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Search Flickinger Wine Inventory
Inventory updated: Fri, Jan 30, 2026 04:02 PM cst
Your search criteria:
Regions: USA Red
Vintages: Between 2007 and 2007
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| 21 Grams |
2007 |
Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon  |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (11/2010): Good full red. Redcurrant, mulberry, plum and caramel on the nose, complemented by sexy oak spices. Broad, lush and sweet, with an almost exotic high-toned quality to the perfumed flavors of red berries and spices. Sound acidity gives the wine shape and balance. Finishes impressively broad and horizontal, with very smooth, ripe tannins and lingering spicy perfume. Sophisticated, glossy wine. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Agharta |
2007 |
Black Label Syrah |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 90-92 (7/2013): In the 2007 Agharta Black Label is 90% Syrah, 5% Grenache and 5% Viognier/Roussanne. Mocha, plums, espresso, blackberries, tar and licorice all burst from the glass. A huge, massively constituted wine, the 2007 is loaded with personality and character. A rich, voluptuous finish rounds things out. Mahle planned to give the 2007 a whopping 65 months in oak, but the wine appears to be handling the oak well. Stylistically, this is a wine that reflects the vintage and its long elevage more than varietal character. I can't wait to see how the 2007 shows once it is in bottle. Today, it is impressive. (Drink between 2013-2022). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Alban Vineyards |
2007 |
Alban Estate Grenache |
$115 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 94 (11/2011): Dense, rich and meaty, this is full-throttle and rustic, with tiers of chewy blackberry, wild berry, loamy earth, ginger bread, underbrush, sage, cedar, tobacco and black licorice flavors. Ends with firm, chewy tannins. Drink now through 2022. 300 cases made.
WA 92 (8/2011): The 2007 Grenache opens with a sweet, beguiling nose that leads to exotic blackberry, coconut, plums, asphalt, tar and sweet spices. This is an especially deep, dense style of Grenache (there is 12% Syrah in the blend) yet all of the elements come together beautifully in the glass. Floral notes add lift and complexity on the finish, yet the Grenache remains big and quite powerful. Alban gave the Grenache 36 months in barrel. The Grenache is made from a variety of plots on the property, plus Syrah exclusively from the Reva parcel. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. |
|
|
2007 |
Pandora Proprietary Blend |
$150 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2011): The 2007 Pandora is an enormous wine endowed with awesome richness and power. Layers of dark fruit flesh out beautifully in this muscular, large-scaled wine. Dark plums, tar, sweet herbs and anise are some of the notes that wrap around the super-intense finish. The 2007 Pandora is 95% Grenache and 5% Syrah, both from the chalky soils of Seymour-s. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.
WS 89 (12/2011): Big, ripe and broad-shouldered, with intense, chewy plum, blackberry, blackberry jam, pepper, spice, cedar and tobacco leaf flavors, ending with dry, leafy, gravelly aftertaste. Grenache. Best from 2012 through 2022. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 70 cases made. |
|
|
2007 |
Reva Alban Estate Syrah |
$115 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (8/2011): The 2007 Syrah Reva is dazzling. It possesses striking inner perfume and beautifully delineated fruit. Blackberries, blueberries, freshly cut white flowers, licorice, tar and asphalt are some of the notes that take shape in the glass. Alban gave the 2007 Reva 44 months in untoasted French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027. |
|
| Alpha Omega |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
Proprietary Blend |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
Era Proprietary Blend |
$200 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (12/2009): The 2007 ERA Proprietary Wine exhibits a deep ruby/purple color as well as cedar, roasted herb, black currant, and camphor notes, Outstanding ripeness, purity, and depth, good richness, sweeter tannin than the 2006, and, like many 2007s, an underlying minerality and precision that make this vintage so special. Give it 2-3 years of bottle age, and enjoy it over the following 15 years. |
|
| Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards |
2007 |
Black Label Block 3 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
Eloge Proprietary Blend |
$115 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94-96 (12/2009): The 2007 Eloge (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot and Merlot) possesses a denser, more concentrated style than even the 2006. The tannins are also slightly sweeter, and the wine is more voluminous, layered, and textured. This young, promising, locked and loaded 2007 is somewhat backward because of the levels of concentration and intensity. Forget it for five years, and drink it over the following 25+years. These brilliant 2007s are some of the strongest efforts that have emerged from Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards over the last decade. |
|
|
2007 |
Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (12/2010): As I indicated last year, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a brilliant effort. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, it has begun to shut down slightly, but reveals an opaque purple color along with deep, sweet, cedary, black currant aromas intermixed with hints of tobacco leaf, licorice and graphite. Full-bodied, powerful and rich, this impressive 2007 needs 4-5 years of cellaring and should keep for 25+ years. |
|
| Anthill |
2007 |
Demuth Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 92 (5/2009): Vivid red. Captivating aromas of redcurrant, raspberry and blood orange are deepened by smoky herbs and dried flowers. Spicy and incisive on the palate, displaying fresh red berry and candied rose flavors, with gentle tannic grip on the back. The blood orange note echoes through the long, seductively spicy finish. Josh Raynolds.
