Disclaimer-my first Viader. $65.44
Decanted for 2 hours. Transluscent ruby in color. Cherry cola, slight bell pepper, very fresh perfumed nose. Vanilla shows up later in the glass. Reminds me somewhat of Isosceles, of course they are both big Cab Franc wines, but nothing like Dalla Valle, another big Cab Franc wine. Red cherry and wild berry on the barely medium bodied palate, brightly acidic, giving it a solid tartness all the way through, good tannic structure holds up the fairly long finish. I enjoyed, oops, am enjoying the wine, it shows some elegance, but it really isn't my cup of tea. I have a hunch this may be more popular with the ladies than the men (aren't I in tune with my feminine side ). It's way young so I'll give it 89 points for now. I don't think this has much more than mid-term aging potential. I would not buy this wine again at this price.

Winery's web site says that this wine is released Sept. 1. How'd you get an early bottle?

I picked up three at the SF Wine Club on Sunday (8/25) and noted that they official release date is 9/1.

Maybe they are hurrying them out so they can sell before too much information (like Stealthman's review. OUCH, not what I was hoping for, but thank you for the notes) gets out there in the marketplace.

Stemor -
Let me know what you think when you try your first one. I have always liked this wine, but havent ordered any 2000 yet. And glad to see that I can get it somewhere at less than the $80 winery price.

Mr. Laube reviewed this wine last year as a barrel tasting. Here's what he had to say:

Intense, a bit raw and chewy, with firm tannins, but there's beautiful fruit. Rich currant, anise, earth and leather, firming on the finish. Score range: 89-91

Doesn't appear to be up to par with recent vintages... even the overrated 98. AT $80, that seems to be pretty bad QPR.

I don't think this is going to be the only 2000 vintage "let down". I will take this as the first sign and good reason to skip most of this CA vintage. Can't wait for 2001!

-DRAB

JL gets earth and leather in wines that I never even get a HINT of either. Too bad, I'd like em better!
On edit, I agree with him on the anise, but I'd just plain ole call it Red Licorice.

[ 08-27-2002, 01:51 PM: Message edited by: stealthman_1 ]

Stealthman: Maybe he drinks wine out of his boots.

GMTiJ - another late night in Japan?

GMT, that could be it!
Day 2, I'll stick with the 89 point rating as it will no doubt get somewhat better with a little bottle time on it. But if this and the Justification I uncorked tonight are any indication of 2000, I'll pass.

stealth

after all the 99 diasppointments, i am not even going to bother tasting the 2000's. i would rather buy another bottle of the 99 monbousquet

ojeffso, are you really that disappointed in the '99's or are you bummed that they are not being well recieved, thus bad QPR? I have had some really good experiences with Iso and WHL. They are the only 2 I have tasted from CA. I have 1 '99 Viader, but am at least 3-6 yrs. from opening it.

jb

jb-earlier in the year, i attended the wine library california tasting. i tasted many of the 99's and was disappointed. the 99 isosceles is one of the better 99 qpr's. the whitehall lane was an 88 point wine imo. i tasted the 98 and 99 dominus and both were average at best. one of the better wines i tasted was the barnett spring mountain, but still just a 92 point wine. the foley was excellent (93-94 pointer), but the price was ugly ($150). maybe some people don't consider price when tasting, but i do.

Winetex: Nahhh (did I do this right?), it is noontime in the Land Of Rising Cameras. I am correcting what goes for students' summer papers, hence my heightened state of awareness.

ojeffso, what '99's have you purchased?

jb

*chants*

Hobbs! Hobbs! Hobbs! Hobbs!

I really loved the Verite La Joie too.

Here's to the '99 Monbousquet! Yee Haw! Still a lot of '98 and '99 Lafite around that I'm waiting for price blowouts on.

I have been buying Viader for 3 years now and will be passing on the 2000 vintage.

I don't think I'll buy any 2000 bottlings (California Cabernet / Blends) to tell you the truth.

Why bother? There is way too much good wine being made from other areas of the world at better prices....

(Plus, all indications are that 2001 will be as good as or better than 1997 so I will begin mass accumulation beginning late next year)

Short, I am in the same boat as you. Passing on all 2000 Cal Cabs. The prices are too high and I am going to save the pennies for the incredible 2001 vintages that are being reported from Cal, Spain, Australia, and Sauternes. Note to Cal Winemakers/Distrubutors: If you want us to buy your 00's, you are going to have to slash prices. I love Viader but $70 is way too much for the quality.

Ahh, but distributers and retailers will buy it all to make sure they are offered the 2001 for you when it comes out.

See my post on this subject in the Parker hammers cali thread.

I see WS snuck a rating into the Nov. 15 Cal Cab edition for the '00 Viader. Surprisingly, it's listed as a 92 point wine.

I haven't tried any of my few bottles and probably won't for a few years ... but at least I now have expectations of a very good wine when I open one of these.

Damn off vintages.

I will buy a few. Mostly to keep verticals alive and to stay on mailing lists for 2001. I do find it interesting, in a morbid sort of way, to taste great wines from great vintages alongside the same wines from lesser vintage.

I chalk it up as an expensive learning experience.