2007 Sean Minor 4 Bears Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley - Wonderfully deep color. Stunning black olive, blackberry, blueberry compote and cedar aromas. More dark fruits and cedar-tinged wood on the palate with considerable tannins and lively acidity. A really serious Napa Valley Cabernet at an affordable price that harkens back to Chateau Souverain, Beringer Knights Valley and Markham of the early 1990s. I think I have one more 2007 left and then it's on to my small stash of 2008s. That being said, I don't think this wine is in any danger of going downhill soon. Drink with confidence over the next 5-7 years.
For dinner I grilled some beef kabobs made with large cubes of patio steak and pieces of red onion and red bell pepper. Patio steak, as I've come to find out, is an alternative way of cutting my much-beloved flat iron steak.
Bill, this sounds sooo good! Any idea the cost? Also, you say it might have seen its best days: isn't that a little early for a "really serious Napa Valley Cabernet"?
ReplyDeleteNow get out the crystal-ball: what of the 2008/09s?
Thanks,
Dennis
Dennis, the 07 and 08 sold for about $15 here. Sean is changing his line-up a bit and starting with 09 he's going to release a Sean Minor Napa Cab for about $20 and a 4 Bears Paso Cab for about $15.
ReplyDeleteDid I say it has seen its best days? I think I said it's in "no danger of going downhill any time soon" and to "drink over the next 5-7 years."
I mean this isn't "serious" compared to $100 single vineyard "cult Cabs," but I think it really overdelivers in that price range.
I had the '08 last April and really enjoyed it. Found a lot of the same black olive and black fruit notes as I detected in last night's 07. At the time I thought the 08 was perhaps more of a near-term (2-3 year window) drinker. Pretty sure there's at least one other point of reference on the 07 Cab somewhere in the blog archives. I haven't tried the 09 yet.
Bill, thanks for straightening me out, 4:30 am and I'm engaging things my brain is unprepared for.
DeleteSounds good, and if I see any of these I'll pick them up!
You certainly do SM right!
4:30 a.m.? Yikes! I know my blog posts are the stuff of legend, but I didn't know anyone got up to read them that early. Or is my blog the cure for your insomnia? :)
DeleteSean Minor just told me (via facebook) to drink up my 08s and be on the lookout for the 09. I'm guessing that's a hint.....