
Connoisseurs'
Guide to California Wine
April 2004
91 DIAMOND CREEK Red Rock Terrace 2000
Diamond Mountain, Napa Valley. While never among the more forward
and immediately accessible Cabernets, Diamond Creek bottlings generally
convey good depth and are built along very solid lines. In 2000,
the winery style is again plainly evident, and this particular rendition
packs plenty of deep fruit and very rich oak into its tannintoughened
frame. Clearly a wine to be held for a decade or more, it nevertheless
shows tantalizing hints of loamy complexities to come and is a comfortable
candidate for long-term aging.
93 DIAMOND CREEK Volcanic Hill 2000
Diamond Mountain, Napa Valley. Perhaps the most mountain-like of
the Diamond Creek wines in terms of its sturdy, tannin-toughened
structure, this sinewy young offering is in no way wanting for rich
Cabernet fruit, and its effusively oaked, cassis and black-earth
aromas find parallels in the rich curranty themes that presently
lurk beneath a blanket of youthful astringency in the mouth. A ten-year
wait would seem a reasonable minimum here, and the chances are that
his one will continue to evolve for a good deal longer.
91 DIAMOND CREEK Gravelly Meadow 2000
Diamond Mountain. Sporting both the same sturdy spine and concentrated
fruit that characterize its two siblings, the Gravelly Meadow bottling
smells of currants, creme brulee and earth, and its compact, but
deeply filled flavors emphasize Cabernet's loamy and somewhat minerally
side while keeping ample fruit well within sight. Patience again
is required here, and both its price and need for age make it a
wine recommended for serious collectors of the varietal.
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