BH 91 (10/2009): A ripe but restrained, cool and elegant nose of ripe cherry and red pinot fruit trimmed in delicate spice notes is followed by rich, delicious, round, supple and relatively supple middle weight flavors that possess a discreet mineral hint and excellent balance on the persistent, sappy and impressively complex finish. This isn't in the same league as the Abbey Harris but there is an understate grace to the mouth feel that is very appealing. (Drink starting 2012). |
|
| Araujo Estate |
2007 |
Eisele Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$495 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 95+ (6/2010): Good full ruby-red. Vibrant aromas of deep black raspberry, licorice and violet; quite expressive considering it was bottled about a month prior to my visit. Then dense, deep and very primary, with powerful yet suave flavors of blackberry, smoke, licorice, minerals, chocolate and earth spreading out to saturate the palate. An infant today but the wine's superb persistence and finishing perfume suggest it will rank among the best vintages of this bottling. If there is ever a classification of Napa Valley cabernet vineyards, the Eisele Vineyard would clearly be a grand cru. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 93 (12/2010): Since last year’s report I have had the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard on three separate occasions, including recently at the winery. It has definitely improved over last year’s report, but it has not lived up to my barrel tasting reviews. There is no explanation for this other than that the Araujos told me that the wine was bottled three months later than normal, which seems like a negligible reason to explain the differences. A beautiful wine by any standards, it is just not one of the great Eiseles. Its deep plum/ruby/purple hue is accompanied by notes of cassis, blueberries and acacia flowers. This medium-bodied effort seems surprisingly reserved and restrained, but it has put on a little weight, revealing sweet tannin as well as a velvety texture. This offering should drink nicely for 12-15 years.
WS 87 (12/2010): Though a very good wine, this is disappointing considering the producer's history. Trim and focused, with full-bodied flavors built around dried currant, herb, mineral and sage, but ending with a clipped finish of dried berry and herb. Tasted four times, with consistent notes. Drink now through 2017. 1,710 cases made. |
|
| Arietta |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 94 (5/2010): (from Meteor Vineyard fruit) Good full, deep ruby. Sexy, high-pitched aromas of black raspberry, black cherry, licorice, flowers and smoky oak. At once juicy and dense, with a fine-grained texture and superb intensity to the dark fruit and floral flavors. There's nothing overripe or ponderous about this beauty, but its substantial tannins call for at least a few years of patience.
WA 92+ (12/2009): The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is the real deal. Its opaque purple color is accompanied by notes of black currants, camphor, licorice, and spicy oak as well as Outstanding fruit purity, a medium to full-bodied texture, sweet but serious tannins, and a long finish. Accessible now, it should continue to provide plenty of pleasure over the next 15+ years.
