000 Shafer Hillside cabernet, Napa
A very good cab that speaks well to it's grape and origins. Blackberry and plum fruit with solid structure, very enjoyable now in it's more-primary state but should age very nicely.
