Over the years our “Open” format of blind tastings have become quite popular.  While we have taken this approach with many grape types, both red and white, we have always concentrated on young wines, primarily new releases.

        For this exciting new version of The Cabernet Open, we’re trying something different, concentrating on wines made primarily or exclusively from Cabernet Sauvignon, but with some bottle age, having been made in the five year period between 1998 and 2002..  How will these wines compete after spending time in the cellar?  How have they changed?  Will they be easier -- or harder -- to identify?

        These are some of the questions that will be answered on November 12th as EWS has raided cellars looking for desirable Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines 1998 - 2002 that are likely to be drinking well right now.

        From an intellectual as well as hedonistic point of view, this should be an epic tasting.  Just look at the awesome lineup:

1998 Chateau La Mission Haut Brion (Pessac-Léognan) (93WA,  92IWC,  96WS)

1998 Wynn’s “John Riddoch” (Coonawarra) (93IWC - an EWS favorite)

1999 Andrew Will “Sorella” (Washington) (94WA)

1999 Sammarco (Castello dei Rampolla) (Tuscany) (93WA,  92WS)

2000 Chateau Lagrange (St. Julien) (93WA,  92+IWC,  93WS)

2000 Chateau Lynch-Bages (Pauillac) (95WA,  92IWC,  96WS)

2000 Giusto di Notri (Tua Rita) (Tuscany) (95WA,  91WS)

2001 Chateau Montrose (St. Estephe) (91WA,  92IWC,  “better than that” EWS)

2001 Pride (Napa) (95WA,  92+IWC,  93WS)

2001 Quilceda Creek (Washington) (98WA,  95IWC,  94WS)

2002 Beringer “Private Reserve” (Napa) (94WA,  94IWC)

2002 Chappellet “Signature” (Napa) (92WS,  winner of several EWS blind tastings)

2002 Leonetti (Washington) (95WA,  92+IWC,  92WS)