WS 90 (5/2010): Chunky and chewy, dense, full-bodied and concentrated, this rustic red is marked by dried currant, blueberry, graphite and black licorice. A potent, burly wine, ending with a roasted coffee and chicory edge. Best from 2011 through 2018. 260 cases made. |
|
| Arnot-Roberts |
2007 |
Bugay Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
Clajeux Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
Fellom Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Arterberry Maresh |
2007 |
Dundee Hills Pinot Noir |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Beau Vigne |
2007 |
Juliet Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
5 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2009): A very good value in top-flight Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is Beau Vigne’s 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Juliet. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, it exhibits a dark ruby/purple color in addition to abundant amounts of creme de cassis and floral characteristics, full-bodied power, supple tannins, a layered mouthfeel, and a long, savory finish. It can be enjoyed now and over the next 15+ years. |
|
|
2007 |
Juliet Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2009): A very good value in top-flight Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is Beau Vigne’s 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Juliet. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, it exhibits a dark ruby/purple color in addition to abundant amounts of creme de cassis and floral characteristics, full-bodied power, supple tannins, a layered mouthfeel, and a long, savory finish. It can be enjoyed now and over the next 15+ years. |
|
|
2007 |
Juliet Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$165 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2009): A very good value in top-flight Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is Beau Vigne’s 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Juliet. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, it exhibits a dark ruby/purple color in addition to abundant amounts of creme de cassis and floral characteristics, full-bodied power, supple tannins, a layered mouthfeel, and a long, savory finish. It can be enjoyed now and over the next 15+ years. |
|
|
2007 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (12/2009): More backward and structured, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve possesses copious black fruit, licorice, and forest floor notes as well as a boatload of tannin. While neither as charming nor accessible as the Juliet, it needs 3-4 years of cellaring, and should last for two decades thereafter. |
|
|
2007 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (12/2009): More backward and structured, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve possesses copious black fruit, licorice, and forest floor notes as well as a boatload of tannin. While neither as charming nor accessible as the Juliet, it needs 3-4 years of cellaring, and should last for two decades thereafter. |
|
| Behrens & Hitchcock |
2007 |
Ode To Picasso Proprietary Blend |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 92 (6/2011): (50% cabernet sauvignon, 40% syrah and 10% petit verdot): Bright medium ruby. Wild berries and cherry on the nose, lifted by a floral topnote. At once sweet and juicy, with an intriguing saline quality adding interest to the flavors of dark berries, menthol and spices. Finishes with suave tannins and very good length. The syrah element here brings more flowers than meat.
WS 88 (12/2010): A rustic style that's intense and concentrated, with aromas of graphite, lead pencil, currant, mineral and cedar, adding a touch of game meat. Dry and savory, complex and layered, ending with firm, drying tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petit Verdot. Best from 2011 through 2016. 250 cases made. |
|
| Betz Family Winery |
2007 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend |
$50 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 94 (10/2009): The 2007 Clos de Betz is a blend of six grape varieties (56% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Mourvedre, and Petit Verdot) sourced from several Columbia Valley AVAs. It was raised in 70% new French oak for 12-14 months. Purple-colored, it reveals an alluring bouquet of spice box, violets, incense, black currant, and blackberry. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it displays an elegant personality along with considerable complexity. Expressive black fruits mingle with earth and spice notes, plenty of ripe, fine-grained tannin, and a lengthy finish. Give this rich, substantial effort 4-6 years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2013 to 2027.
WS 92 (8/2010): Firm in texture, with a smoky character weaving through the tight blackberry and anise flavors, as coffee and dark chocolate notes inform the finish. Needs time to loosen up. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2012 through 2017. 830 cases made. |
|
|
2007 |
Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon |
$69 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95 (10/2009): The 2007 Pere de Famille is made up of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot sourced predominantly from the Red Mountain AVA with small contributions from Horse Heaven Hills and Yakima Valley. Purple/black in color it reveals a brooding aromatic array of wood smoke, scorched earth, pencil lead, violets, black currant and blackberry. Full-bodied on the palate, it is a bit more dense, opulent, and succulent than the Clos de Betz, admirably combining elegance and power. The pure finish lasts for over 60-seconds. It will offer a drinking window extending from 2013 to 2027.
VM 95 (12/2009): Bright, deep ruby-red. Pungent cabernet aromas and flavors of red, black and blue fruits complicated by dried thyme and a floral topnote. The extremely intense yet silky palate offers a stunning wave of sweetness that will take several years to express itself fully. Most impressive today on the rising but wonderfully subtle finish, which is supported by serious tannic spine and goes on and on. These 2007 reds combine the structure of the 2005s with the added juiciness of the 2006s, says Betz, who appears to have made his finest set of wines to date.
