Wine of The Week - 2014 Clos Du Val Cabernet Sauvignon, Hirondelle Vineyard – 92 Points

One of the smallest AVAs in Napa, Stags Leap District is also one of the coolest for growing Cabernet in the Napa Valley, however the fruit attains full ripeness, without getting overripe, and Clos Du Val shows this well. Since it’s founding in 1972 Clos Du Val has had an insatiable desire to produce beautiful Cabernet’s and their Hirondelle Vineyard is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon fruit from the Clos Estate. The fruit from these 20-year-old vines are fermented in stainless steel tanks, then placed in 60% new French oak. The resulting wine is elegant and graceful leading with deep blueberry, black berry and plum. That is followed with an earthiness - a bucolic brambly quality - in the background along with a hint of menthol, allspice, as well as campfire wood. But there is also a distinct sense of overflowing richness and viscosity that hits the palate coupled with mild tannins and medium acidity, and at its heart the simple pure drinking pleasure with this classic Napa Cab.

Average Price: $120/ 750ML
Alcohol: 14.5%
Pair With: Venetian style calves liver; Chicken potpie with fresh vegetables; Santa Maria style grilled tri-tip.
Availability: Limited, 800 cases.
Website: www.closduval.com

Wine of The Week – Father’s Day Edition - 2014 Shafer Vineyards One Point Five – 92 Points

Cabernet is king in Napa’s Stag’s Leap District and Shafer is certainly at the forefront of stellar wines in this AVA. Their One Point Five (which references the generation and a half between father and son) is comprised of 95% Cabernet with tiny amounts of Merlot, followed by Malbec and Petit Verdot. The wine rested for 20 months in all new French oak barrels of Allier and Troncais woods. The nose is classic Cabernet; dark berry fruit and sweet oak, a thrill to the senses.

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Wine of The Week – 2014 Addendum Cabernet Sauvignon, Skellenger Lane – 93 Points

Actor turned vintner Fess Parker formed his eponymous winery in Santa Barbara in 1989. Though Mr. Parker passed away in 2010 his family has continued his aspirations by adding to the winery’s offerings from outside of Santa Barbara. From Rutherford, one of Napa’s best Cabernet Sauvignon regions, their new venture, Addendum, fresh out of the gate shows immense promise. Addendum is a line of Napa Cabernet Sauvignons and their Skellenger Lane is a ripe opulent, rich and concentrated wine. Spending 28 months exclusively in new French oak there is an obviousness to that decision however the oak, while pronounced, is also well integrated into the structure of the wine, so as to allow the fruit to co-star. The nose is lush, rich, resonant with sweet berry and vanilla oak. There is a wonderful viscosity with this wine; a velvet liquidity. The 2014 offers notes of plum, black cherry, black berry, blue berry, slightly sweet menthol and camphor. It is big and bold but gracious and harmonious, much like Mr. Parker was.

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Wine of The Week – Cliff Lede Vineyards 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard- 95 Points

Beckstoffer is a name synonymous with exceptional Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit is always highly sought-out and few producers are lucky enough to get some. Cliff Lede makes terrific Cabernet and so they know intrinsically how to treat highly prized To Kalon fruit. And this is clearly evidenced in their 2014 Cabernet.

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Wine of The Week - 2014 Canvasback Grand Passage Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon – 91 Points

Washington State is the 2nd largest wine producer in America, after California. The wine regions here are making incredible strides and one of the most auspicious places out of the 14 AVAs in the state is Red Mountain, a sub-appellation of Yakima Valley (which is, in turn, a sub-appellation of the Columbia Valley).

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Wine of The Week - 2014 Sea Smoke Chardonnay – 91 Points

Sea Smoke (so named for the clouds that hug and blanket the Santa Rita Hills in Santa Barbara) began Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in 1999, and has since established itself as one of the premier producers in this region. Dijon and Wente clones of Chardonnay are planted in loamy, clay shallow but well-drained soils on their estate vineyard.

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Wine of The Week - 2014 Clos Du Val Cabernet Sauvignon, Hirondelle Vineyard – 92 Points

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