CabernetSauvignon

Dana Estates Gets Perfect Wine Score

Filed under: Wine

A Napa winery owned by a Korean maker of animal food has earned a perfect score of 100 points from wine critic Robert Parker for one of its wines. The Dana Estates' 2007 Lotus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon was one of just a few bottles this year to attain this prized ranking. When the wine was announced last January, a press release said the wine had a 94-97 point estimated score for the barrel sample of 2007 "Lotus Vineyard" Cabernet Sauvignon. The difference in just a few points may not seem like a lot but those few points carry a lot of prestige. The ranks of Parker 100-point wines are small.

Dong-A One, a unit of the Woosan Group, is one of the country's largest wine importers and it crated Dana Estates in Napa Valley, California, in 2005, after purchasing a winery and vineyards. Dana is the pen name of Woonsan Group Chairman Lee Hi-sang and means "spirit of generosity.'' Winemaker Philippe Melka is behind the vintage which is an edition of 3,000 bottles. The Dana Estates wines are primarily sold through the winery's mailing list. Last year's vintage sold for around $275.

Tags: cabernet sauvignon, CabernetSauvignon, dana estates, DanaEstates, robert parker, RobertParker, wine

Frank Sinatra Wine Launches

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Can the Sinatra name sell wine? The Sinatra Family Estates has announced its first wine offering, Come Fly With Me, a limited-production 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.The winery partnered with the Frank Sinatra Estate and his three children (Tina, Nancy and Frank Jr.) to produce the wine. The wine is being produced from a five-acre vineyard site in Napa Valley, and only 500 cases will be bottled and are selling at a steep price of $570 for six bottles. The website says the wine has notes of cherry with hints of leather and spice and says it has a 92 rating but no indication of where that rating came from. Each vintage will be named after a Sinatra classic and the wine label features a logo of a record.

[via Limewire]

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Tags: cabernet sauvignon, CabernetSauvignon, frank sinatra, FrankSinatra, red wine, RedWine, wine

Wine Tasting: Fantesca Cabernet Sauvignon

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Summer may be within reach but no matter the season a great bottle of Cabernet always hits the spot. Fantesca's 2004 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon soothes your stress away and satiates your wine desires with notes of deep earth and rich fruit. The combination of chocolate cherries, cassis and warms the soul while a hint of earth-scented spice perks up the palate. Fantesca Estate on Spring Mountain is known for its superb sun exposure and long growing season offered by the elevation and hilly terrain which makes for high quality wines with a lasting impression. With only 800 cases produced the $65 bottle is certainly worth purchasing. If you prefer to cellar it you can count on fifteen or more wonderful years of drinking pleasure.

*Disclosure: This bottle was provided as a sample*

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Tags: cabernet sauvignon, CabernetSauvignon, fantesca, fantesca cabernet, fantesca wine, FantescaCabernet, FantescaWine, napa, napa valley, NapaValley

Cru Vin Dogs Best In Show Wine

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

There are plenty of wines out there with cute dogs on them but the Cru Vin Dogs area little different. If you put champion dogs on your label you've got a bit to live up to. The 2005 Best in Show Cabernet Sauvignon features a pastel pencil drawing by artist Jay P. Snellgrove of a German Shorthaired Pointer. The wine is made from the Jackson Selection of Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley. The original cuttings of this clone came from pre-phyloxera vines and the resulting wine is an intense spicy wine with hints of dark chocolate. 97 cases were produced and it sells for $75 a bottle.

Cru Vin Dogs pledges that a minimum of ten percent of sales revenue on all wines, art, and merchandise is split equally between Canine Companions For Independence and the Morris Animal Foundation's Cure Canine Cancer Campaign.

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Tags: cabernet sauvignon, CabernetSauvignon, dry creek valley, DryCreekValley, wine

Is Now The Time To Buy Screaming Eagle?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

For years getting onto the mailing lists for Napa Valley's big fruit bomb cult Cabernet Sauvignons has been no easy feat. You practically have to sell your soul to get your paws on Screaming Eagle or some of the other wines with the limited allocation and the highest reputations. But now, as Bloomberg's Elin McCoy puts it: the recession is making room for you. Those on the lists are dumping their allocations to save money and only purchasing from a few select favorites. Even restaurants are paring back their usual bottle grabs because the clientele is staying away from the deep end of the wine list.

If you believe in the long-term value of these wines now might be the time to grab a few and cellar them. Currently those who flip their allocations aren't finding a hot market for the wine but if you can hold onto them for a few years and the name brands regain their value you might have a nice investment on your hands.

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Tags: cabernet sauvignon, CabernetSauvignon, napa valley, NapaValley, screaming eagle, ScreamingEagle, wine

Chilean Wines Making Impression on U.S. Consumers

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Argentina and Australia have both widened our national palates and expanded our wine vocabulary. As they have grown in prestige and density the U.S. has embraced their unique qualities and beamed with pride at the continued diversity of personal wine knowledge.

