1980s Vintage Bordeaux Tasting featuring Latour, Lafite, Montrose and Friday, March 14th and Dana Estate “What I drank Yesterday”
Drunkenness, she told us once in a rare moment of confidence, is a sin against the fruit, the tree, the wine itself. It is an outrage, an abuse, just as rape is an abuse of the act of love. She flushed then, turning away gruffly – Rene Claude, the oil and some basil, quickly! – but the thought stayed with me. Wine, distilled and nurtured from bud into fruit and then through all the processes that make it what it is, deserves better than to be guzzled by some sot with a headful of nonsense. It deserves reverence. Joy. Gentleness.” Joanne Harris “Five Quarters of the Orange”
I drink two bottles a day and I am never drunk at the end of the night. Hey I’m training for the Wine Drinking Olympics in LA 2028!
And when I got a few bottles of some of the best wines from this great vintage I immediately set them aside for this tasting so we can continue our scientific work here at Wine Watch to see just how these wines are drinking today. So to follow up our study in 1980’s vintage California wines I figured we should host a tasting of 1980’s vintage Bordeaux.
If you invested in first growths from 1982 you would have paid around $50 per bottle for these wines upon release. Today, we have the 1982 Chateau Haut Brion on the table at a price of $1095. The 1982 vintage was one of the best investments that you could have ever made in the world of fine wine.
The rest of the 1980’s were also very good to excellent for Bordeaux with 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1989 turning out the best wines but that is why we host these events! We may find that the 1980 vintage wine is the best on the table, well Chateau Latour is great in almost any vintage. The 1981 La Mission Haut Brion may be the wine of the vintage and the 1983 Lafite could take wine of the night! That is why we host these tasting events in the name of wine science. The 1980’s Bordeaux are drinking in their peak years right now and tonight we will prove it!
Chef Toni Lampasone will be making a special meal to accompany the tasting wines and there are only 14 spaces available for this event. The fee is $450 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.
1980’s Vintage Bordeaux Wine Tasting
Friday, March 14th
7:30pm
1980 Chateau Latour Pauillac Bordeaux
1981 Chateau Figeac, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
1981 Chateau La Mission Haut Brion Pessac Leognan Bordeaux
1982 Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste Pauillac
1982 Chateau Montrose St Estephe Bordeaux
1983 Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac
1983 Chateau Lynch Bages Pauillac
1985 Chateau D'issan, Margaux
1986 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Au Baron De Pichon-Longueville Pauillac
1989 Chateau Cos D'estournel, Saint-Estephe
Menu
Selection of Cheese and Charcuterie
Mushroom Carpaccio with fresh Rosemary and Lavender Aioli
Venison Tartar with Parmesan Crisp
Crispy Duck Confit with Current Demi and Truffle Fries
Scaramouche Coconut Crème Pie with White Chocolate Shavings and Dark Chocolate Sauce
The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $450 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com. Please let us know when you make your reservations if you have any dietary restrictions and chefs Toni and Dani will be happy to accommodate you.
All the Bordeaux in the store from the 1980’s on SALE!!
