2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill
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Tasting notes
The chunky-styled 2001 does not possess the charm, complexity or sweet, pure blueberry and black fruits found in Bryant’s wines since the early 1990s. It reveals a hint of new saddle leather, but the aromatics are largely restrained and need to be coaxed from the glass. The wine is full-bodied and concentrated, and by itself, is probably a better wine than my rating would suggest. However, in the company of other top 2001s, it suffers. It has 15 or more years of life remaining, but I would opt for drinking it early on since it is difficult to say what might emerge in the aromatics. The Bryant Family Vineyard high on Pritchard Hill is one of the great terroirs of Napa and a number of wines produced from that site are among the legendary efforts made over the last two decades (the 1995, 1997, 2005 and 2007). The 2001 was made during a period of turmoil for proprietor Don Bryant, and was vinified and barrel-aged at the Napa Valley Cooperative. There was plenty of drama surrounding this vintage. Winemaker Helen Turley departed and was replaced by Philippe Melka, there were allegations of brett contamination in some of the barrels, and the wine was ultimately filtered (which no other vintage of Bryant Cabernet Sauvignon has had to endure). www.bryantwines.com
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Medium ruby. Dark aromas of blackcurrant, licorice, meat and chocolate, with a violety topnote and a whiff of band aid. Then surprisingly narrow in the mid-palate, with black fruit and licorice flavors showing modest depth and personality. With only limited stuffing, this turns a bit dry on the back. I've heard multiple versions of what went wrong with this wine, but what seems clear is that a brettanomyces problem required the wine to be filtered, and the filtration robbed the wine of much of its richness and length.
Good full deep medium ruby. Aromas of kirsch, cassis, bitter chocolate and licorice; extremely primary yet hints at almost exotic ripeness. Wonderfully sweet, intensely flavored and bright; dense, sharply delineated and seamless. This hasn't really expanded yet in barrel and thus is not yet showing its flesh. But this young cabernet's solid structure and outstanding persistence suggest that it may ultimately surpass my current projected range.
About the producer
Founded by Don Bryant in 1986, Bryant Estate is built around a 13-acre vineyard rising from 900 to 1,200 feet on Pritchard Hill. Now led by Bettina Bryant, its acclaimed Bryant Family Vineyard is regarded as one of Napa Valley’s benchmark Cabernet Sauvignons.