Decanted (mostly for sediment but some air helped open). Violet with browning on rim. Dark berries, graphite, vanilla (oak) and a little tarry-earth. Medium plus weighted fruit, very soft tannins and only a light dose of acidity. Some flavor complexity. Paired well with grilled NY strips. This seems at or just past peak.
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Dull magenta colored with very faint bricking at the edges of the rim. Nose is very interesting in that it seems to be constantly changing. Initially smells very much like a CS -- red and purple berries, graphite, and a faint green note that waffles between green pepper and dill. With some air some black pepper appeared on the palate, but it was unfortunately faint, and replaced by a sweet note.
The flavors come across as a big Bordeaux that is made in a slightly new world style. There's a good amount of red and purple berry fruit, with a significant green, leafy note indicative of Cab Franc (unfortunately, I could not locate percentages for this vintage) and the smallest hint of tobacco. The tannins are well integrated, but they make themselves known on the finish. Good complexity; the abundant fruit and structure suggests that this should last at least another 5-6 years. Drink or hold.
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Dark garnet colored, medium to full bodied, it tasted like a vibrant expressive Bordeaux, full forward complex berry fruits accented by floral, leather, tobacco leaf, with slightly earthy tones and long lingering tones of cedar with a smooth polished tannin finish that resonates with silky floral cedar mouthfeel long after tasting. This was better than I remember from earlier label and vintage tastings.
A pretty good representation of a middle of the road ca cab; not too modern, but clearly not ultra traditional either. In a good place with the primary fruit starting to recede and some secondary notes starting to develop. My only knock is that this left the impact of seemingly having more alcohol than the 14% listed on the label.
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Tight and focused,this wine takes a long time to open up. There was a moment about an hour into this bottle where the wine was perfectly balanced and fantastic, but it closed up shortly thereafter. Decanted two hours and as before needed more time, I just didn't have it.
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This wine reminds me of Cain Five. My biggest knock on this Neiman is the high alcohol. The tannins are gripping, but the acidity works well to counterbalance. Decent complexity. Lot of fruit, especially towards the finish. Nice wine.
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Black currant and cedar, boysenberry and gunpowder; lots of fruit up front and a long, heady, tannic finish with alcohol pushing through. This is a great wine for a juicy steak, plenty of fruit, structure and acidity. Decanted for four hours and still opening up after six, lots of life ahead.
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Very ripe and a bit too much heat, but still quite lush and well made and not out of balance for the ripeness level. Quite nice but not my favorite style.
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Decanted 2 hours, and showing OK, even better 4-6 hours in; bold wine, ripe blackberry, oak and intensity; slightly soft on the finish. Still fairly young and tannic, but not clear to me how much better this could be if at all as I'm not sure the fruit will last long enough for oak and alcohol to mellow a bit.
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Popped, decanted and consumed over 2 hours. There is some fruit hidden behind some complex structure, but I recommend 4 hours of decanting if you really want to see what might be here.
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90-91. Nice wine, but very ripe and not my favorite style. Also seems to have more alcohol than the 14.1 indicated. Still a luxury cuvee by Drew Neiman that is well done with a luxurious texture and lots of ripe fruit with just enough earthy char to offset the warm vintage fruit and keep it in balance. Doesn't offer alot of unique personality. Micro production. I'll wait a year or more on the next one.
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92+. Not my favorite style, but extremely well made and interesting, especialy for the ripe vintage. Very ripe(not my favorite) with dark red fruits, but also striking complexity. In addition to the bright dark raspberry, there is some really interesting slight earth and substantial root beer notes on the nose and palate that provide balance and interest. The merlot and cab franc really shine together. Definitely new world here. No on is going to confuse this for right bank.
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This was much more elegant than the two prior bottles. Great nose, but still some tannins that I think should resolve; the fruit is not nearly as top heavy as prior bottles; paired well with a 3 inch thick pork chop and also work with bacon wrapped halibut. A wine that deserves some attention, but the price doesn't quite fit with the performance - will wait on a few and see if that opinion changes.
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Very ripe, maybe a bit too much for my taste. i think i like the 2000 better b/c it is less ripe. Really needs some air for the ultra ripe fruit to tame a bit and for the chocolately oak component to come forward. Definitely better after decant. Upon open 90-91, with air 91-92.
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Smooth and elegant. A nice bouquet followed by a mouthful of fruit. Blackberry, Cassis and currant. The finish is solid and not too tannic. Can drink now or cellar for many years.
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7/24/2017 - thomaskeil Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted (mostly for sediment but some air helped open). Violet with browning on rim. Dark berries, graphite, vanilla (oak) and a little tarry-earth. Medium plus weighted fruit, very soft tannins and only a light dose of acidity. Some flavor complexity. Paired well with grilled NY strips. This seems at or just past peak.