WS 93 (8/2010): This red offers grippy tannins surrounding a glowing core of cherry, blackberry, mint and spice flavors that linger effortlessly as the finish spreads and opens. Shows extraordinary balance and refinement, but needs time to soften. Best from 2012 through 2019. 925 cases made. |
|
| Black Cordon Vineyard |
2007 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
3 |
|
| |
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| J. Bookwalter |
2007 |
Chapter 3 Red Wine |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
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| Bovet (Round Pond) |
2007 |
Rutherford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Caldwell |
2007 |
Rocket Science Red Wine |
$50 |
2 |
|
| |
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| Caymus |
2007 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
2 |
|
| |
| WS 92 (11/2009): Ripe and fleshy, with rich plum, wild berry, spice and savory herb notes that are complex, full-bodied and expansive on the palate, ending with firm tannins and a dash of espresso. Drink now through 2016. 37,800 cases made. |
|
|
2007 |
Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon |
$269 |
2 |
|
| |
WS 96 (7/2010): This firm, ripe, muscular wine that's tight, deep, structured, intense and concentrated, serving up a mix of ripe currant, cassis, plum, black cherry and blackberry fruit that's clean, pure, complex and layered, with touches of anise, cedar and black licorice. Ends with chewy tannins. Best from 2011 through 2019. 10,000 cases made.
WA 93 (12/2010): The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection (100% Cabernet Sauvignon, now bottled earlier than in the past) exhibits an inky/blue/purple color in addition to sweet aromas of cassis, graphite, licorice, tobacco leaf and toasty oak. Bold, flamboyant and opulent, it should drink well for 15+ years. |
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| Chalk Hill |
2007 |
Estate Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
8 |
|
| |
WA 95 (2/2010): Perhaps the finest Estate Red to date is the 2007. Its dense ruby/purple hue is followed by blackberry, cassis, cedar, and licorice characteristics, supple tannins, a more accessible personality, full body, and admirable purity, texture, and length. Drink this beauty over the next 2-3 decades.
WS 93 (9/2010): Bold, rich, graceful and full-bodied, offering a wonderful beam of ripe blackberry, currant and wild berry, with touches of spice and tobacco leaf. Full-bodied, firming on the finish, where the flavors gain depth and maintain their persistence. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Carmenère. Drink now through 2017. 5,000 cases made.
VM 91 (6/2010): (51% cabernet sauvignon, 24% malbec, 13% merlot, 11% petit verdot and 1% carmenere) Inky ruby. Highly aromatic nose combines cassis, cherry skin, cured tobacco and smoky oak. Supple on entry, offering sweet dark fruit flavors, then tightly wound in the middle, with a sappy quality to the dark berry liqueur and smoky herb flavors. Showing a lot of exotic character right now, much of which seems oak-derived, but there's a concentrated dark fruit as well. The smoky note gains power toward the back, which shows rather suave tannins and lingers with very good intensity. |
|
| Chappellet |
2007 |
Pritchard Hill Estate Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$209 |
2 |
|
| |
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| Coho |
2007 |
Summit Vine Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
4 |
|
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| Col Solare |
2007 |
Proprietary Red |
$69 |
12 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2013): Starting the tasting and a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc that comes from a variety of vineyards (about 30% in Red Mountain and the balance from the Columbia Valley) and was aged 22 months in mostly new French oak, the 2007 Col Solare is a superb effort that offers up notions of cassis, cedar, lead pencil, tar and dried herb as well as a full-bodied, supple and polished texture. A classic Washington State Bordeaux blend, it stays classy and balanced, and shows the quality of the 2007 vintage. It’s also worth noting that there were 11,000 cases of this wine produced! Hats off to the Col Solare team – this is a beauty. Drink now-2022. |
|
| Corliss |
2007 |
Columbia Valley Syrah |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 94 (6/2012): Coming all from the Stillwater Vineyard that’s located on the Royal Slope in the Columbia Valley, the 2007 Corliss Estates Syrah is a ripe, layered wine that was aged in 65% new French oak for a total of 30 months. It offers up aromas of vanilla-laced black fruits, baking spices, roasted meats, truffle, flowers, and creamy licorice that flow to a decidedly rich, borderline decadent Syrah that has a stacked mid-palate, layers of fruit and texture, and a beautifully fresh, clean finish. It’s certainly big and rich, but it’s oh so well done and stays remarkable light on the palate for a wine of this size. It’s superb now, and I see no reason to hold off; it should drink well through 2020.
