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Darioush
Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2008
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Inspired by the complexity and style of
Bordeaux’s cooler-climate wines,
Darioush Signature Cabernet Sauvignon
exemplifies how meticulous farming in
southern Napa Valley’s fog-influenced
districts and hillsides results in
powerful, personality-driven Cabernet
Sauvignons with extraordinary character,
depth and poise. A rich, generous and
complex vintage offering aromas of
European dark chocolate, blackberry,
espresso and graphite framed by
succulent, fully-developed tannins and a
sleek, old-world, mineral-driven
structure. This age-worthy wine
possesses Darioush’s ‘Signature’
combination of concentration, refinement
and finesse, resulting in vivid,
lingering flavors of black licorice,
cassis and mocha, complimented by a
savory finish of lavender, cigar box and
toasted hazelnut. |
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Price $108 |
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Forman 2007
Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
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The Forman 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa
Valley got some tremendous scores! “The
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate may be
one of Ric Forman’s finest wines to date
(keep in mind he was producing some of
the great Sterling Cabernet Sauvignons
of the early 1970s). The 2007 is a
slightly more voluptuous, flamboyant,
and exuberant version of the 2006. The
color is a healthy dense purple, and the
bouquet reveals plenty of creme de
cassis, licorice, wood smoke, and forest
floor notes, a soaring,
multidimensional, velvety, full-bodied
texture, and ripe tannins. The sweetness
of the tannins and the wine’s lush,
heady texture are reminiscent of a ripe
Pomerol. It will evolve over two
decades.” 95 points, Robert Parker's
Wine Advocate!! |
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Price $98 |
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Cliff Lede
Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap 2007
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The 2007 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon,
Stags Leap is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon,
12% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 4% Cabernet
Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Forest floor
and Chanterelle mushroom greet the nose
immediately. The aroma quickly develops
into layers of cardamom, clove, and
leather. After decanting, citrus
blossom, blackberry jam, and dried
currants evolve. This wine is
unquestionably Stags Leap District:
balanced fine-grained tannin,
concentration, and fresh minerality.
Satsuma peel, dark chocolate, black
cherry, and damson plum characterize the
lengthy finish. At cellar temperature,
further rewards can be found up to 24
hours after uncorking, in the form of
maraschino cherry and raspberry. “. . .
is everything that one expects in a wine
from this sector that is known for
elegance, harmony and margaux-like
finesse.” Robert Parker |
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Price $72 |
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Shafer One
Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
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Shafer One Point Five takes its name
from the term “a generation-and-a-half,”
coined by John and Doug Shafer to
describe their long father-and-son
partnership. For 27 years this family
team has worked side by side to manage a
winery that aims to be world-class. The
2007 Shafer One Point Five is an
elegant, silky Cabernet Sauvignon with
soft tannins and abundant fruit that is
approachable when young, yet capable of
aging gracefully. This wine reflects the
climate and soils of the Stags Leap
District vineyard sites and Shafer’s
commitment to meticulous, sustainable
farming and quality winemaking. “Aromas
of warm black fruit, cedar, chocolate,
and dried herbs, followed by rich, juicy
flavors of blackberry, dark chocolate,
and tobacco, with a nice long finish.
The tannins are ripe and supple.” Elias
Fernandez, winemaker. |
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Price $80 |
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Cade Napa
Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
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From the folks at Plumpjack, the 2007
Cade Napa Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon is a
Napa Valley Appellation designated wine.
Made from some of Napa’s most renowned
vineyards located on both the steep
hillsides of the Mayacamas and Vaca
Mountain Ranges as well as the alluvial
fans at the base of both mountain
ranges. The vineyards include: To Kalon
in Oakville, Dr. Crane in St. Helena,
Las Amigas in Carneros, and Ink Grade on
Howell Mountain. Aromas of blackberry,
currant, anise and vanilla immediately
jump from the glass. With aeration
secondary aromas of plum, cedar and soy
develop. On the palate, flavors of
blackberry, boysenberry, black olive and
raspberry are framed by polished tannin.
The finish is smooth and lush with just
a hint of tannin that hints at long
life. |
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Price $65 |
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