Notes from a tasting of 1994 California (mostly) Napa (mostly) Cabernets. All wines were tasted blind.
Woodward Canyon - 84% CS, 9.1% CF, 6.9% M. a concentrated nose of dark ripe fruit, supple on palate with a slightly thick feel to it, long finish. A nice mouthful with perhaps a hint of astringency right at the end.
Mt. Eden Vineyard (Santa Cruz) - an almost Bordeaux-like nose, medium body with good acidity, well structured and finishes long but a bit sharp.
Cakebread Cellars - the nose on this one was reticent, the wine dissolute with nothing much happening, medium level fruit and high acid. Too bad - I've enjoyed their wines before.
Caymus (regular bottling) - the nose was wood driven, although it developed some mint with time on the glass. Most tannin so far, made the wine almost seem lean. It needs time to develop, but I have some concern over the level of fruit, which is alright now, but may sag by the time the tannins resolve. Wait and see.
Corison - ripe plummy fruit, sweet and a bit simple with soft tannins. It drinks well now, and probably won't improve much.
Far Niente - mellow complex fruit nose with vanilla, sweet entry then a hit of immediate but reasonably soft tannin, good balance and length. My second favourite wine.
Groth - warm berry nose with a definite hay and tea component, lean and a slight bit sour, and with unresolved tannins (perhaps a second or third, but certainly not a first Groth....)
Joseph Phelps - a somewhat closed Bordeaux style of nose, reasonably concentrated flavours, with firm tannin and dusty fruit. I though it a bit simple.
Signorello - ripe cocoa nose, medium body, still carrying lots of tannin, but in balance, good length with a pleasant sweetness that came in right at the end. My vote for best wine.
Stags Leap Wine Cellars - almost no perceptible nose. Like smelling a glass of water. An initial mild sweet sensation on palate, then lots of acidity, balanced, and a long concentrated finish.