VM 93 (11/2010): Bright, full ruby-red. Blackberry, black cherry, pepper and licorice on the nose, with a distinctly wild quality and a hint of white fruits; more Old World in style than the 2006 version, which included 17% grenache. Juicy, penetrating and precise, with lovely floral lift to the dark berry and pepper flavors. This boasts terrific cut and life, as well as a serious tannic spine for aging. Finishes long and perfumed. (This was clearly more varietally expressive-and darker in character-than the 2006, which I retasted alongside it. The almost creamy 2006 is in a more elegant, claret-like style.) Stephen Tanzer.
WA 90 (12/2012): Sourced from Stillwater Creek (for a bit more about which see the introduction to this report) and seven year old vines, the Corliss 2007 Syrah incorporated a couple of rows’ worth of co-fermented Viognier and spent 30 months in nearly two-thirds new barriques. Creme de cassis, blueberry preserves and maple syrup capture closely the combination of confectionary fruit ripeness and caramelization of resin on exhibit in this sweetly scented and plush rendition of its cepage. A hint of candied violet emerges as this takes on air. Fortunately, primary fruit juiciness as well at least a hint of salinity (if no particularly saliva-inducing savor) offer welcome counterpoint, while tar and smoke add notes of typicity to a soothingly and sweetly lingering finish. Like the other wines in its collection, this is definitely for those with a saccharine tooth. What will become of it when it sheds its baby fat and how long that will take I am for now at least in no position to assess. |
|
|
2007 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 94-97 (11/2010): Full red-ruby. Plum, tobacco and loam on the shy nose. Wonderfully rich and suave in the mouth, with ineffable floral lift to the deep, sweet flavors of cherry, plum and minerals. Outstanding cabernet in the making-by any standard. Most impressive today on the explosively long back end, where the wine's huge structure is currently hidden by sheer material. Incidentally, this is the first vintage to include some estate fruit (from Red Mountain). It will be a treat to taste this wine alongside a half dozen of Washington's other cabernet superstars a decade hence. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2007 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$150 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94-97 (11/2010): Full red-ruby. Plum, tobacco and loam on the shy nose. Wonderfully rich and suave in the mouth, with ineffable floral lift to the deep, sweet flavors of cherry, plum and minerals. Outstanding cabernet in the making-by any standard. Most impressive today on the explosively long back end, where the wine's huge structure is currently hidden by sheer material. Incidentally, this is the first vintage to include some estate fruit (from Red Mountain). It will be a treat to taste this wine alongside a half dozen of Washington's other cabernet superstars a decade hence. Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2007 |
Estate Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (12/2012): The Corliss 2007 Red Wine that bears no other name originates in Bordelais grapes largely from their Red Mountain vineyards, and spent 33 months in 75% new barriques, though winemaker Andrew Trio indicates that subsequent vintages have been or will be bottled slightly sooner, to reflect the team’s consensus that “we find we achieve what we need to after two and a half years.” Fresh dark cherry fruit is laced with rose hip and salted caramel on a silken palate with confectionary allusions to pistachio brittle, marzipan, and red licorice gaining prominence in a long finish. For those who like their Cabernet and Company very much on the sweet and polished side, this should prove a winner over at least the next half dozen years. And perhaps some counterpoint and intrigue will emerge over that period. |
|
|
2007 |
Estate Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$150 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (12/2012): The Corliss 2007 Red Wine that bears no other name originates in Bordelais grapes largely from their Red Mountain vineyards, and spent 33 months in 75% new barriques, though winemaker Andrew Trio indicates that subsequent vintages have been or will be bottled slightly sooner, to reflect the team’s consensus that “we find we achieve what we need to after two and a half years.” Fresh dark cherry fruit is laced with rose hip and salted caramel on a silken palate with confectionary allusions to pistachio brittle, marzipan, and red licorice gaining prominence in a long finish. For those who like their Cabernet and Company very much on the sweet and polished side, this should prove a winner over at least the next half dozen years. And perhaps some counterpoint and intrigue will emerge over that period. |
