Spectacular Blind Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting at Columbia City Hotel
Attended a remarkable and eloquent tasting of 10 wines, all from 2014 vintage Saturday late afternoon. The event was held at the Columbia City Hotel. It is located in the Columbia Historic Park and the City Hotel was built in 1856.
Photo ©Hector Madrigai and City Hotel website
Tom Bender, on the Board of Directors of City Hotel, assembled 10 noteworthy wines to do a blind tasting for about 18 people. All but one of the wines was graciously provided from Rick Eason’s cellar. Tom was so excited to bring back this type of tasting experience which the City Hotel had done for years 35-40 years ago on a regular basis from 1980’s until 2005. City Hotel was known throughout the foothills for their extensive wine list. It was reopened last year after being closed for several years. It’s rebirth was funded by creating a cooperative corporation with almost 300 “single shareholders” wanting to bring back it charm and history.
All ten wines were poured just minutes in advance of the tasting. Everyone tasted and scored each wine to arrive at their top three wines. All participants rated the wines for key Cabernet Sauvignon characteristics and also voted for their “least favorite”. The wines ranged in price from $115 to $500 per bottle and two were magnums.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Here were the “beauty contestants”:
Nickel & Nickel, Far Niente, Silver Oak (Alexander Valley), Black Sears, Silver Oak (Napa Valley), Continuum, Ridge Montebello, Caymus, O’Shaughnessy and La Jota. After one and a half hours of individually rating each wine, the group voted for their top three wines.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Those in rank order voted blind were the following numbers were:
#1 (letter I)
#2 (letter D and J)
#4 – (letter H)
Photo © Candy Strubbe
Then the big reveal with the unwrapping of the wine bottles
#1 (letter I) – O’Shaughnessy, Mt Veeder at $147
#2 (letter D and J) – A tie between La Jota at $500 and Black Sears at $150
#4 – (letter H) Caymus at $350
While all the wines were enjoyable and very good, the task was also to select the group’s less favorite. Being the “least favorite” in this lineup of pedigree wines is nothing to be upset about. It was a tie between Continuum at $300 and Nickel & Nickel “Tench Vineyard”.
The retail price of these 2014 wines from Vivino totaled $3,200 and ratings were from 4.4 to 4.6 points.
Two bonus wines were also added at the end of 2004 vintage. First being Far Niente and second being Silver Oak (Alexander Valley). Silver Oak won this competition and yet the 2014 showed rather poorly.
It was a fun and lively discussion throughout the tasting and an experience that will not be forgotten!
Sláinte,
Michael