1980 Chateau Latour Pauillac Bordeaux, France
Price: $999.00 Sale Price: $750.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
1980 Chateau Montrose St Estephe Bordeaux, France
Price: $275.00 Sale Price: $225.00 Quantity in Stock: 3
1980 Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac, France
Price: $355.00 Sale Price: $295.00 Quantity in Stock: 10
1981 Chateau Lafon Rochet St. Estephe
Price: $195.00 Sale Price: $140.00 Quantity in Stock: 13
1981 Chateau Gloria Saint-Julien (mid shoulder fill)
Price: $100.00 Sale Price: $85.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
1981 CHATEAU FIGEAC, SAINT-EMILION GRAND CRU, FRANCE
Price: $400.00 Sale Price: $315.00 Quantity in Stock: 25
1981 Chateau La Mission Haut Brion Pessac Leognan Bordeaux, France
Price: $625.00 Sale Price: $495.00 Quantity in Stock: 42
1981 Chateau Latour a Pomerol, Pomerol, France
Price: $450.00 Sale Price: $375.00 Quantity in Stock: 10
1982 Chateau Kirwan Margaux
Price: $300.00 Sale Price: $240.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
1982 Chateau Meyney St Estephe
Price: $295.00 Sale Price: $235.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
1982 Chateau Calon Segur St Estephe
Price: $395.00 Sale Price: $320.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
1982 Chateau Lafon Rochet St Estephe
Price: $325.00 Sale Price: $250.00 Quantity in Stock: 33
1982 Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste Pauillac
Price: $595.00 Sale Price: $475.00 Quantity in Stock: 32
1982 Chateau Rauzan-Segla Margaux
Price: $350.00 Sale Price: $275.00 Quantity in Stock: 10
1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac
Price: $3700.00 Sale Price: $2995.00 Quantity in Stock: 9
1982 Chateau Talbot, Saint-Julien, France
Price: $375.00 Sale Price: $325.00 Quantity in Stock: 2
1982 Chateau Bel Air Haut-Medoc (mid shoulder fill)
Price: $75.00 Sale Price: $59.00 Quantity in Stock: 3
1982 Chateau Cheval Blanc St. Emilion, France
Price: $2400.00 Sale Price: $1795.00 Quantity in Stock: 10
1982 Chateau Latour Pauillac Bordeaux France
Price: $3500.00 Sale Price: $2750.00 Quantity in Stock: 16
1982 Chateau Duhart-Milon Pauillac, France
Price: $365.00 Sale Price: $295.00 Quantity in Stock: 9
1982 Chateau Cheval Blanc Saint-Emilion
Price: $1800.00 Sale Price: $1499.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
1982 CHATEAU MONTROSE ST ESTEPHE BORDEAUX, FRANCE
Price: $695.00 Sale Price: $550.00 Quantity in Stock: 9
1982 Chateau Mouton Rothchild Pauillac, France
Price: $2400.00 Sale Price: $1725.00 Quantity in Stock: 7
1982 Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Pauillac
Price: $1650.00 Sale Price: $1250.00 Quantity in Stock: 17
1982 Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 375ml
Price: $525.00 Sale Price: $425.00 Quantity in Stock: 5
1982 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Leognan, France
Price: $295.00 Your Price: $259.60 Quantity in Stock: 1
1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac (mid shoulder, torn label)
Price: $2950.00 Sale Price: $2260.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
1982 Chateau La Mission Haut Brion Pessac Leognan Bordeaux, France
Price: $2250.00 Sale Price: $1750.00 Quantity in Stock: 17
1982 Chateau Margaux Margaux Bordeaux, France
Price: $1999.00 Sale Price: $1695.00 Quantity in Stock: 70
1982 Chateau Pichon-Longueville au Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac, France Magnum
Price: $1595.00 Sale Price: $1250.00 Quantity in Stock: 2
1983 CHATEAU LYNCH BAGES PAUILLAC
Price: $395.00 Sale Price: $325.00 Quantity in Stock: 9
1983 CHATEAU COS D'ESTOURNEL ST ESTEPHE, FRANCE
Price: $425.00 Sale Price: $325.00 Quantity in Stock: 20
1983 Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac
Price: $999.00 Sale Price: $750.00 Quantity in Stock: 85
1983 Chateau Clarke Listrac-Medoc MAGNUM
Price: $220.00 Sale Price: $185.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
1983 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Pauillac
Price: $395.00 Sale Price: $335.00 Quantity in Stock: 6
1983 Chateau Meyney Saint-Estephe, France
Price: $195.00 Sale Price: $150.00 Quantity in Stock: 10
1983 Chateau Lafleur Pomerol (torn labels)
Price: $1700.00 Sale Price: $1355.00 Quantity in Stock: 5
