Elivette vertical ‘00-‘19

In preparation for the LB marathon this weekend, decided to do a blind Elivette vertical ‘00, ‘06, ‘13, and ‘19, all bought from Last Bottle on the last marathon.

Overall, get the hype on this sub for this producer. All wines were well constructed with enough fruit and acid, highlighting firm tannins and ripe fruit. Bouquet werent very interesting across any, but the palates were excellent and interesting. The ‘06 really shone and the ‘13 was the most disappointing.

Great wines for the ~$35 price point and if available will pick up some more (esp of older vintages) in this next marathon.

2000 (90% cab sav, 10% merlot, 13.8% abv)

Mute bouquet with some black fruits. Palate of mild fruits. Blackberry, and currants. Much more tertiary with dried herbs, and almost menthol finish. Grippy, well integrated tannins.

Had read some reviews this was over the hill, but not for my palate. Had definitely lost a lot of primary fruit, but that exposed a different side, more earthy wine.

2006 (92% cab sav, 5% cab franc, 3% petit Verdot, 14.2% abv)

Big bouquet of fresh fruit, and a bit hot with alchohol. I guessed this as much younger than it was. Palate with tons of blackberry juice, plum, red currants. Long sweet finish. Evidence of some bricking. Blind guessed much younger given still a lot of fruit.

Best wine of the night for me, poured a second glass to have with dinner.

2013 (57% cab sav, 17% cab franc, 10% merlot, 8% malbec and petit Verdot, 14.1% abv)

My least favorite of the 4. Would not buy again. Long grippy tannins, minimal nose, with lots of juicy plum and black fruits. On the mid palate and finish some green bell pepper and astringency.

2019 (71% cab sav, 20% cab franc, 7% merlot, 2% petit verdot, 14.4% abv)

Soft, rounded, plush tannins. Blackberry flesh and plum skins. Almost right bank-bdx style. Blind guessed much more merlot given the soft elements.

Approachable now, even when tasted together with the rest of the vertical.

All wines from Coravin, tasted all immediately, and revisited after 1 and 2 hours. Poured and my wife randomized the order blind.