|
| Crocker Starr |
2007 |
Stone Place Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (4/2018): Bright medium ruby. Expressive nose conveys an alluring exotic quality to the aromas of cassis, cocoa powder and spices; very Cabernet Sauvignon! At once plush and youthfully medicinal, offering concentrated, opulent yet nicely vinous flavors of black cherry and dark chocolate lifted by a floral quality. This wonderfully balanced, sweet/savory wine may not have quite the class of the '06 but it's approachable now and should remain at this level for at least another ten years. The finish is very long, with chewy, horizontal tannins and lingering notes of chocolate and dried tarragon to go with its still-primary fruit flavors. Pam Starr described 2007 as "a more typically Napa Valley growing season with some heat spikes and a warm finish," adding that 2006 featured a cooler end to the vintage, while 2005 was more classic, 2004 had a hot finish and 2003 witnessed extreme heat spikes. (Drink between 2018-2031). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Dalla Valle |
2007 |
Maya Proprietary Blend |
$525 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 98 (12/2010): The 2007 Maya borders on perfection. Its dense plum/ruby/purple color is followed by abundant aromas of graphite, blueberry liqueur, hoisin sauce, smoked meats and red and black fruits. The extraordinary aromatics give way to a full-bodied, stunningly concentrated wine with everything in balance, fabulous density and richness, and a finish that lasts nearly 60 seconds. This is unquestionably one of the all-time great Mayas. In keeping with the exuberance and flamboyance of this vintage, it is approachable now, but should age effortlessly for 30+ years.
WS 97 (10/2010): A gorgeous wine that features rich, layered flavors of ripe plum, blackberry and currant that are deep and concentrated, yet elegant and stylish. Full-bodied, ending with delicate touches of mineral and spice. Drink now through 2019. 300 cases made.
VM 96 (6/2014): What a difference a year makes. The 2007 Maya is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. Sexy and racy to the core, the 2007 captures the sensuality of the year in spades. Raspberry jam, white flowers, mint and spices are nicely shaped by silky tannins. Production was tiny, at around 270 cases, partly because 2007 is the vintage in which Dalla Valle introduced their second wine, Collina Dalla Valle. It's great to see Maya back on track after the less than stellar 2006.
VM 94 (5/2010): (includes 30% cabernet franc) Good full ruby-red; brighter than the Napa Valley bottling. Darker, impressively vibrant aromas of blueberry, boysenberry, violet and licorice. A step up in density and verve; quite young today but this really saturates and perfumes the palate. Spreads out and echoes impressively on the very long, subtle back end, where the tannins are currently hidden by bright fruit. I never would have guessed this wine was carrying 15% alcohol. Incidentally, the 2002 Maya was the last vintage from the old plantings; Dalla Valle skipped 2003 and 2004 and then restarted with 2005. |
|
| Dancing Hares |
2007 |
Proprietary Blend |
$109 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 94 (12/2010): The 2007 Dancing Hares (39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot, aged 21 months in mostly new French oak) exhibits a sweet nose of white chocolate, forest floor, blueberry, bay leaf, and cassis. Terrific fruit intensity, an opulent, full-bodied mouthfeel, with the considerable exuberance that is so much a part of this vintage’s personality, and a long, lush finish make for a super wine to drink over the next 15 or more years.
WS 93 (8/2011): Very dense and concentrated, complex and chunky, with a range of dried currant, blackberry, loamy earth, tar, sage and mineral flavors. Full-bodied, yet clamping down on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2013 through 2022. 572 cases made. |
|
| Del Dotto |
2007 |
Caves Sangiovese |
$95 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Den Hoed |
2007 |
Andreas Wallula Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$69 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 93 (8/2011): The 2007 Andreas is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the then Wallula Vineyard made by Gilles Nicault, the resident winemaker at Shoup’s Long Shadows winery. The wine was aged for 30 months in new French oak. It is a dense, round, savory, well-balanced wine with enough underlying structure to achieve its 20th birthday in peak form.
