Kamen Estate Wines
Moon Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma County, California, USA
Can’t believe the 2015s almost have 8yrs on them! The 2013 I had in 2021 (with 8yrs) showed a more dense, dark and powerful profile compared to this, but both were incredibly enjoyable. Removed the cork and then consumed from bottle an hour later.
The profile here showed a touch more red fruit than than the 2013. Deep red, small tinge of purple in the glass. Not sure if some Merlot made its presence known here, but there was an elegant vibe. Pretty aromatics of mixed berries, potpurri, espresso. Definitely a savory/mineral streak (graphite) showing up on the palate. Lush and balanced and in no way flabby or overly tannic. More dark fruit (cassis, roasted blackberries) appeared toward the finish. Fantastic Sonoma Cabernet.
Can’t believe the 2015s almost have 8yrs on them! The 2013 I had in 2021 (with 8yrs) showed a more dense, dark and powerful profile compared to this, but both were incredibly enjoyable. Removed the cork and then consumed from bottle an hour later.
The profile here showed a touch more red fruit than than the 2013. Deep red, small tinge of purple in the glass. Not sure if some Merlot made its presence known here, but there was an elegant vibe. Pretty aromatics of mixed berries, potpurri, espresso. Definitely a savory/mineral streak (graphite) showing up on the palate. Lush and balanced and in no way flabby or overly tannic. More dark fruit (cassis, roasted blackberries) appeared toward the finish. Fantastic Sonoma Cabernet.
Seems to me a little more approachable than other vintages I remember in the last few years. Nice robust sweet mountain fruit with blackberry, blueberry, dark chocolate, a hint of vanilla, pencil shavings, and sweet oak hits hard on the front both in the nose and on the palate. This bottle had about a 30 to 45 minute decant, and I think it was really all that it needed. It did develop a bit through the next hour, but the bottle really didn't last much longer than that! Toasted oak tannin finish with ripe and youthful blackberry, chocolate, blueberry notes. Incredible structure, and will last a good solid 15 years.
Seems to me a little more approachable than other vintages I remember in the last few years. Nice robust sweet mountain fruit with blackberry, blueberry, dark chocolate, a hint of vanilla, pencil shavings, and sweet oak hits hard on the front both in the nose and on the palate. This bottle had about a 30 to 45 minute decant, and I think it was really all that it needed. It did develop a bit through the next hour, but the bottle really didn't last much longer than that! Toasted oak tannin finish with ripe and youthful blackberry, chocolate, blueberry notes. Incredible structure, and will last a good solid 15 years.
Sep 27th, 2020Much better on day two than day 1. Day 2 sweet toasted tannin throughout. Black and blue fruit on the nose and on the front. Black licorice and graphite shows on the middle. Sweet dark plum with black pepper and spice on the finish. This wine is a baby. Only up from here. I have just about zero ability to hold these for 1/10 the time I should and tend to drink these all rather before their time. Monster of a wine.
Much better on day two than day 1. Day 2 sweet toasted tannin throughout. Black and blue fruit on the nose and on the front. Black licorice and graphite shows on the middle. Sweet dark plum with black pepper and spice on the finish. This wine is a baby. Only up from here. I have just about zero ability to hold these for 1/10 the time I should and tend to drink these all rather before their time. Monster of a wine.
Sep 10th, 2019Solid 96, but this one gets the 97 nod from me. Classic mountain fruit and done VERY WELL. I can definitely tell how the drought has affected this fruit, and not necessarily in a bad way (it was only offered to wine club members this year). Popped the cork on this one, and my wife who was cooking dinner about 10 feet away from me said "Wow, I can smell the flowers and blueberries from all the way over here." And yes, definitely you could. This wine was decanted (I had to dust it off) for about an hour before being enjoyed, and could have decanted another 8-10 hours. Black, inky pour. Nose of wildflowers, blueberries, cinnamon, black fruit, Entry is inky, mostly sweeter black and blue fruits but there is a hint of spice and almost a hint of sweet tobacco that makes you think this one is 5 years post current vintage. Mature, yet youthful. The graphite in the middle wraps around the fruit core and adds a nice complexity onto this already massive wine. Hint of sweeter dark chocolate in the middle as well. Finishes with sweet, cedar tannin on an inky blueberry and blackberry pie backbone. And, crazy thing is that I murdered this wine tonight. Lord have mercy on me, I will not be able to hold onto my 5 remaining bottles and I already know this. I compare this to the 08 Kashmir which is still my favorite Kamen wine to date (still holding all my 2012 Cab Franc so I figure that's the only one that could potentially still top this). Massive, yet complex, with LOTS of life ahead.
Solid 96, but this one gets the 97 nod from me. Classic mountain fruit and done VERY WELL. I can definitely tell how the drought has affected this fruit, and not necessarily in a bad way (it was only offered to wine club members this year). Popped the cork on this one, and my wife who was cooking dinner about 10 feet away from me said "Wow, I can smell the flowers and blueberries from all the way over here." And yes, definitely you could. This wine was decanted (I had to dust it off) for about an hour before being enjoyed, and could have decanted another 8-10 hours. Black, inky pour. Nose of wildflowers, blueberries, cinnamon, black fruit, Entry is inky, mostly sweeter black and blue fruits but there is a hint of spice and almost a hint of sweet tobacco that makes you think this one is 5 years post current vintage. Mature, yet youthful. The graphite in the middle wraps around the fruit core and adds a nice complexity onto this already massive wine. Hint of sweeter dark chocolate in the middle as well. Finishes with sweet, cedar tannin on an inky blueberry and blackberry pie backbone. And, crazy thing is that I murdered this wine tonight. Lord have mercy on me, I will not be able to hold onto my 5 remaining bottles and I already know this. I compare this to the 08 Kashmir which is still my favorite Kamen wine to date (still holding all my 2012 Cab Franc so I figure that's the only one that could potentially still top this). Massive, yet complex, with LOTS of life ahead.
Nov 20th, 2018Very drunken purchase but very smooth, fruit forward and delish on the couch
Very drunken purchase but very smooth, fruit forward and delish on the couch
Jan 27th, 2022
