Best of 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon & Blends
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Avenue 2009 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon – $28 per bottle
A client favorite and Best Seller for the past 5 years. The 2009 Avenue is even more special with the main source of fruit coming from the renowned Jericho Canyon Vineyard in northeast Napa Valley, with the remaining juice from a “mailing-list-only” winery in Knights Valley. The flavors are luxurious, captivating and sensual: Ripe Bing Cherry, blackberry, chocolate covered coffee beans, fresh earth, graphite, cassis, with a gorgeous balance of fruit, tannin, acid, alcohol, and oak. Aging 20 months in select French oak is a real bonus for those who enjoy those lush, structured Napa Cabs.
Maldonado 2008 Proprietary Red Wine – $32
Deep, dark ruby with touches of pureed strawberries on the rim. Gorgeous aromas of triple berry pie, chocolate, nutmeg, cedar, and coffee. On the palate the is smooth, velvety with an entrance turning into a decadent expression of blueberries, black cherry, lavender, violets, black currant, and lingering cigar, framed by soft, resolved tannins. A delicious blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 15% Syrah.
Maldonado 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon – $40
Napa Valley
Deep, dark color of Black cherry with touches of ruby and hints of purple on the rim. The nose boasts aromas of cassis and clay with promises of blueberries, plums, violets, cocoa powder, and espresso. On the palate the wine is Soft, yet structured, with a fresh entrance evolving on ripe tannins; blueberries, and black cherries balanced with a back bone of acidity and nuances of dark chocolate, plums and raspberry liqueur. Vineyard Source: Newton Vineyards on Spring Mountain and Wente Vineyard on Soda Canyon Road in the Atlas Peak appellation.
Coho 2009 Headwaters Red Wine – $42
Napa Valley
Headwaters Red Blend was rated 95 by Wine Spectator for both the 2006 and 2007 vintages. This 2009 will rival those wines. The 2009 Headwaters is a hedonistic blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot, sourced from select Coombsville vineyards in the cool region of southeastern Napa Valley. It’s dark, lush and thoroughly sexy, with aromatic dark plum, fresh blueberry & blackberry, violets, black cherry, mocha and sweet vanillin oak, all wrapped around a complex, luxurious finish that features that classic Napa earthiness and a nice touch of fresh herbs.
Lang & Reed 2005 “Right Bank” Red Wine – $45
Napa Valley
Featuring Cabernet Franc as the dominant varietal (50%), this wine is an homage to the wines from the Right Bank of Bordeaux. Aromas: Exotic mix of bright cherry, violets, black currant, cocoa, spice, and vanilla. Palate: The cherry and currant flavors persist onto the palate and blend harmoniously with complex nuances of mocha, tobacco, and clean earth. Structure & Finish: The structure of the wine helps hold together each of the components into a seamless expression, with firm, ripe tannins and an impressively long finish. Cellar Potential: Drinking beautifully now with decanting, this wine should age well for another 10-12 years.
Venge 2009 “Silencieux” Cabernet Sauvignon – $48
Napa Valley
Kirk Venge’s wines are consistently big, brash, and bold, and always leave a lasting impression. The first thing you notice is the deep purple, almost opaque color. Then impressive aromas of blackberries, cassis, licorice and coffee immediately grab your attention, and lead to a concentrated, full-bodied wine that showcases great structure and length on the palate. Approachable now, and cellar worthy in proper aging conditions, fans of the Venge Bone Ash Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and the Venge Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon will love this wine for its fruit concentration, beautiful complexity and structure.
Califia 2007 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon – $50
From the fabulous 2007 vintage, this fabulous Cabernet begins with inviting aromas of black fruits (plum, blackberry, black currant), with earthy notes, tobacco and spice. Nuances continue on the palate with seamless integration of espresso and dark chocolate notes, and just a kiss of vanilla oak. Beautifully complex, rich and satisfying. This is another one of those “Where did you get this?” type wines. In a nutshell, the wine is black fruit driven, with a round, rich mouthfeel, fine grain tannins, a finish that lasts forever. Fantastic!
Montagna 2007 “Tre Vignieti” Cabernet Sauvignon – $50
Napa Valley – Pritchard Hill
Bob Long has been known for co-founding the David Arthur Winery with his brother. With Montagna, he ventures out to another part of the extraordinary Pritchard Hill region of Napa Valley (Colgin, Bryant Family, Ovid, Chappellet). It’s inky dark in color, with a huge bouquet of blackberries, cassis and vanilla oak, the mouth-feel and finish is intense and concentrated and has a seamless, silky and supple feel that is only found in the world’s finest wines. Complex and thoroughly over-the top flavors that are full and intense, yet silky and rich on the palate with a finish that lingers forever. It’s a knockout!
Peirson Meyer 2006 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon – $83
Another wine from Pritchard Hill, and made by former Peter Michael and Lewis winemaker, Robbie Meyer. This Cabernet is beautifully complex and dense. Full throttle, signature aroma of blackberry extract with notes of mocha and spice. Concentrated, large scaled and beautifully structured, it is beginning to reveal its promise of long term (15-20 years) cellaring.
Finely tuned power and class in the hands of a master! 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, Versant Vineyard, Pritchard Hill (Colgin, Bryant, Chappallet, Ovid, David Arthur – it’s a good neighborhood!). Hand sorted, 25 day maceration, 20 months barrel aging in 70% new French Oak. 180 cases bottled, unfined and unfiltered. A classic! Very limited availability. The Versant Vineyard is now owned by Tim Mondavi and is the main source for his Continuum wine.
Barbour 2008 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon – $100
Jim Barbour is one of the premier vineyard managers in Napa Valley (Revana, Grace Family, Hundred Acre, Parallel). His long-time friend and associate, Heidi Barrett makes the wine (Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, Revana, Paradigm. La Sirena, Amuse Bousche).
A rich garnet color, the 2008 vintage offers a beautiful nose of dark plum, black currant, spicy caramel, and a hint of floral. It follows through on the palate with a touch of cassis and brown earth, along with subtle barrel nuances gained from 20 months in new French oak. Structured and well balanced, the wine will benefit from decanting in its early years and should cellar well for 10-15 years.
The wine is very approachable and “user- friendly”; meaning it has wonderful forward fruit flavors of dark fruits, silky tannins, and a long, smooth finish. A beautifully balanced wine with structure. The seamless integration of all the components is another trademark you’ll find in Heidi’s wines. It’s one of the attributes that has earned her the distinguished reputation as a world-class winemaker.
Lewis 2008 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – $125
Napa Valley
This Cabernet Sauvignon is simply an amazing wine from Lewis Cellars that has consistently produced highly rated wines for over 15 years.
From Wine Spectator:
“Aromas of melted black licorice, dried currant, sage, herb and cedar are firm and focused, full-bodied and restrained, yet deep and complex. Ends with layers of spice, smoke, mocha, mineral and cedar. Drink now through 2020. 1,500 cases made. -JL” 94 points
LEWIS 2007 CUVEE L – $225
Napa Valley
The Flagship wine of the Lewis Cellars portfolio, this is the 10 Year Anniversary of the CUVEE L. Made from the best barrels of the best lots from top vineyard sources (mainly Pritchard Hill). Only 225 cases produced. This is a Special Wine! The 2007 CUVEE L is magnificently decadent and luxurious on the palate; black currant, crème de cassis, cigar box, graphite, cocoa powder, and black truffle. Rich, mouth filling, structured, and beautifully balanced with soft, fine-grained tannins that lead to a finish you will taste the next day. BRILLIANT!
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