1983 Chateau Lafon-Rochet Saint Estephe
Price: $235.00 Sale Price: $180.00 Quantity in Stock: 21
1983 CHATEAU DUHART-MILON PAUILLAC, FRANCE
Price: $235.00 Sale Price: $175.00 Quantity in Stock: 57
1983 Chateau Rauzan-Segla Margaux Bordeaux, France
Price: $325.00 Sale Price: $250.00 Quantity in Stock: 5
1983 Chateau Lagrange Saint Julien Bordeaux, France
Price: $295.00 Sale Price: $230.00 Quantity in Stock: 14
1983 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Leognan, France
Price: $265.00 Sale Price: $225.00 Quantity in Stock: 4
1983 Chateau Lafite Rothschild 'Carruades de Lafite', Pauillac, France
Price: $425.00 Sale Price: $350.00 Quantity in Stock: 24
1985 Chateau d'Issan, Margaux, France
Price: $195.00 Sale Price: $155.00 Quantity in Stock: 7
1985 Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac
Price: $995.00 Your Price: $875.60 Quantity in Stock: 1
1985 Chateau Mouton Rothschild Pauillac, France
Price: $895.00 Sale Price: $750.00 Quantity in Stock: 7
1985 Chateau Pichon Lalande Comtesse Pauillac
Price: $360.00 Sale Price: $295.00 Quantity in Stock: 3
1985 Chateau Lynch Bages Pauillac 6 Liter
Price: $3250.00 Sale Price: $2500.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
1985 Chateau La Mission Haut Brion Pessac Leognan
Price: $575.00 Sale Price: $450.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
1986 Chateau Meyney St. Estephe
Price: $175.00 Sale Price: $125.00 Quantity in Stock: 7
1986 Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac
Price: $1800.00 Sale Price: $1395.00 Quantity in Stock: 9
1986 CHATEAU LYNCH BAGES PAUILLAC
Price: $475.00 Sale Price: $395.00 Quantity in Stock: 5
1986 Chateau Mouton Rothschild Pauillac
Price: $1800.00 Sale Price: $1250.00 Quantity in Stock: 17
1986 Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou St Julien
Price: $453.00 Your Price: $398.64 Quantity in Stock: 4
1986 Chateau La Lagune Haut Medoc
Price: $170.00 Your Price: $149.60 Quantity in Stock: 1
1986 Chateau Cos d'Estournel, Saint-Estephe, France
Price: $375.00 Sale Price: $275.00 Quantity in Stock: 3
1986 Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Pauillac
Price: $450.00 Sale Price: $350.00 Quantity in Stock: 2
1986 Chateau La Mission Haut Brion Pessac Leognan
Price: $999.00 Sale Price: $750.00 Quantity in Stock: 11
1986 Chateau Pape Clement Pessac Leognan Bordeaux, France
Price: $335.00 Sale Price: $275.00 Quantity in Stock: 3
1986 Chateau Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan, France Magnum
Price: $2250.00 Sale Price: $1750.00 Quantity in Stock: 5
1986 Chateau Pichon-Longueville au Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac, France
Price: $395.00 Sale Price: $330.00 Quantity in Stock: 37
1988 Chateau Lafleur Pomerol
Price: $900.00 Sale Price: $755.00 Quantity in Stock: 2
1988 Chateau Rauzan Segla Margaux
Price: $300.00 Sale Price: $230.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
1988 Chateau Latour, Pauillac, France
Price: $950.00 Sale Price: $750.00 Quantity in Stock: 8
1988 Chateau Mouton Rothschild Pauillac, France
Price: $825.00 Sale Price: $650.00 Quantity in Stock: 41
1988 Chateau Lafite Rothschild 'Carruades de Lafite', Pauillac, France
Price: $350.00 Your Price: $308.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
1989 Chateau Petrus Pomerol
Price: $7500.00 Sale Price: $5900.00 Quantity in Stock: 13
1989 Chateau Lascombes Margaux
Price: $250.00 Sale Price: $200.00 Quantity in Stock: 27
1989 Chateau Meyney Saint-Estephe
Price: $165.00 Your Price: $145.20 Quantity in Stock: 53
1989 Chateau Canon Saint Emilion Grand Cru
Price: $295.00 Sale Price: $225.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
1989 Chateau Cos d'Estournel, Saint-Estephe, France
Price: $425.00 Sale Price: $350.00 Quantity in Stock: 146
1989 Chateau Cissac, Haut-Medoc, France
Price: $89.00 Sale Price: $75.00 Quantity in Stock: 11
1989 Chateau Gruaud Larose Saint Julien
Price: $330.00 Sale Price: $275.00 Quantity in Stock: 3
Dana Estates - What I Drank Yesterday
Napa Valley produces some of the greatest examples of the Cabernet Sauvignon varietal and at the top end of the spectrum there are many choices but very few that have started out at the top like Dana Estate.
