2008 Pride Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Napa/Sonoma Reserve
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Tasting notes
(15.2% alcohol; includes 3% Petit Verdot): Full medium ruby. Ripe brambly blackberry, raspberry, smoked meat and nutty oak aromas complicated by salty and floral nuances. Very concentrated and sweet, with a hint of medicinal reserve and very good framing acidity to the flavors of black cherry, licorice and spices. The compellingly ripe character carries through on the long finish, which features surprisingly sweet, harmonious tannins. Production was tiny in 2008 owing to spring frost. But it was very hot late (Steve Pride views 2008 as a hot vintage on the top of Spring Mountain, along with 2004, 2001 and 1997) and the fruit was picked in waves as the clusters shriveled. The estate began using a gentler destemmer in 2008 that has made it possible to vinify without jacks (i.e., pieces of stem). Doesn't have quite the complexity of the best years here, but this is a strong performance given the weather conditions.
Critic scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a big, powerful wine loaded with fruit. The tannins are equally imposing. Today the wine comes across as painfully young, but the Reserve has a track record of aging beautifully in bottle, so it will be interesting to see where the 2008 goes over the coming years. Sweet mint, new leather and licorice are some of the nuances that add complexity on the focused, articulate finish. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2028. Tel. (707) 963-4949
Deep medium ruby. Pure, lively aromas of blackberry, licorice, dark chocolate and smoked meat. Dense and lush, but with lovely energy and lift to the flavors of currant, licorice and herbs. Really lovely fruit here, with suave, ripe acidity and firm but sweet tannins giving the finish a juicy sweetness not currently displayed by the 2007, which is bigger and more powerful but less showy today.