VM 92 (11/2011): Good ruby-red. Claret-like aromas of plum, reducrrant, spices and herbs, with higher-pitched suggestions of red cherry and rose petal. Suave and light on its feet, with a youthfully medicinal aspect to the flavors of red fruits, flowers and licorice. Firmly structured but not a bit hard. Finishes with strong fruit and a hint of marzipan. This exciting new project involves brothers Andy and Bill den Hoed, Allen Shoup (CEO of Long Shadows) and winemaker Rob Newsome. (Gilles Nicault was responsible for 2006 vintage of Andreas.) Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| DeSante |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| Dominus |
2007 |
Proprietary Blend |
$319 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 98 (12/2010): The 2008 Dominus may eclipse the 2007, but it may just be a matter of style. The 2007 Dominus, the quintessential model of haute couture, is pure elegance exhibiting a seamless integration of wood, tannin, alcohol and acidity as well as a complex bouquet of cedar, new saddle leather, sweet kirsch, black currant and plum fruit and a notion of licorice. Both the 2007 and 2008 Dominus should drink well for 25-30 years.
VM 94 (6/2010): (features an unusually high 94% cabernet sauvignon) Good deep red-ruby. Ripe, rich aromas of black raspberry, coffee, menthol, licorice and smoked meat. Much more velvety and seamless than the Napanook, with more thoroughly integrated acidity and enticing inner-mouth floral lift. Not a particularly opulent style but very suave and complex, finishing with noteworthy rising length and very sweet, fine-grained tannins. This beauty has the balance for a long and graceful life in bottle.
WS 88 (11/2010): Loamy earth, dried currant and blackberry fruit is supple and layered, full-bodied and balanced, gaining in complexity and style on the finish. The best of three bottles tasted. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2012 through 2020. 5,000 cases made. |
|
|
2007 |
Napanook Proprietary Blend |
$85 |
14 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (12/2010): The other significant change is how the quality of Napanook has risen. Really a separate entity these days, the 2007 continues to show wonderful elegance, sweet finesse and ripe Napa Valley fruit. It is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot. |
|
| Donum |
2007 |
West Slope Pinot Noir |
$85 |
3 |
|
| |
| BH 88 (4/2010): Notably ripe aromas of red and blue pinot, violets and cassis notes give way to delicious, punchy and nicely detailed middle weight flavors that like the Estate, have noticeable oak influence though here it is a bit less noticeable. Still, those sensitive to the amount of wood will probably find this level to be too much though I stress that it is not enough to imbalance the finish. (Drink starting 2013) |
|
| Drinkward Peschon |
2007 |
Entre Deux Meres Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
3 |
|
| |
| JS 91 (2/2011): This smells very Bordeaux with cassis bush, fresh herbs, and hints of oak with some earthiness too. Full bodied, with round and velvety tannins and a fruity finish. A little hollow in the mid-palate and jammy but I like it. Pull the cork after 2012. Find the wine |
|
| Duckhorn |
2007 |
Patzimaro Vyd. Cabernet Franc |
$50 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 87 (5/2011): Bright red-ruby. Blueberry, black cherry, menthol and licorice on the nose. Offers good energy in the mouth, but there's a slight greenness to the medicinal flavors of cassis and mint. Tails off a bit on the back end. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Ehlers Estate |
2007 |
Merlot |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
1886 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (12/2010): A beautiful effort, Ehlers Estate’s 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon 1886 is an homage to their founder, Bernard Ehlers, who first planted vines here in 1886. A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot and 3% Merlot, it boasts a deep ruby/purple color along with a broad bouquet of black raspberries, black currants, cherries, spice and even a floral component. Medium to full-bodied with abundant fruit, purity and texture, it should drink well for at least a decade. |
|
|
2007 |
One Twenty Over Eighty Cabernet Sauvignon |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Etude |
2007 |
Deer Camp Pinot Noir |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 92 (12/2009): The richest effort is the 2007 Pinot Noir Deer Camp. Lots of minerality buttresses the wine’s full-bodied, black cherry, cranberry, and strawberry flavors. It possesses excellent texture, power, depth, and richness as well as moderate tannin. One to two years of cellaring is warranted, and it should evolve for at least a decade.
VM 88 (5/2010): Good medium red. Slightly liqueur-like aromas of cherry, chocolate and cola. Comes across as rather extractive in the mouth, with bitter cherry, licorice, sassafras and fruit skin flavors dominating. A fairly big, broad, almost chocolatey style of pinot that could use more lift despite the impression of slightly tart acidity. Stepehn Tanzer. |
|
| Far Niente |
2007 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$150 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 93 (12/2009): The finest Cabernet Sauvignon I have ever tasted from Far Niente may be the 2007 Estate. Its dense purple color is accompanied by fragrant aromatics of creme de cassis, spice box, underbrush, and forest floor. Voluptuously-textured and full-bodied with superb purity and depth as well as a layered, complete finish, this terrific wine should be drinkable before the 2006, but age just as long 20-25+ years.