I remember my visit to Dana right after they opened the newly renovated winery that was formerly the Livingston Moffett estate. After touring the new winery, I remember thinking “WOW” they built an amazing facility to produce a few hundred cases of each of the single vineyard wine. Profit was not the initial goal, becoming one top wines in Napa Valley was and they spared no expense building this winery. They bought one of the top vineyard sites in Napa Valley, then hired one of the top winemakers to consult for the project Philippe Melka and spared no expense on everything. That is how you make a great wine from day one, it takes a huge commitment and the Lee family was ready to stay the course and they have never wavered.
The Lee family succeeded in making Dana Estate one of the best wines in Napa from the very first vintage, the 2005 was amazing but once Robert Parker Jr’s Wine Advocate rated the 2007 Dana Estate Lotus Vineyard (100 points) the rest was history. The demand for these wines now has moved the needle to where the new releases are just shy of $1000 a bottle!
Dana Estate is now considered to be among the top wines of Napa Valley and you can put it alongside any of the world’s great Cabernet Sauvignon, it can hang with the big boys of Bordeaux as we proved at this tasting with the 2017 Chateau Latour as our Ringer. It only received a single first place vote next to the single vineyard Dana Estate wines!
A brief history of Dana Estate:
Nestled at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains in the Napa Valley, Dana Estates is dedicated to making small lots of truly distinctive world class wines. Dana is a Sanskrit term meaning “the Spirit of Generosity.” It is in this spirit that we express a profound appreciation for those that have worked the soil before us, as we build on the foundations laid by previous generations of vintners. Blending history and tradition with cutting edge vineyard management, a new state of the art winery and meticulous winemaking, Dana Estates strives to make the greatest wines possible. In so doing, we hope to provide a link between the past and future generations of vintners, and all those who appreciate the generosity of this special land.
Dana Estates is the third winery to occupy this piece of vineyard land in the heart of the famed Rutherford Bench. First farmed and developed by German viticulturalist H. W. Helms in 1883, it was purchased in 1976 by John and Diane Livingston and served as the home for Livingston Moffett winery until proprietor Hi Sang Lee bought the property in 2005. The winery was re-designed by renowned architect Howard Backen, keeping the original stone walls as its centerpiece. Hi Sang and Howard worked carefully with winemakers Philippe Melka and Cameron Vawter to insure that the space and facilities would enable the production of consistently world class wines.
They make three single vineyard expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley and a blend called Onda along with one white wine made from Sauvignon Blanc.
This gently sloping site is relatively cool, and is protected from the intensity of the late afternoon heat during the height of the growing season. The gravelly loam soils provide excellent drainage and wonderful fruit purity. Helms Vineyard Cabernet displays the classic profile of the Rutherford Bench: dark fruit, richly layered with a touch of spice and earth. The finely grained “dusty” tannins so prevalent in the appellation are integrated and harmonious, producing a wine of sophistication and depth.
The incredibly rocky, rhyolitic soils of this Howell Mountain site provide fruit with structure and depth, yet the cool climate produces a wine of restraint and vibrant acidity. An underlying minerality gives the wine a particularly distinctive character and provides another layer of complexity. The appellation has become a favorite of collectors who value the age worthy capacity of wines from this elevation.
Onda is a wine made in the Bordeaux tradition, blending both varietals and vineyards together to create a synergy from our estate sites. We have been making this wine since 2005, experimenting by blending fruit from Helms, Hershey, Lotus and our fourth estate vineyard, Crystal Springs. A bit softer than our single vineyard wines, Onda is characterized by wonderful fruit purity, elegance and precision. It drinks beautifully upon release but will age gracefully for 10-15 years with appropriate storage.
The Lotus vineyard is located at 1200 feet above sea level in the Vaca Mountains on the east side of the valley, Lotus is the warmest of our three vineyards. With rocky soils and low yielding vines facing west that embrace the afternoon sun, Lotus produces a wine of power and concentration. Packed with layers of black fruit, with notes of mocha, anise and graphite, Lotus tends to be the most full bodied of the three wines we produce.
