Cabernet Sauvignon (California) Flashcards
California Wine Laws
- To identify the product as a varietal wine, 75% of the wine must be made from that grape
- To identify a vintage year 95% or more of the grapes used must be harvested in that year
- To designate the wine as “California” 100% of the grapes must be grown in the state
- Estate bottled needs to be 100% everything done at specific vineyard
- Produced and bottled by designates at least 75% of everything was done at a specific vineyard
- Made and bottled by means the bottler made, fermented and finished at least 10% of the wine and possibly didn’t make any of it
- To carry an AVA on the label 85% for the grapes must be grown in that AVA, for county appellations that number is 75% must be from that county
Mercury Head
- Orin Swift, winemaker Dave Phinney
- Orin was his fathers middle name and swift was his mothers maiden name
- 10 cent coin is on the front of every bottle that is a US mint from 1916-1945
- Blend of 100% Cabernet grapes from multiple vineyards around Napa valley
- Aged 18 months in French and American oak 50% new
T.N. - ripe boysenbrry, cassis, complemented by hints of cigar box, fir and graphite. Full-bodied on entry, luscious palate is full of ripe cheery and a touch of blackberry with elegant traces of sage. Soft dusty tannins
Pairing - beef, lamb, game, mature/hard cheese and poultry
Papillon
- Orin swift, winemaker Dave Phinney
- The label is named after the French word for butterfly, the photograph is of a 3rd generation farmers hands with the letters papillon across them
- Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petite Sirah
- Aged 15 months in French and American oak 45% new)
T.N. - inky, dark garnet bursting with aromas of blackcurrant and blackberry with hints of Madagascar, vanilla and cigar box. Velvety and rich on entry and through the mid palate flavors of dark plum, blueberry, fennel, fresh leather, dusty tannins and lingering touch of black cherry
Pairing - grilled steak, game, roasted dishes
8 Years in The Desert
- Orin Swift, winemaker Dave Phinney
- First Zinfandel since he sold Prisoner and they will release 8 different labels over 8 years since 2017)
- Blend of Zinfandel (majority), Petite Sirah, Syrah, Grenache
- Aged 8 months in French oak and American oak, 30% new
T.N. - heady aromas of brambly raspberry, black fig, peppercorn, dark chocolate, fennel, forest floor, the palate is lush and opulent with blackberries, dark plums, currants, good minerality and fresh herbs. Puckering tannins and finishes with finesse and notes of black tea
Pairing - bone-in steak, game, roasted dishes
Screaming Eagle
- Oakville, CA and produces approx 500-850 cases a year
- Jean Phillips was the original owner and founder and sold it in 2006 to Charles Banks and Stan Kroenke
- Heidi Barrett was the original wine maker. The first vintage was 1992 which got 99pts from Robert Parker
- Closed to the public and the private mailing list takes about 12 years to get on
- The first vintage was in a special barrel that has an engraving on the top for good luck and that barrel is still used every year
- Second Flight was released in 2012. The fruit used for second flight comes from young vines and declassified wine that was not deemed fit for Screaming Eagle (is more Merlot dominant, aromatic red fruit, fragrant spice and crushed florals)
- Blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Cabernet Franc
- Aged in 65% new French oak for almost two years
T.N. - floral blue and black fruit, mocha, and dark chocolate. Full bodied silky
Pairing - classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, braised dishes, grilled dishes, stews, mushrooms and pasta
Quintessa
- Rutherford, Napa Valley
- 92% Cab Sauv, 4% Merlot, 3% carmenere, 1% petit Verdot
- 100% oak aged (76% new) for 22 months
T.N. - powerful structure with elegant tannins, aromas being with lovely black cherry, cassis coated with dark chocolate, notes of thyme, and sage, cinnamon cedar and incense. Lively acidity and savory nuances of tobacco
Silver Oak (Napa Valley)
- First produced in 1979
- 80.9% Cab Sauv, 12.6% 3.6% cab franc, 2.4% petit Verdot, 0.4% Malbec
- Aged in 85% new and 15% once-used American oak barrels for over 2 years from their Missouri cooperage, the oak. Blended early to have balance and harmony during barrel aging and then aged an additional 20 months in bottle
- More fruit flavored with bigger structure and higher alcohol than Alexander Valley and higher in alcohol 14.5%
T.N. - deep, rich red color with purple rim, robust and assertive with notes of strawberry, cigar, tea leaves, touch of black pepper and clove. Mouthwatering mid palate of raspberry with lush silky tannins
Pairing - fatty meats, butter, cream and thick broth based sauces like a Demi-glacé
Silver Oak (Alexander Valley)
- 97.7% cab sauv, 1.3% merlot, 0.5% petit Verdot, 0.3% Malbec, 0.2% cab franc, early blended for harmony and and balance
