|
|
|
|
The
Wilder Side of California
Discover
the Best of California Wine with Doug Wilder
|
|
|
94-pointers from Barrett,
Emerson and Erickson | Issue 202
|
August 29, 2008
|
|
Calistoga,
California
|
|
|
We are beginning to see the
wave of new release Cabernet-based wines building on the horizon
all indications point to a great vintage. There will be plenty of
new examples in this category becoming available over the next
couple months and you'll see many of them right here. All of the
brands today should be familiar; they have all rated 94 points at
Vinfolio. This is where the curve begins getting really steep,
since only about 4% of the wines I taste score higher than this. I
begin with the well-established 2005 Robert Craig Cabernet
Sauvignon Howell Mountain (VF 94+), now
being made by Keith Emerson (Vineyard 29, Emerson
Brown). The depth and power in this wine really set it apart. If
you haven't yet picked up your usual supply of 2005 Revana
Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (VF 94), then now is the time.
This Heidi Barrett-made wine has captured the
admiration of just about everyone who has come across it. We
re-ordered a few weeks ago and now the availability has been cut
off. The mere 2 cases we have is the last until the next vintage.
Recently I reviewed the Caduceus del Sensei from Maynard James
Keenan and gave it a solid VF 95-point rating. Why do I mention it
here? Simply because the source for the fruit is Pope Valley, the
relatively un-tapped far side of Napa County. Caduceus was the
second very impressive wine I tasted sourced from this area in the
past couple months, the other being the 2005 Phifer Pavitt
Cabernet Sauvignon Date Night (VF 95, WS 90).
These two wines have erased any pre-conceived ideas I had about
this region as a serious source for Cabernet Sauvignon. Try
them both to see what I mean.
Lastly, we are offering the remainder of our allocation from
Screaming Eagle winemaker, Andy Erickson's garage
wine, 2006 Leviathan Red Wine California (VF 94). We
began receiving a lot of calls for the previous vintage after
Leviathan was mentioned in a newspaper story recently. Like the
2005, the current vintage is a beautiful wine for near term
enjoyment. Nearly half of our allocation was gone as soon as it
hit the site. Don't be shy about this one.
Looking at the pedigree of the producers and winemakers first
reviewed here, I would be very surprised if all of these wines,
when reviewed, don't receive 90 points or above from the
critics.
Speaking of more great Cabernet Sauvignon - be sure to look for
the Vinfolio Fall Catalog arriving
in your mailbox in a couple of weeks. There is a brand new 2005
Cabernet Sauvignon I rated 98 points making
its official Vinfolio debut before showing up anywhere else!
|
|
|
Featured wine
in this offer
|
|
|
|
2005
|
Craig,
Robert - Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
|
1,100 cases
|
|
750ml
|
$80.00
|
VF 94+
|
|
|
|
2005
|
Revana
Family - Cabernet Sauvignon
|
1,000 cases
|
|
750ml
|
$125.00
|
VF 94
|
|
|
|
2005
|
Phifer
Pavitt - Cabernet Sauvignon Date Night
|
300 cases
|
|
750ml
|
$75.00
|
VF 94
|
|
|
|
2006
|
Leviathan
- Proprietary Red
|
1,000 cases
|
|
750ml
|
$48.00
|
VF 94
|
|
|
 or call 1-800-969-1961
|
|
Reviews
Robert
Craig's ultra-premium winery is renowned for limited-production,
hand-crafted Cabernet Sauvignons from the mountains and foothills
of Napa Valley. A pioneer in the development of mountain sources,
Robert was involved with The Hess Collection in the 1980s before
embarking on his own winemaking project in 1990. The program
includes Affinity, a classic Bordeaux-style Cabernet Sauvignon
blend, and powerhouse Cabernets from Mt. Veeder and Howell Mountain
appellations. These award-winning, structured and stylish Cabernets
convey a unique personality derived from the soils, climate and
varietal characteristics of each growing region. Robert Craig has
been a pioneer in Napa Valley mountain vineyards since the 1980s.
