**2000 Duckhorn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa
Valley (9/7/2005)**
Rusty red color from center to rim. Initially muted nose showing mostly
alcohol and iron. In five or ten minutes, a huge dose of oak comes out
making a sawn wood impression. Never develops more than a hint of fruit
on nose, mostly in the plum range. Palate begins a little green, empty
in the middle, but with no hard tannins. In a short time, the tannins
become very drying at front of mouth, followed by just a touch of tart
red fruit and a clipped finish. This drank better a year ago at a trade
tasting. Never had a lot of fruit, but iron and earth provided enough
interest and the oak seemed less intrusive. Now of little interest. I
sometimes prefer Cal Cabs from lesser vintages, but not this bottle.