Decanted for an hour. In my book even better than the 2001 cab. Amazing wine. Yummy through and through, with a claret-like quality that sings. Nose is quite open, with complex spice-box aromas, and a haunting chocolate backdrop. In the mouth, very filling, almost explosive berry and mocha flavors without being overly extracted. Wow!

I better get an email tomorrow. I hope all you early birds left some for the rest of us.

This is typical Pride in my opinion. When I say that, it's a good thing though.

I essentially mirror RandyW's TN almost exactly. It's BIG FLAVOR with well integrated oak... fruit and chocolate and oak. Not much else, but that doesn't detract from the pure enjoyment of this wine. Very drinkable now with an hour decant, should last a few years and hopefully gain some complexity. The 14.5 percent alcohol is barely noticable. Rev rates it: 93

I've had this twice, including at the first morning tasting at Pride with both some of the prior days' leftovers and a fresh bottle. The leftovers still had some good fruit and structure, and was an interesting counterbalance to the closed bottle that was opened and immediately poured. I think for present consumption (if you've got quite a few bottles and are anxious) I'd give it 3+ hrs or a good double-decant. Great wine with a good life ahead of it.

Rev,

Now that's a great avatar!

Chicago Wine Geek turned us on to this just last week.

Along with Pax syrah, Dumol pinot noir, '01 Lewelling wight, '98 Shafer Hillside Select, and several others.

I thought the Pride was the WOTN. I am a moron for not nabbing some when the mailer came out.

Someone please beat me.

I don't know if it's still available from the winery but I saw some in a local store last week. PM me if interested in the name.

I'm a huge Pride fan....but we tried it blind against the 2002 Corte Riva Cab. I think 4 of 6 people preferred the Corte Riva, myself included.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the 2002 Cab, such a consistently good bottle.

I was one who preferred the 02 Corte Riva Cab but I thought both were bery good as well. The Corte Riva was very impressive though tasted side by side with the Pride. Glad I have some of both.

Tasted over the course of 3 hours in decanter. Beautiful fruity nose opens up immediately. The flavors of cassis, black cherry, oak, and bitter-sweet chocolate were lovely. From reading other TN's, I expected more concentration, but I kept being struck by this wine's weight and color being less than I expected. This is not a big gig on the wine, just a surprise for me considering the vintage and producer. Tannins are still a bit disjointed. This will not be one of the earlier drinking 02's. Put it away and leave it alone for 3-5 years and you be won't be dissappointed with the refinement this outstanding wine obtains. 91+ points.

I had a bottle of this last night. Totally agree with the above notes, this is an outstanding wine. Very approachable--and right now, I think it shows better than the 2001 Cab. Very balanced, lots of everything--this is a very smooth, velvety wine. Yum.

Dark garnet/purple colour. Aromas of vanilla/oak, blackcurrant, raspberry, pepper, cardamom. Full-bodied, with raspberry, black plums, vanilla. Already drinking well. Moderate-long finish, 40s, with black plums, and raspberries. 92 points (02/24/2005).

Opened the bottle 1 hour ago and became impatient to sample...
Beautiful color - purplish red, deep and lush like plush velvet. Already a wonderful potpourri of scent and flavor - chocolate cherries, spicy cappuccino, something I can't name from the spring forest. Tannins are very elegant right now and there is a lovely, lingering finish that brings you back to the glass for another sniff.
Glad I've got more of these! Can't believe how well this is drinking right now.

How does this compare to the Reserve, which I haven't tried yet?

I opened a bottle last night. I'm glad I decanted because it's throwing a good bit of sediment. Took the first taste after 1 1/2 hours and thought it was still quite tight. Three hours in -- yum! Randy W nailed the range of flavors in this amazing juice. 93 GD points now, and should only get better.

From what I read on this and other boards, the 2002 appears to be very close to the 2001, if not better. The 2001 sold out in what seemed like 5 minutes. I find it hard to come by and priced as such. Does anyone have any insights as to why the 2001 is so much more difficult to find than the 2002? Did a significantly larger percentage go to restaurant distribution for example? I'm perplexed. Or just not perceiving the situation correctly.

I think the 2001 is more scarce than the 2002 for three reasons. 1) 2001 vintage hype; 2) the 2001 is just a little better (based upon my palate) and 3) 2001 = 95+ RP vs. 2002 = 93 RP (amazing how much of a difference that can make)

IMO, 2002 is clearly the better wine for current consumption.

Wine spectator rated the 2001 Pride 95-100 based on barrel sample, that drove the lemmings to order as fast as possible. That perceived shortage has resonated until this very day.

I personally feel the 2002 is just as good as the 2001. Will it be as good in 5 years? No idea. but it will be fun to find out

I believe 2001 was also the year that Pride way oversold on the internet/mailing list. Thus there was less of the wine available for the restaurant/wine shop end of things. I'm thinking that there are a small number of folks with an awful lot of the 2001. When the 2002 came out you had to be on the mailing list (in 2001 anyone could surf up to the website and get the wine in any quantity) and you could only get a case maximum. Thus the wine got spread out over many more people than the 2001.

skwid-exactly correct.