Just picked up my allocation at the winery. Opened a 375ml Thursday evening prior to going out to dinner. Rich ruby color with purple at the edges, initially the nose was closed. We let it rest and returned to it three hours later after dinner and that was what it needed. Pure fruit tasting of blueberries, very long finish, really excellent, 94+

Good to hear! I should have 6 coming my way

a

Posted Jul 22, 2007 03:51 AM Hide Post
I've had this wine so many times...

I think this is my 6th bottle.

I really wanted to see what happened to it. Upon release it was very good, but it seemed to shut down. For the past 3-4 years I've come back to it every 8 months or so. It never seemed to live up to its initial potential. Always reticent nose. Always great, classis, slightly modern style CA Cab with that Etude cherry. But never a 'wow'... until tonight...

As soon as I pulled the cork I knew this bottle was different. I could smell the wine so much, just from the bottle. And I could smell that the secondary charateristics were just starting to develop.

The nose is of chocolte covered cherry, dried bay leaf, brown spice. The palate has all those flavors but a deep casis becomes more apparent as well. The finish is incredibly long. This has great grip but is open now. My score would be even higher but for a slight heat on the back end -- that may fade with time. 93.5+

This was stored in the dark in a room ranging from 59 degrees F to 64 degrees F. So ifyou've kept yours at exactly 55 F, it might still be a little closed.

From a 375ml. 14.3% alcohol, I think this is the first of Etudes newer style cabernet's. It is bit more extracted than previous vintages but it is balanced. Still has a black cherry nose, maturing nicely but still relatively young. Still getting better, probably will enter prime time around age 10+. 93 points

When I have a wine in a 375ml size, it is easy to justify opening it for me. Anyway, this wine needs one hour to open, initially it does not seem balanced but then it all comes together. Dark ruby, black cherries in the nose, drinking well but still improving. No harm trying one. 94 points

good to hear! great wine.

I have not tried their Pinot yet. Is it worth trying or stick their cabs?

quote:

Originally posted by wineglas:
good to hear! great wine.

I have not tried their Pinot yet. Is it worth trying or stick their cabs?

Their regular pinot noirs are good but expensive. Their heirloom pinots are something special.

quote:

Originally posted by Pippin:

quote:

Originally posted by wineglas:
good to hear! great wine.

I have not tried their Pinot yet. Is it worth trying or stick their cabs?

Their regular pinot noirs are good but expensive. Their heirloom pinots are something special.

Pippin,

I still have one bottle of 2000 Etude Heirloom PN that was too expensive at $90 6 years ago. I'm thinking of holding it till Thanksgiving next year. However, now I'm beginning to think I'm holding it too long. What do you think?

quote:

Originally posted by latour67:

quote:

Originally posted by Pippin:

quote:

Originally posted by wineglas:
good to hear! great wine.

I have not tried their Pinot yet. Is it worth trying or stick their cabs?

Their regular pinot noirs are good but expensive. Their heirloom pinots are something special.

Pippin,

I still have one bottle of 2000 Etude Heirloom PN that was too expensive at $90 6 years ago. I'm thinking of holding it till Thanksgiving next year. However, now I'm beginning to think I'm holding it too long. What do you think?

I would drink it now, but I always error on too early. I just hate it when I let a wine go over the hill!

Pippin

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll open it within the next two months! Also, I've been asking myself, why do I have a 2000 Etude Heirloom PN in my cellar? I didn't buy it, my wife gave it to me as part of a birthday present in 2003! Anyway, it will be opened soon!

Couldn't agree more with the earlier posts about giving this wine air. Here's my note posted on CT

2001 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (11/6/2009)

I gave the wine about 90 minutes of aeration. At first I thought it was perhaps starting to fade and was not up to prior experiences. Moved to the decanter for another 2 hours and the wine took off towards greatness. A complex and deep nose. It really developed the classic Etude Napa profile. Cedar, spice and rich black fruit perhaps a touch of olive or earth. The time in the decanter added serious weight and complexity to the wine while it stayed in perfect balance. Still very young. Drink now with 2-3 hour decant or hold. Might be as good as the 97... (94 pts.)