Another country home to the Southern Hemisphere is also prompting increased interest among oenophiles -- Chile. Although known for their Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet blends exports for Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Carmenere and Syrah have increased in spite of the American recession. To capitalize on consumers' continued interest in the range of wines from Chile the 'Wines of Chile' is to open a new U.S. office in NYC.

If you're unfamiliar with Chilean wines I suggest you start with the Carmenere -- typically they are full-bodied and hold a deeply colored essence plus it sounds sensual when it rolls of the tongue.

Gallery: Chilean Wine Tasting

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Tags: cabernet blends, cabernet sauvignon, CabernetBlends, CabernetSauvignon, carmenere, chile, chile wines, chilean wine, ChileanWine, ChileWines, pinot noir, PinotNoir, sauvignon blanc, SauvignonBlanc, syrah, wines of chile, WinesOfChile

Bailout Wine Bets On A Rebounding Dow

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Custom wine facility Crushpad has a unique answer to the financial crisis, Bailout Wine. The wine is a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon which will sell for $39 per bottle. But what makes this wine with the bear and bull label so unique is that for every 100-point drop in the Dow Jones from the date of purchase to the projected bottling date of August 14 2009, Crushpad will knock another $2 off the bottle. If the Dow rebounds the $39 price stands. Only 500 cases of Bailout will be produced but the company could still take a hit if the Dow tumbles. For example if you bought when the Dow was at 8,800 and then on August 14, 2009 it closes at 7,300 (let's hope not) you would pay just $9 a bottle and get your $30 back. The wine will be shipped after it is bottled in Summer 2009.

[via Decanter]

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Tags: cabernet sauvignon, CabernetSauvignon, crushpad, napa, napa valley, NapaValley

JAQK Cellars

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

There's a new arrival on the wine scene bound to whet your appetite and stir your inner gambler. JAQK Cellars, a playful take on the Jack, Ace, Queen and King of cards, is offering eight distinctive limited production wines this season. From the High Roller 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon to the Charmed 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, this creative and alluring brand pairs a healthy dose of frivolity with the enticing draw of a smoky, high-end casino. Completing the selection are Black Clover 2006 Merlot, Soldiers of Fortune 2006 Shiraz, Pearl Handle 2007 Chardonnay, 22 Black 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bone Dance 2006 Merlot, and Her Majesty 2007 Chardonnay. The bottle will cost between $23 and $70 but their four-bottle gift boxes offered for the holidays range between $120 and $220. I'd be willing to bet this California-based wine will increase your odds of enjoyment.

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Tags: 22 Black, 22Black, black clover, BlackClover, bone dance, BoneDance, cabernet sauvignon, CabernetSauvignon, chardonnay, charmed, Her Majesty, HerMajesty, high roller, HighRoller, JAQK, JAQK Cellars, JAQK wine, JaqkCellars, JaqkWine, merlot, pearl handle, PearlHandle, sauvignon blanc, SauvignonBlanc, shiraz, soldiers-of-fortune

Shepard Fairey Art on Kenwood Artists Series Wine

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

I've been a fan of artist Shepard Fairey for years but he has sprung into the mainstream lately. Not only has his Obama poster been a key part of the campaign but Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art hosting the first museum survey of Shepard Fairey's street art. Now Shepard Fairey has his own wine. Kenwood Vineyards has commission a piece from Shepard Fairey for the 30th Anniversary Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon. The choice is a bit of a departure from a series that has featured artists like Van Gogh and Picasso but the 2004 vintage will showcase Fairey's "Peace Woman."

The 2004 Artist Series has a nose of black currant, Ceylon tea leaf and dark chocolate with flavors of black currant, Italian plum, cocoa and spice. it can be enjoyed now or cellared. The wine was aged in small French oak barrels for 30 months and the final Artist Series blend was assembled from the best of these barrels, with a small percentage of Malbec included for additional complexity and polish. Following bottling, it was cellared at the winery for 18 months prior to release. There were 2,146 cases were produced and it sells for $70 a bottle.

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Tags: cabernet sauvignon, CabernetSauvignon, kenwood, napa, shepard fairey, ShepardFairey

Bonny's Vineyard 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Does the name Justin Meyer ring any bells? At first I didn't recognize its significance either but as I delved more into the story behind Bonny's Vineyard I gasped with realization -- Mr. Meyer was the co-founder of the super Cab of Napa, Silver Oak! For some of you that may not be very exciting but in my household there was a time when Silver Oak was king of the wine cellar for my father. Not only has the Meyer name been attached to this mega-wine but the next generation of Meyer's has recently created a new Cabernet Sauvignon aged in only 100% new American Oak barrels which sustains a 13.19% alcohol. Named for Justin's wife, Bonny, and the vineyard purchased long ago in her name, this wine eases out of the Napa Cab mold with grace while continuing a high-quality family tradition. $135

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Tags: Bonnys Vineyard, Bonnys Vineyard 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, BonnysVineyard, BonnysVineyard2003CabernetSauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon, CabernetSauvignon, meyer family cellars, MeyerFamilyCellars, Oakville, Silver Oak, SilverOak

French Maid Wine

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

In keeping with White Rocket Wine Company's niche of bringing new brands of high quality, affordable wines to the new generation of wine drinkers comes French Maid Wine. Each of the five varietals from the French 'Old World' Languedoc region is given a 'New World' spirit. Offering a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc, each French Maid Wine brings French terroir to the newbies of the wine world on a smaller budget of only $12 per bottle. For the connoisseur who prefers more luxury priced wines this may not be the bottle of choice but as an introduction to wine it just may fit the bill.

