California Cabernet Wine Tasting
SFWTC’s First Tasting of 2012
January 7, 2-5:30pm $10
Cabernet Sauvignon is California’s most important and most sought after wine, and Napa Valley’s real estate prices are what they are because of this grapes’ success, that is beyond question, Cabernet is king! Post WWII is when things really began to move, though there were some amazing wines produced at Inglenook prior to the second world war, but over all quality reached new heights after 1966 when the famed Robert Mondavi opened his own winery after splitting with his family, going on his own away from the Charles Krug Winery where his brother Peter took control after a bitter fight over the direction, Robert proved to be the visionary, he wanted to make Napa a travel destination and make higher quality wines like that of the First Growths in Bordeaux. Later he would even partner with Chateau Mouton-Rothschild to make the now fabled Opus One, after the Baron Rothschild was impressed with the quality of Napa Valley Cabernet.
As the profile of Napa Cab grew names like Chateau Montelena, Ridge, Diamond Creek (the first “Cult” single vineyard Cab) and later Randy Dunn took the grape to new heights and even bested the great house of Bordeaux in blind tastings, and vintages like 1974, 1978 and 1985 became legendary. We in California can consider ourselves more than lucky, as we have had only 2 vintages since 1990 that were deemed sub-par and even the wines of 1998 and 2000 were not as bad as thought!
These days, California has many new and wonderful producers making outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon wines in every price range from everyday styles to rare “Cult” wines, so don’t miss this tasting and see for yourself what this historic grape can do! We are featuring an amazing selection of Cabernets to entice you that showcases the power and richness that could only come from this grape.
The Wines Featured
2009 Avalon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $13.95
Avalon’s 2009 Cabernet sources fruit from several of Napa’s finest under-the-radar vineyards spanning across the appellation from north to south. Aromas of red and black cherries and juicy plums fill the glass. Several months of oak aging adds a touch of vanilla and warm cedar spice to the decadent bouquet. Flavors of ripe cherry, raspberry and boysenberry jam abound and are well supported by the wine’s spice-laced tannins. As always, this wine packs a serious punch and offers consumers incredible value for the money.
2007 Orsianna, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendocino $19.95
This cool climate Cabernet Sauvignon comes from select Mendocino vineyards whose unique riverbed soil and proximity to the Pacific Ocean make it ground zero for producing elegantly balanced, seamlessly textured and wonderfully pure Bordeaux-style Cabernet Sauvignon. Moderate use of oak allows the predominantly plush velvety red fruit to shine, adding subtle spice box and cedar notes on both the nose and palate. An understated 2007 California Cabernet with a genuine sense of terroir. (Silver Medalist, Affairs of the Vine, Cabernet Shootout)
2009 Fisticuffs, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $28.95
Jeff and Carolyn Smith (of Hourglass Wine fame) joined forces with Rob and Pavi Lawson (of Napa Wine Co.) to create Fisticuffs. Drawing on years of experience making wine for Bryant Family, Colgin, Pahlmeyer and Kapcsandy, Lawson sources fruit from choice vineyards in St. Helena and Oakville, applying the same standards and techniques that he uses to craft his cult wines. This is one of our best selling Napa Cabs as it delivers all of the rich, highly textured, bold fruit of a $50 plus Napa Cab at a fraction of the price.
2008 Pride Mountain, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa & Sonoma Counties $64.95
Pride’s Cabernet comes from an estate-owned vineyard that straddles the divide between Napa and Sonoma, drawing the best of both appellations. Grown at 2000 feet above sea level, this is a classic California Cab with bold notes of sweet black currant, cherry, graphite and pipe smoke. This wine is all about balance with supple ripe tannins providing a beautiful foundation for the ample dark fruit and lovely spice-rich undertones.
2008 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon “Artemis” Napa Valley $49.95
Artemis Cabernet is named after the Greek goddess of the hunt, and was aptly named because the wine is the result of the culmination of the winery’s hunt for the finest Napa grapes. A combination of estate vineyards (namely Fay and S.L.V.) along with several meticulously cared for non-estate Napa Valley vineyards, culminate in the ultimate expression of the regional character of Napa Valley. The Stag’s Leap Vineyards fruit dominates with bold flavors of sweet and sour cherry, dark currant and toasty vanilla oak.
2008 Cade, Cabernet Sauvignon “Napa Cuvee” Napa Valley $59.95
The second of three (2007-2009) consecutive wonderful vintages, the 2008 Cade Napa Cuvee is a worthy successor to the wildly successful 2007. Sourced from some of Napa’s most renowned vineyards including, but not limited to, Beckstoffer’s George the 3rd Vineyard in Rutherford, Kenefick Ranch in Calistoga, and Dr. Crane Vineyards in St. Helena. Aromas of black cherry, plums and dark chocolate are followed on the palate with flavors of dried herbs, blackberry and warm cherry pie. At once approachable and cellar-worthy, the wine will gracefully age for 3-6 years.
2007 Merus, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $154.00
“Merus’s 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits an inky/purple color as well as an extraordinary bouquet of blueberry liqueur intermixed with graphite, charcoal, cassis, and spice. The wood seems pushed to the background given the extraordinary concentration of fruit. Full-bodied, powerful, and rich with chocolaty espresso notes intermixed with blackberries and blueberries, this pure, impressively textured, long Cabernet should evolve for two decades.” (95 Points, Robert Parker)
SFWTC Staff
www.sfwtc.com
