We tasted last week this set of DryCreek Cabs. It was a difficult tasting in that the Cabs were all very similar in style & displayed much of the same characteristics and all uniformly high in quality. All showed a distinct DryCreekVlly black curranty/spicy Cab character. So the notes are a bit sparse in order to focus on the differences & avoid repetitivity in the TN.
1. DryCreekVnyds Meritage Benchland DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (60% CS/22% CabFranc/18% Malbec; 14.1%) 2018: Very dark color; rather oaked/pencilly some strong blackcurranty/Cab/spicy bit underwhelming slight complex nose; fairly tart/tangy some pencilly/oak modest blackcurranty/Cab/spicy slight complex flavor w/ modest tannins; very long some blackcurranty/Cab/spicy some pencilly/oak finish w/ light bit tangy tannins; a pleasant enough Cab but a bit on the simple side; not particularly distinctive. $35.00
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2. DryCreekVnyds The Mariner DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (68% CS/13% Merlot/8% Malbec/8% PetiteVerdot/3% CabFranc; 13.9%) 2018: Very dark color; much stronger blackcurranty fruit some toasty/oak bit licorice more complex nose; some tart/tangy rather hard/tannic almost austere flavor w/ ample hard tannins; much bigger & more extracted but badly needs more age. $50.00
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3. DryCreekVnyds Meritage AlluvialGap DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (65% CS/21% PetiteVerdot/12% Merlot/2% CabFranc; 14.1%; 640 cs; Drk: 10-12 yrs) 2018: Dark color; very similar to the Mariner & on the hard/tannic structured side & needs more age; bit more extracted & complex than the Mariner. $65.00/$52.00 (VSP)
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4. DryCreekVnyds Endeavor CabSauv DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (90% CS/10% PetiteVerdot; Aged: 19 mo in Fr.oak; Vine age: 19 yrs; Y=3.2 tons/acre) 2018: Dark color; very strong blackcurranty/Cab more spicy some toasty/oak more complex nose; bit softer/smoother more polished very strong blackcurranty/Cab more attractive/polished more balanced flavor; plenty of extract/structure but more balanced on the palate; my easy favorite of the '18's. $80.00
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5. DryCreekVnyd Endeavour CS DryCreekVlly (14.8%; 545 cs; 27 mo. in new Fr.oak) 2006: Med.dark color w/ slight bricking; rather strong cedary/pencilly/oak/old Red light blackcurranty Cab fairly complex nose; fairly tart bit low fruit bit drying strong cedary/pencilly/old Red fairly complex flavor w/ slightly drying tannins; clearly on its downside but still holding on & offers up a lot of pleasure; $nc (BS)/$60.00
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6. DryCreekVnyd Endeavor CabSauv DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (14.5%; 490 cs; Aged: 26 mo in 100% Fr.oak; 7% PetiteVerdot/2% Merlot; pH: 3.67, TA: 0.53; < 3 tons/acre) 2008: Dark color w/ slight bricking; stronger blackcurranty/Cab strong pencilly/cedary/oak rather spicy some complex nose; fairly smooth balanced some blackcurranty/Cab/spicy fairly complex flavor w/ light bit drying tannins; quite smooth/evolved w/ plenty of blackcurranty Cab fruit but drying out a bit on the finish; probably at its peak or slightly beyond; probably lost a bit of fruit but still plenty of blackcurranty Cab fruit left for an 13 yr old Cab; smooth/balanced/graceful. $nc (BS)/$65.00
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7. DryCreekVnyd 40'th AnniversaryCuvee EndeavorVnyd/DryCreekVlly SonomaCnty RW (230 cs; #1233 of 2760 btls; 13.8%; 47% PetiteVerdot/35% CabSauv/12% Merlot/6% Malbec) 2009: Very dark color; a stronger herbal, almost Bdx-like fairly complex nose; fairly smooth bit herbal/Bdx-like strong blackcurranty/Cab flavor w/ some smooth tannins; probably right about its peak & can go for another 5 yrs or so. $40.00 (VSP)
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8. DryCreekVnyd Endeavor CabSauv DCV9Vnyd/DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (14.5%; 688 cs; 22 mo.in Fr.oak) 2012: Very dark color; slight herbal rather strong blackcurranty/Cab light pencilly/oak somewhat complex nose; rather smooth/balanced some pencilly/oak bit richer light herbal/Cab some complex flavor w/ some graceful tannins; a smooth/graceful/balanced Cab nearing its peak & will go out another 8-10 yrs. $56.00 (VIN)
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9. DryCreekVnyds TheMariner Meritage DCV/SC (14.5%; 69% CS/12% PetiteVerdot/9% Malbec/2% CabFranc) Healdsburg 2014: Dark color; strong blackcurranty/Cab bit cedary/pencilly/oak more Calif-style Cab nose; somewhat softer/smoother/rounder fairly lush/blackcurranty some toasty/oak flavor; fairly youthful more Calif-style Cab that needs another 3-8 yrs. $nc (SL)/$50.00
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10. DryCreekVnyd The Mariner MeritageBlend DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (65%CS/16% Merlot/10% PetiteVerdot/7% Malbec/2% CabFranc; 14.5%) 2016: Very dark color; stronger toasty/oak rather strong blackcurranty/Cab nose; fairly rich/smoother/lush strong blackcurranty/Cab fairly strong toasty/oak structured flavor w/ some ripe/lush/smooth tannins; a fairly lush/ripe/youthful blackcurranty/Cab that needs another 4-10 yrs. $nc (SR)/$35.00
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11. DryCreekVnyds CabSauv DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (14.3%; 45'th Anniv; #4611 of 9750 btls; 3% Spencers'sHill Zin) 2014: Dark color; quite perfumed strong blackcurranty/Cab/very spicy bit herbal/Bdx-like bit complex nose; fairly tangy/tart strong blackcurranty/Cab/spicy/ripe bit herbal/Bdx-like toasty/oak quite structured rather youthful bit complex flavor w/ ample ripe tannins; a rather big/structured bit Bdx-like rather old-timey Calif Cab that needs 6-10 yrs; my favorite of all the Cabs but needs time. $60.00 (VSP)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. The two (40'th & 45'th) Anniv Cabs had the original DaveStare style of old-timey label. It brought a warm spot in my heart as it took me back to that original '72 GamayBeaujolais label that first made me fall in love w/ Dave's wines. It wasn't the label, though...it was the wine. It launched my long-time love affair with DryCreekVnyds. Kim was just a little girl then. And really a cutie. Still is, for that matter.
I'm not particularly a big fan of Calif Cabs and try these DCV Cabs only sporadically. But I was quite impressed by these Cabs across the board. In their youth, they are really quite drinkable because of the balance they show. But they seem to age quite well. As good as any SonomaCnty Cab producers and they should get more recognition for their quality at reasonable prices as far as Calif Cabs go.
Tom