Founded in 1992, his winery is located at 2300 feet atop Howell
Mountain.
|
|
2005 Craig,
Robert - Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
USA - California - Napa - Howell Mountain
|
|
|
Prearrival
|
|
|
|
$80.00
|
|
|
750ml
|
|
|
|
Keith Emerson's first
vintage is showing a very concentrated nose of olives, figs, red
currant and blackberry jam Has a beautifully polished palate
redolent of violet, lapsang and mountain blackberry. Solid
backbone of acidity. Needs a couple years. Drink: 2010-2018.
- Doug Wilder , Vinfolio
202, August 2008
|
Dr.
Madaiah Revana is a successful Cardiologist in Houston whose desire
to have a vineyard in Napa Valley was shaped by a visit in 1997.
Once he decided on the place, he dove in and hired the best
winemaking and vineyard management team available. Vineyard Manager
Jim Barbour has his boot-prints all over the Valley and his name
alone instantly commands notice for a new property. Paired with one
of the most respected winemakers in the world, Heidi Peterson
Barrett, big things were naturally expected. Jim developed the site
into an eight-block mix of four different classic Bordeaux
varietals with the exception of Merlot. Heidi's resume was already
brimming with successes elsewhere, including Paradigm, Dalla Valle,
Jones Family, Screaming Eagle, Grace Family, Amuse Bouche, Showket
and her own La Sirena.
|
|
2005 Revana
Family - Cabernet Sauvignon
USA - California - Napa - Napa Valley
|
|
|
In stock
|
|
|
|
$125.00
|
|
|
750ml
|
|
|
|
Arguably the best Revana
since the 2002 vintage. Shows a beautiful nose with licorice,
camphor, and black currant. The palate has nicely focused
blackberry and tarry licorice giving the wine a beautiful grip on
the palate leading to long, polished finish. Drink: 2008-2016.
- Doug Wilder , Vinfolio
202, August 2008
|
Owners
Shane and Suzanne Pavitt have always discussed big decisions on
their weekly date night. Deciding to create a wine brand together
was no different. Their first release (called Date Night) is off of
the thirteen acre Temple Vineyard and is farmed organically. Made
by Ted Osborne, the quality of the premiere release 2005 is very high.
Production should stay small, around 300 cases.
|
|
2005 Phifer
Pavitt - Cabernet Sauvignon Date Night
USA - California - Napa - Napa Valley
|
|
|
Prearrival
|
|
|
|
$75.00
|
|
|
750ml
|
|
|
|
From the
organically-farmed Temple Family Vineyard. It shows a very smooth
blackberry nose with some chocolate and minty/herb notes. The
palate has rich entry with solid silky blackberry, currant and
dense chocolate. Drink: 2008-2014.
- Doug Wilder , Vinfolio
202, August 2008
|
|
|
2006
Leviathan - Proprietary Red
USA - California
|
|
|
Prearrival
|
|
|
|
$48.00
|
|
|
750ml
|
|
|
|
From Andy Erickson,
winemaker for Arietta, Dalla Valle, Screaming Eagle, Ovid and
Dancing Hares, as well as his own Favia label. A blend of 41%
Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 21% Syrah and 7% Cabernet Franc.
Dark purple in color with a rich creamy nose of dates,
blackberry, licorice and graphite. The palate is pleasantly
polished and ripe with bold black cherry, a kiss of cassis,
blueberry, red stone fruit and warm black fig. A smoothly
structured wine meant for early drinking. Drink: 2008-2012.
- Doug Wilder , Vinfolio
202, August 2008
|
|
|
or call 1-800-969-1961
|
|
Did you know?
For readers who want regular
shipments of wines that I review, you can now sign up for the Wilder Side and Beyond wine club. Customize it to
your preferences by price, number of bottles, frequency and more. Click here for details.
About Vinfolio
Recognized by Food & Wine magazine (6/07) as one
of the top 10 online wine shops, Vinfolio® (www.vinfolio.com)
sells fine wine and services to wine collectors and enthusiasts.
With a guiding philosophy of "Fine wine, finer service,"
Vinfolio offers over 2,500 wines, both new releases and mature
vintages, VinCellar™ online cellar management software and a broad
range of collector
services.
|
|
|
|
|
|