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Tags: cabernet sauvignon, CabernetSauvignon, chardonnay, french maid wine, FrenchMaidWine, merlot, pinot noir, PinotNoir, sauvignon blanc, SauvignonBlanc, white rocket wine company, WhiteRocketWineCompany

2005 Brother Timothy Mont La Salle Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

This week will mark the release of the 2005 edition of the Brother Timothy Mont La Salle Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley. The wine benefits the Lasallian Education Fund (LEF), the West Coast Educational Foundation of the De La Salle Christian Brothers. This is the second release of this wine created to honor a grand icon of California's wine industry. The collectible wine is crafted by The Hess Collection Winery and for the first time, this wine was made from a tiny, single vineyard using the Mont La Salle Vineyard estate grapes grown at the site of the original Christian Brothers winery where Brother Timothy worked as cellar master for more than 50 years. The wine is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot and has rich cherry and plum flavors. It was aged for 18 months in French oak.

The 2005 Brother Timothy Mont La Salle Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon will release on May 15, 2008 at a reception held at Wilson Daniels Ltd. and retails for $94 per 750-mL ($194 per 1.5 liter).Approximately 100 cases were made, including a number of large-format bottles. Pre-sale orders, which will receive a 10% pre-release discount, will be taken by phone and by mail May 1 – June 15, 2008. All proceeds benefit the Lasallian Education Fund, the fundraising arm of Lasallian schools located in the District of San Francisco, which exists to serve low-income families who do not have access to a quality education. Currently, some 10,000 students in four western states are benefiting from education in the tradition of the De La Salle Christian Brothers.

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Tags: cabernet sauvignon, CabernetSauvignon, napa valley, NapaValley, wine

Z Gallerie Skull Red Wine

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Most of the time wine is presented as upscale, reserved, and elegant, but Z Gallerie went a slightly different direction with with Skull Red Wine. The label art, designed by and for Z Gallerie exclusively, is a fairly gritty looking black and white human skull. I like it, and although it is a little "dark" in mood I think it still has an interesting elegance about it -- just with an extra edge. The wine inside is a 2005 Miramonte Cabernet Sauvignon with blueberry, blackberry, and bing cherry notes along with lavender, fresh mocha, and toasted oak. $65

Via Wists

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Tags: cabernet, cabernet sauvignon, CabernetSauvignon, skull, wine, z gallerie, ZGallerie

The Mondavi Legacy Continues With Continuum

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

The name Mondavi still has the power to generate excitement in the wine world. The latest Mondavi release comes from Tim Mondavi. Continuum is produced by Tim and his sister Marcia, with 94-year-old patriarch Robert and his wife Margrit and continuing the Mondavi tradition of making wine producing a family affair, Tim's five children are also playing a role in the production. Tim Mondavi has some high aspirations for his wine, he told Decanter, his goal is to have to have the wine be a little like the pricey Opus One. For the first release just over 1,000 cases have been produced. The 2005 vintge is a blend of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It sells for $130 and will be released next month.

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Tags: cabernet sauvignon, CabernetSauvignon, continuum, mondavi, napa valley wine, NapaValleyWine, tim mondavi, wine

Wine And Shoes To Save Elephants

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Charity

Another new entry into the rapidly growing wine-for-a-good-cause category is the Rescue Wine from Juslyn Vineyards in Napa. The owners of the winery Carolyn and Perry Butler were inspired when they visited the Four Seasons Tented Camp in Thailand, Seeing an elephant in Bangkok city traffic inspired the Butlers to create a special wine to benefit the Golden Triangle Elephant Foundation which rescues elephants abandoned in the cities and brings them back to a safe jungle environment. The Juslyn Winery's 2001 Rescue wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The wine is available as either a 1.5 liter for $225, three bottles of the 750 ml size for $250 or a three liter bottle for $495. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the wine will benefit GTAEF.

Carolyn Butler also persuaded Italian designer Cesare Casadei to create a peep-toe patent leather d'orsay pump with a black and white animal print comes with a 3.5 inch red heel. The shoes sell for $435 and there are just 60 being made.

[via Wine Spectator]

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Tags: cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, CabernetFranc, CabernetSauvignon, do no evil, DoNoEvil, juslyn, merlot, napa valley, red wine, RedWine, wine