- Aged in American oak in an even 50-50 split of new and used oak for 24 months and then an additional 15 months in bottle
- Displays more savory aromas than Napa valley also lower in alcohol 13.8%
T.N. - garnet color with ruby red rim and bluish tint, nose of chocolate-covered strawberries, vanilla, nutmeg, truffle and sage. Cranberry, raspberry and pluot with black olive character. Silky tannins and cedar
Pairing - grilled meat, poultry, pork, mushrooms, roasted veggies
Opus One
- Was founded as a joint venture between Baron Rothschild (of Mouton Rothschild) and Robert Mondavi
- Four parcels in the western portion of Oakville AVA
- 80% cab sauv, 9% petit verdot, 5% cab franc, 5% merlot and 1% Malbec
- Aged in new French oak barrels for 18 months and then aged in the bottle for 15 months until release on October 1st each year
T.N. - aromatic balance of rich dark fruit, stems of roses earthy forest floor, juicy round silky mouthfeel with just enough acidity to complement the satin texture. Fine plush tannins evolve into a long supple finish
Pairing - beef, veal, pork, game, roasted chicken, grilled dishes, stews, hearty fish, mushroom and pasta
Overture
- Blending of five traditional Bordeaux grapes capturing characteristics of same variety from different social and blending multiple vintages to yield a softer, rounder expressions of the estate with extended barrel aging
- Is wine from lots not included in opus one
T.N. - complex aromas, flavors and textures. Classic blackberry, cassis melds seamlessly with the black cherry, red currant and violet. Supple structure and silky texture
Pairing - beef, veal, pork, game, roasted chicken, grilled dishes, stews, hearty fish, mushroom and pasta
Harlan Estate
- First growth style wine from H. William Harlan
- Winemaker is Robert Levy, Oakville appellation
- Vineyard was planted in the mid 1980s with meticulously-selected clones of cab sauv (~80%), merlot, cab fran, and petit verdot
- Very low yields (about half of most Bordeaux first growths)
- Aged for 24-36 months in 100% new French oak
T.N. - a unique expression of ca cab sauv with powerful perfume, the wines are rich, deep, concentrated and intense with a sense of elegance and purity of fruit that matches nicely with the power of the wine. Ripe and dense black and blue fruits with notes of dark raspberry, rich silky and mouthfilling
Pairing - classic meat dishes, veal, pork, bbq, roasted dishes, stews, mushroom, pasta
Bond
- Portfolio of wines that are diverse in their geographic representation and ‘grand cru’ in quality. Bet expressions of the land (5 Cabernet Sauvignon wines/sites ranging from 7-11 acres)
- The label: 19th century bank note into the 21st century, the motto surrounding the allegorical portrait says, utilizes centuries old postal ink formulas giving each cru a distinctive color, the guilloche near the bottom of the label has a “latent image” that when held at an angel reveals a “B” for security measures. The bottles labels are made to look like vintage bank notes/certificates “bonds” and also the name bond is a surname to mister Harlan’s mothers side of the family. Inaugural release was in 1999 with melbury and vecina
- Melbury - red fruit, mixed with fresh violets and baking spice
- Quella - fresh blue fruit, bramble-fruit and minerality, vibrant subtle finish
- St. Eden - sweet center, notes of creme de cassis, dark choc., roasted herbs
- Vecina - powerful, intense, savory, blackberry fruit, forest floor and mineral
- Pluribus - bold, rich, concentrated, dark plum, roasted coffee, scents of cedar
Mascot
- A blend of Harlan, Bond, Promontory young grapes
- Will Harlans wine (Bill Harlans son)
- The label is of “Prince” an English bull-terroir who lived at the Farmers Deposit National Bank of Pittsburgh, for the banks stock certs. He greeted customers and guests alike. Was a symbol of the down-to-earth, loyal and personal customer service standards
- Aged 5 years before release
T.N. - dark crimson, pretty aromatics layered with darker fruit of blackberry, plum and black licorice. Slightly savory, notes of white pepper, cedar and mocha
Pairing - classic meats, roasted dishes, pork, game
Caymus Special Selection
- Wagner family, chuck wagner, from 8 of Napa’s sub-appellations made of 75% valley floor fruit and 25% elevated mountainous sites
- Known for dark color, fine grain, chalky rich tannins and an array of flavors
- Can be drunk young, but is ideal at 5-7 years
- Up to 90% new oak for 18 months
T.N. - opaque crimson color, ripe cherry, dried rose petal, cacao, mocha, roasted coffee, tannins are super fine and soft
Jordan
- Alexander Valley
- Aged in 100% French oak for 13 months, 49% new and 51% one-year-old barrels
- 80% Cab sauv, 11% merlot, 7% petit verdot, 2% Malbec
T.N. - black cherries wrapped in spice box of nutmeg, clove, and allspice. Filled with flavors of black currants and plum. Silky tannins, black cherry, black berry. Fig and black cherry linger on the finish.
Pairing - grilled and roasted dishes, lamb, pork loin, mushroom risotto
