In the glass, the 2011 Cabernet is intense deep purple & concentrated blue. It has a nose overflowing with ripe raspberry, plum & blueberry – etched with nuances of spicy vanilla oak, the cedar of cigar boxes and creamy currant. The young wine asserts a foundation of crisp tannins and bright fruit promising rewards to those who wait a decade. To drink now, please “splash” decant and check the wine every 30 minutes or so until the youthful tannins soften up. Then enjoy flavors of ripened stone fruits gushing from the glass and pleasing the palate - invigorating with focused bright cherry, raspberry and layers of spicy vanilla framed with ripe plum. The lingering, lively cherry-skin finish satisfies those who drink this wine young while sealing a promise of its ageability.
The 2015 growing season in Napa Valley started out with unseasonably warm temperatures in the late winter and early spring. This resulted in an early bud break and bloom. Colder temperatures in May (during the peak of bloom) caused uneven fruit set, which ultimately resulted in a much smaller crop in 2015. While the ongoing drought was of great concern to farmers around California, the Napa Valley received 75% of normal rainfall for the water year We picked our Sauvignon Blanc on August 25th. Bud break happened in mid March, bloom in May and veraison in July. Tonnage was light with beautiful full clusters. We processed our fruit by pressing whole clusters to maximize the delicate flavor of the berry and minimize any bitter notes. Once pressed, the juice is settled for 24 hours and then racked off the sediment into our Concrete Eggs for fermentation and Sur Lie aging. Tasted at “Cellar Temperature”, fresh tropical notes on the nose of guava, papaya and zest of Meyer lemon peel. The fresh aromas translate on the palate to crisp fruit flavors, without the acidity being too assertive. The finish is full of ripe, rich fruit flavors with the guava playing the major roll in this wonderful food wine.
Exhibits terrific fruit on the attack, along with notes of licorice, incense, camphor and creme de cassis.
sleeper selection is the 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Coombsville. The dense ruby/purple-tinged 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits terrific fruit on the attack, along with notes of licorice, incense, camphor and creme de cassis.