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3/3/2016 - CMN Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dull magenta colored with very faint bricking at the edges of the rim. Nose is very interesting in that it seems to be constantly changing. Initially smells very much like a CS -- red and purple berries, graphite, and a faint green note that waffles between green pepper and dill. With some air some black pepper appeared on the palate, but it was unfortunately faint, and replaced by a sweet note.
The flavors come across as a big Bordeaux that is made in a slightly new world style. There's a good amount of red and purple berry fruit, with a significant green, leafy note indicative of Cab Franc (unfortunately, I could not locate percentages for this vintage) and the smallest hint of tobacco. The tannins are well integrated, but they make themselves known on the finish. Good complexity; the abundant fruit and structure suggests that this should last at least another 5-6 years. Drink or hold.
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11/13/2014 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark garnet colored, medium to full bodied, it tasted like a vibrant expressive Bordeaux, full forward complex berry fruits accented by floral, leather, tobacco leaf, with slightly earthy tones and long lingering tones of cedar with a smooth polished tannin finish that resonates with silky floral cedar mouthfeel long after tasting. This was better than I remember from earlier label and vintage tastings.
http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2014/11/neiman-cellars-napa-valley-red-wine-2002.html
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9/14/2014 - jerhardt wrote: 91 Points
A pretty good representation of a middle of the road ca cab; not too modern, but clearly not ultra traditional either. In a good place with the primary fruit starting to recede and some secondary notes starting to develop. My only knock is that this left the impact of seemingly having more alcohol than the 14% listed on the label.
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3/2/2014 - winejnky wrote: 90 Points
Tight and focused,this wine takes a long time to open up. There was a moment about an hour into this bottle where the wine was perfectly balanced and fantastic, but it closed up shortly thereafter. Decanted two hours and as before needed more time, I just didn't have it.
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10/18/2013 - fournet wrote: 90 Points
This wine reminds me of Cain Five. My biggest knock on this Neiman is the high alcohol. The tannins are gripping, but the acidity works well to counterbalance. Decent complexity. Lot of fruit, especially towards the finish. Nice wine.
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7/14/2013 - winejnky wrote: 92 Points
Black currant and cedar, boysenberry and gunpowder; lots of fruit up front and a long, heady, tannic finish with alcohol pushing through. This is a great wine for a juicy steak, plenty of fruit, structure and acidity. Decanted for four hours and still opening up after six, lots of life ahead.
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4/20/2013 - winegr wrote: 91 Points
Very ripe and a bit too much heat, but still quite lush and well made and not out of balance for the ripeness level. Quite nice but not my favorite style.
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6/17/2012 - winejnky wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 2 hours, and showing OK, even better 4-6 hours in; bold wine, ripe blackberry, oak and intensity; slightly soft on the finish. Still fairly young and tannic, but not clear to me how much better this could be if at all as I'm not sure the fruit will last long enough for oak and alcohol to mellow a bit.
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4/1/2012 - bigdomer wrote: 90 Points
Popped, decanted and consumed over 2 hours. There is some fruit hidden behind some complex structure, but I recommend 4 hours of decanting if you really want to see what might be here.
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9/24/2011 - winegr wrote: 91 Points
90-91. Nice wine, but very ripe and not my favorite style. Also seems to have more alcohol than the 14.1 indicated. Still a luxury cuvee by Drew Neiman that is well done with a luxurious texture and lots of ripe fruit with just enough earthy char to offset the warm vintage fruit and keep it in balance. Doesn't offer alot of unique personality. Micro production. I'll wait a year or more on the next one.
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1/28/2011 - rmcnees wrote: 92 Points
Dark purple, medium-full bodied, full forward fruit, ripe red and blue berry fruit flavors, hint of mocha on a long smooth full firm tannin finish.
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4/24/2010 - winegr wrote: 92 Points
92+. Not my favorite style, but extremely well made and interesting, especialy for the ripe vintage. Very ripe(not my favorite) with dark red fruits, but also striking complexity. In addition to the bright dark raspberry, there is some really interesting slight earth and substantial root beer notes on the nose and palate that provide balance and interest. The merlot and cab franc really shine together. Definitely new world here. No on is going to confuse this for right bank.
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4/1/2009 - ragtop1967 wrote: 92 Points
This was much more elegant than the two prior bottles. Great nose, but still some tannins that I think should resolve; the fruit is not nearly as top heavy as prior bottles; paired well with a 3 inch thick pork chop and also work with bacon wrapped halibut. A wine that deserves some attention, but the price doesn't quite fit with the performance - will wait on a few and see if that opinion changes.
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3/28/2009 - winegr wrote: 92 Points
Very ripe, maybe a bit too much for my taste. i think i like the 2000 better b/c it is less ripe. Really needs some air for the ultra ripe fruit to tame a bit and for the chocolately oak component to come forward. Definitely better after decant. Upon open 90-91, with air 91-92.
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5/28/2005 - peterjanderson wrote: 95 Points
Smooth and elegant. A nice bouquet followed by a mouthful of fruit. Blackberry, Cassis and currant. The finish is solid and not too tannic. Can drink now or cellar for many years.
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