All the wines from Dana Estate in the store on SALE!!
2021 Dana Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Lotus Napa
Price: $930.00 Your Price: $818.40
*Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
*Vintage production: 280 cases
*Hailed by Robert Parker as “Their First Growth Terroir”, Lotus Vineyard is situated at the northern reaches of Howell Mountain, and presents the challenge of farming slopes ranging from 35° to 40°, at an elevation of 365 metres above sea level. Given these extreme aspects, the farming here is all painstakingly performed by hand. The entirety of the vineyard is planted on core stone bedrock and is 95% dry-farmed. The bedrock just beneath the surface causes the vines’ roots to struggle in the search for water below, resulting in a Cabernet that is compelling for its power, intensity, vibrancy, and tension.
The crop size was exceedingly small in 2021. Often, it is not the prettiest vines that produce the greatest wines but those that must struggle and fight to produce. Maturity was achieved in mid-September, and the team harvested all of Lotus on a single day. Despite the thick skins and small berries, the wine has purity, focus, and elegance. All that Lotus fruit but in a more svelte package.
Aromatics of black currant, graphite, tobacco, and baking spice. The full-bodied palate is layered with sweet cassis and cherry fruit mixed with blood orange, graphite, savoury herbs, and baking spice. It has the contradictory feel of precision and focus paired with an expansive feel the envelopes the entire mouth. The wine is delicious now, but cellaring will allow more graceful nuance and depth.
2021 Dana Estates Helms Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Price: $930.00 Your Price: $818.40
*Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
*Vintage production: 312 cases
*The 2021 Helms Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon expresses its personality through refined aromatics paired with creamy full-bodied tannins.
Surrounding the winery in western Rutherford, this gently sloping site is relatively cool, and is protected from the intensity of the late afternoon heat during the height of the growing season. The gravelly loam soils provide excellent drainage and wonderful fruit purity. Helms Vineyard Cabernet displays the classic profile of the Rutherford Bench: dark fruit, richly layered with a touch of spice and earth. The finely grained ‘dusty’ tannins so prevalent in the appellation are integrated and harmonious, producing a wine of sophistication and depth.
The team began picking grapes on September 9th with the block on cooler clay rich soils. With more access to water in this dry year this block ripened faster than in years with more spring rain. The next pick was on September 15th on the classic loam soils of Rutherford which are deep and well drained. The grape berries were exceedingly small, with moderately thick skins, and bright acidity. Despite the small thick skinned berries extraction of colour, tannin and flavour occurred earlier than normal during fermentation. The vintage shows great concentration, fresh fruit character, and depth of flavour.
The vintage produced aromas of violets, red currant, dark chocolate, and black cherry supported by mineral, spice, and mountain sage notes. The palate is energetic and precise. The red currant fruit and acidity complement a persistent mouth filling finish. The wine captures the vintage’s character with its elegant texture and intense flavours that envelop the palate. This wine is beautiful now but will reward ageing.
2021 Dana Estate Hershey Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa
Price: $930.00 Your Price: $818.40
*Blend: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc
*Vintage production: 475 cases
*The 2021 Hershey Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a sublime expression of Howell Mountain. Located at 550m above the Valley floor, the incredibly rocky, rhyolitic soils of this Howell Mountain site provide fruit with structure and depth, yet the cool climate produces a wine of restraint and vibrant acidity. An underlying minerality gives the wine a particularly distinctive character and provides another layer of complexity.
Harvest started on September 14th at Hershey with the earliest ripening block on white ash rich soil. The team continued harvesting over the next two weeks as different parts of the vineyard reached peak maturity. Chris was particularly excited to incorporate the Cabernet Franc block into the Hershey blend for the first time. It brings a layer of floral aromatics and red currant fruit to the blend. The cooler than average nights retained acids, and moderate sunny days, and very small crops pushed phenolic maturity earlier.
Aromatics of blackberry, chocolate, blood orange, and a mineral iron envelope the senses. The medium bodied palate is saline and bright with intense sweet plums, cherry, black olive, India ink, and wet stone flavours. The finish is linear and precise with graphite and dried herbs lingering. This wine is compact and intense now but will reveal more depth and complexity over the next few decades.
