A Tasting of 2001 California Cabernets with Chocolate

  California produces some of the best Cabernets in the world, and 2001 was the best vintage in a long time.

All of the wines selected have an 85 or higher rating from the Wine Spectator Magazine. The best part is that all of these excellent Cabernets are still available.

Since chocolate goes so well with cabernets, we will be serving imported chocolate with the wines.

Aperitif:

2004 Babich  Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)

The Cabernet Sauvignon Wines

2001 Chateau St. Jean, Sonoma County

2001 Estancia,  Paso Robles

2001 Clos du Val,  Napa Valley

2001 Lolonis,  Redwood Valley

2001 Villa Mt. Eden,  Napa Tall Trees

2001 Hess,  Napa Valley Estate

An appropriate selection of cheeses and breads will accompany these wines.

Please bring your own glasses. Coffee and dessert will be served after the tasting.

Attendees recognize they will be consuming alcohol and assume all responsibility for having done so.

 Attendance will be limited to the first thirty-two responding.

Members  $23.00            Guests   $25.00

What Happened.........

This tasting was organized by Ron and Marlene Hegland with Ken and Margaret Grezlik.  They selected six very good wines from the California 2001 vintage to be tasted with chocolates from Belgium, made by relatives of Marlene. The tasting was enjoyed by 30 members and guests.

Ron presented the aperitif, which was a New Zealand Sauvignon from Babich. The 2004 vintage is excellent and this wine was very popular.

Ken described the 2001 season which began with an early spring, and a thinning frost.  There followed a long growing season, and good harvest weather.  The result was a year that is rated on the AWS chart as nine out of a maximum ten.

Ken led the tasting, and we discovered differences in the wines, as some were of high cabernet concentrations, while others were blended with other appropriate wines. But there were no poor wines. The best liked wines were the Lolonis, closely followed by the Hess, and the Chateau St. Jean.

Breads and cheeses were also served with the wines. The cheeses were Parmigiano Reggiano, Grand Romano, and Holland Gouda.

We finished an excellent tasting with coffee and cookies.