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O'Shaughnessy Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
A blockbuster small-production Napa Cabernet from Howell Mountain - very limited.95 Points Robert Parker: "The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder is impeccable from start to finish. It shows marvelous detail and completeness in its perfumed red berries, mint, flowers and licorice. Tar, ash and a host of other darker nuances add considerable complexity. This is a marvelous showing. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029...This is a thrilling set of wines from the gregarious Betty O’Shaughnessy and her winemaker Sean Capiaux. The Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon includes a host of other varieties, while the Mt. Veeder bottling is 100% Cabernet. Both wines spend 20 months in French oak barrels and are bottled without fining or filtration."
Ratings on Delectable
David L 
09’ O’Shaughnessy Mount Veeder. Bright ruby red in color... No signs of aging. The palate is showing dark blueberry, blackberry, licorice, graphite, Big oak! & hangs on the back of the palate for a good 60 seconds. Still quite young/powerful, full -bodied. It’s got another
09’ O’Shaughnessy Mount Veeder. Bright ruby red in color... No signs of aging. The palate is showing dark blueberry, blackberry, licorice, graphite, Big oak! & hangs on the back of the palate for a good 60 seconds. Still quite young/powerful, full -bodied. It’s got another
9.2
Greg Ballington
Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog
Fifth wine of the blind tasting. Deep ruby red with a touch of garnet. Layered nose with spices, sweet spices, raspberries, tons of dark cocoa, gravel and cinnamon. Not much fruit. Well balanced medium tannins (6.5/10) with a medium plus body. More power in the attack before thinning out a touch. Definitely has a red fruit profile, cherry liquor, a spice kick, cherry rocks, earthy and steely. Dry and long finish. Drink till 2024. Had to repost it, wouldn't accept the "big picture"
Fifth wine of the blind tasting. Deep ruby red with a touch of garnet. Layered nose with spices, sweet spices, raspberries, tons of dark cocoa, gravel and cinnamon. Not much fruit. Well balanced medium tannins (6.5/10) with a medium plus body. More power in the attack before thinning out a touch. Definitely has a red fruit profile, cherry liquor, a spice kick, cherry rocks, earthy and steely. Dry and long finish. Drink till 2024. Had to repost it, wouldn't accept the "big picture"
9.1
Bill Bender
Nice structure but still very tight, much more so than the Howell Mountain as you might expect. I'm calling this one a hold.
Nice structure but still very tight, much more so than the Howell Mountain as you might expect. I'm calling this one a hold.
9.0David L
09'O'Shaughnessy Mount Veeder. Even with a hour + decanting ,I'm not in love with the wine
09'O'Shaughnessy Mount Veeder. Even with a hour + decanting ,I'm not in love with the wine
8.8Mark Freund
Classic NV Cab. Tinge of herbaceous mixed with great currant fruit and silky tannins. Really polished.
Classic NV Cab. Tinge of herbaceous mixed with great currant fruit and silky tannins. Really polished.
9.7
William Feinstein
Really harmonious after 12 years. Mountain fruit is now in balance with relatively moderate tannin.
Really harmonious after 12 years. Mountain fruit is now in balance with relatively moderate tannin.
9.4
S.R.Alexander
A constantly evolving dense and pleasurable wine. Started with heavy blueberry pie, cocoa and cigarbox. Hours later, cedar, star anise, violets and leather. Still an infant. Really well done Sean Capiaux!
A constantly evolving dense and pleasurable wine. Started with heavy blueberry pie, cocoa and cigarbox. Hours later, cedar, star anise, violets and leather. Still an infant. Really well done Sean Capiaux!
9.3S.R.Alexander
Smoky intense blueberry pie with charcoal black pepper drizzle. Plush with the sweetest ethereal lingering finish.
Smoky intense blueberry pie with charcoal black pepper drizzle. Plush with the sweetest ethereal lingering finish.
9.1Mark Flesher
Compared to the 2009 Progeny SSR that this one was enjoyed alongside, this wine was a very clear second place. After cork pop, this one sort of had a funky news. Took about 20 minutes to find itself, and eventually gained some of the complex qualities of the SSR, but then seemed to make a divergence. Still, this is more of your dried blackberry, graphite, a little bit of herb, and did I mention this one is spicy on the finish!? Softened, tannins which seemed to be rounding out and integrating nicely. Did not quite have the same nostril burn that the SSR did, but it was there a bit. You can tell these wines are definitely related, and this one will definitely continue to improve in the bottle although I would say it is starting to enter a really good spot in the drinking window.
Compared to the 2009 Progeny SSR that this one was enjoyed alongside, this wine was a very clear second place. After cork pop, this one sort of had a funky news. Took about 20 minutes to find itself, and eventually gained some of the complex qualities of the SSR, but then seemed to make a divergence. Still, this is more of your dried blackberry, graphite, a little bit of herb, and did I mention this one is spicy on the finish!? Softened, tannins which seemed to be rounding out and integrating nicely. Did not quite have the same nostril burn that the SSR did, but it was there a bit. You can tell these wines are definitely related, and this one will definitely continue to improve in the bottle although I would say it is starting to enter a really good spot in the drinking window.
9.3Mark Flesher
I think this one is drinking very well at this moment. However, I am sure that this crazy complex Mt Veeder fruit is capable of more. At first, this one seemed to have a backbone of sweet, blackberry and blueberry fruit with volcanic notes. Immediately after cork pop, you could have told me this was the Howell Mountain offering and I would have believed you. However, 3 hours later this one turned a little bit darker. Shale and gravel replaced the volcanic notes, and the blackberry doubled down. Ended with a fair amount of black pepper, resolving tannin. Very balanced. This one will definitely hold for a while. I think it is in a great spot, although I see it improving somewhat in the next 1 or 2 years. if you have a few of these as I do not, you might want to open up one now!
I think this one is drinking very well at this moment. However, I am sure that this crazy complex Mt Veeder fruit is capable of more. At first, this one seemed to have a backbone of sweet, blackberry and blueberry fruit with volcanic notes. Immediately after cork pop, you could have told me this was the Howell Mountain offering and I would have believed you. However, 3 hours later this one turned a little bit darker. Shale and gravel replaced the volcanic notes, and the blackberry doubled down. Ended with a fair amount of black pepper, resolving tannin. Very balanced. This one will definitely hold for a while. I think it is in a great spot, although I see it improving somewhat in the next 1 or 2 years. if you have a few of these as I do not, you might want to open up one now!
9.4
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