2019 Dana Estates Onda Cabernet Sauvignon Napa
Price: $281.25 Your Price: $247.50 Quantity in Stock: 8
Winemaker Notes: The 2019 Onda Cabernet Sauvignon opens with aromas of blackberries, baking spice, and plum tart. Intermingled with the fruit are notes of coffee and a hint of graphite. Rich fruit with dense flavors of black cherries, plums, and currants layer with graphite and a briny minerality. The velvety mid-palate transitions to flavors of black truffle, brioche, and blackberry on the finish. The predominantly hillside provenance of the grapes lend a broad mouth coating tannin backbone. The touch of Cabernet Franc brings complexity with hints of mountain sage and lilacs. The Petit Verdot brings depth to the tannins and a hint of blueberries. While inviting now, this wine will grow in complexity as it continues to age. Blend: 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
2020 Dana Estates Vaso Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Price: $85.50 Your Price: $75.24
"Harvest began on September 30th in our western facing Crystal Springs Vineyard. The next week we continued harvest at Lotus Vineyard, just north of Crystal Springs. The core of our VASO blend comes from our highest and coolest vineyard, Hershey Vineyard sitting atop Howell Mountain. Harvest of Malbec and Merlot started at Hershey on October 9th, and the remainder of the Cabernet being picked mid to late October. Valley floor fruit, including fruit from our Rutherford Helms Vineyard, had the most diverse ripening, being picked starting October 8th to the conclusion of harvest on October 24th.
Our philosophy of minimal intervention in the vineyard and winery has resulted in a slow progression to dry farming. This forces the vines to look deeper for water, but also for nutrients and minerals. The results are balanced vines that produce small, intensely flavored berries with thick dark skins. We used various fermentation vessels to harness the complexity of our sites including oak upright tanks, single barrel fermentation, and concrete tanks. After undergoing fermentation, the free run juice is drained directly off skins to barrel for native malolactic fermentation and aging, not being touched again until blending in early Spring."
2019 Dana Estates Vaso Cabernet Sauvignon Napa MAGNUM
Price: $235.50 Your Price: $207.24
(95 Points) The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Vaso is a more forward, plush, sexy wine that's already drinking brilliantly. Loaded with red and black fruits as well as leafy herbs, violets, and tobacco notes, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, juicy mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's a hidden gem of a wine that readers should buy. (JD) Review Date: 02/2023, Jeb Dunnuck
2019 Dana Estate Helms Cabernet Sauvignon Napa
Price: $1083.00 Your Price: $953.04
(98 Points) The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Helms Vineyard is classy, elegant and polished. Bright acids and beams of supporting tannin give the Helms terrific energy and vibrancy. The 2019 is a gorgeous Helms. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, dried herbs, mint and a hint or rose petal lend aromatic brilliance to a sculpted, mid-weight Cabernet that is more finesse than power. I love the purity here. (AG) Review Date: 02/2023, Vinous
2017 Dana Estates Lotus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Price: $550.00 Sale Price: $450.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
(100 points) Another perfect wine is Bevan’s equal part blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2012 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain. Notes of unsmoked cigar tobacco, forest floor, pen ink mulberries, blackberries and spring flowers soar from this inky/purple-colored 2012. The wine possesses great intensity, remarkable unctuosity and thickness, and perfect integration of acidity, alcohol, tannin and wood. Aged in equal parts new Gamba and Darnajou barrels, there are 225 cases of this fabulous wine. (RP) (10/2014) Wine Advocate
2015 DANA ESTATES VASO CABERNET SAUVIGNON NAPA MAGNUM
Price: $225.00 Your Price: $198.00
Aromatically complex, the 2015 Vaso captures the different terroirs and varieties of this Cabernet blend with fragrances of red currant, plums, sage, and loam with hints of tobacco box and spices. The entry has flavors of Bing cherries and dried herbs as the hillside tannins fills out the mid palate. The wine supple yet structured palate. Ripe strawberry, forest floor, and a light minerality linger on the finish. Lush and approachable now, this wine will continue to develop as the years pass.
Blend: 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Franc
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