One of my least-favorite brands of the *mid-tier supermarket Napa cab* genre, punctuated by how often I have had it. Maybe 4 times in my entire life. Always felt rather chubby and blandly over-oaked: a CLASSIC supermarket Napa cab, in other words. And, when I saw this 13, naturally I had to have it. I can almost predict the outcome–based on the flavor profile they express when young: flatulent, burnt fruit of heavy-handedness with copious tertiary–none of it particularly complex or compelling. The 100-point vintage will NOT age well in California. I was not wrong.
Impenetrable dark ruby with considerable brick. A nose somewhat alcoholic and riled with dusty leather and reduced varnish, but pleasing over-all. Roasted berry climbs to the top of the heap, heated asphalt and a slight mintiness carrying-on through bleak syrup.
Actually quite nice in the mouth, but the baseness of the original elixir speaks volumes here at 10. Perfect fruit; Perfect ripeness; Perfect growing season: a Perfect Storm of appreciation from the dutiful 99% dullards who set their watches by WS. Packed with rich berry on entry; a slight heat progresses throughout; still rather tannic–surprisingly; off-kilter and awkward on finish: sharp and pungent. This thing has to be well over 14-5 and pointing all fingers to the “perfection of valley fruit” that year. All my predictions on how it has aged come to light perfectly if you’ve ever tasted these things young. This is not drain-food. It’s rather plesant to drink if you turn off a couple dozen IQ points. It reminds me I need to visit a few more 2013’s, though I have astonishingly few in my cellar. I tasted them and didn’t buy them. Nothing like the most acclaimed vintage of the decade to give me shrinkage.
2013 WILLIAM HILL Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 15.2
Stephen McConnell 