WS 88 (11/2010): Tightly wound, firm and tannic, this well-structured red has a core of herb- and bell pepper-laced cedar, currant and tobacco flavors that are taut and concentrated. Ends with chewy tannins. Best from 2011 through 2017. 12,790 cases made. |
|
| Farella Estate |
2007 |
Road Block Syrah Writing on Label |
$25 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 90-93 (12/2009): The least expensive wine, the 2007 Syrah Roadblock could turn out to be a major sleeper of the vintage as well as a super buy. Sweet, jammy blackberry fruit, charcoal, camphor, melted asphalt, and a hint of truffle-like aromas jump from the glass of this dense purple-colored 2007. This layered, intense, richly fruity Syrah will be a hedonistic as well as intellectual turn-on for the next 5-6 years. |
|
|
2007 |
West Face Cabernet Sauvignon |
$35 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2010): The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon West Face boasts an opaque ruby/purple hue as well as an expressive bouquet of creme de cassis, sweet cherries, licorice, earth and spice. Full-bodied and opulent with exuberant purity and outstanding concentration and texture, this beauty should drink well for 10-15+ years. I wouldn’t be surprised if it is stilling performing beautifully in a quarter of a century. |
|
| Favia |
2007 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$150 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 94+ (5/2017): Saturated ruby. Knockout nose combines dark raspberry, black cherry, violet, currant, graphite, leather and tobacco, all in subtle doses. Darker, sweeter and more concentrated than the Cerro Sur but without that wine's give and personality; this still needs time to unwind. Distinctly dark in its fruit character and very reticent today but there's terrific underlying energy here. Finishes with a more obvious spine than the Cerro Sur but without dryness, the tannins reaching the front teeth. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Robert Foley Vineyards |
2007 |
Claret |
$109 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 98 (12/2009): The extraordinary 2007 Claret, which is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine, displays inky notes of lead pencil shavings, pen ink, creme de cassis, blackberry, incense, and licorice. The wine is super-pure and super-rich, an extraordinarily full-bodied powerhouse of a Cabernet Sauvignon that should evolve for 15 or more years. Its sweetness of tannin and headiness already make it accessible.
VM 93 (5/2010): Saturated bright ruby. Subdued but pure nose offers brooding black fruit aromas joined by emerging notes of graphite, licorice and exotic oak. Dense, lush and superrich but not overly sweet. This mouthcoating wine is a bit youthfully aggressive but already quite sexy, even if it really merits at least a few years of cellaring. Finishes with powerful but sweet tannins and very good energy and grip. More vibrant than the 2006 version. Stephen Tanzer.
JS 93 (4/2011): A massive wine, but still very agile. Full bodied and chewy, with a wonderful spice and berry character. At the moment it is tight and is holding back, but you know it's going to be a big one. Let this chill out until 2012. 1,000 cases.
WS 92 (2/2010): Offers a wonderful sense of harmony, balance and finesse. Ripe and rich without being heavy, this is marked by complex currant, black cherry, anise, spice and sage, gaining depth and complexity on the long, lingering finish. Drink now through 2017. 1,000 cases made. |
|
| Fortunate Son |
2007 |
Naughty Wicked Witch of the West Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$200 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Frank Family |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93 (12/2010): The dense dark plum/purple-tinged 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa is composed of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. The fragrant bouquet of blueberries and flowers is followed by admirable complexity, sweet tannins, a medium to full-bodied, graceful mouthfeel and no hard edges. Drink this Outstanding Napa Cabernet over the next 15+ years.
VM 90 (6/2011): Bright purple. Sexy, oak-spiced aromas of cherry-vanilla, boysenberry and mocha, with a subtle floral quality emerging with air. Plush, juicy dark fruit flavors show very good depth, with vanilla and violet pastille nuances contributing sweetness. Tannins arrive late and are nicely folded into the fruit on the long, smoky finish. This will drink well soon.
WS 87 (5/2011): A rustic style that offers a mix of firm, spicy currant, blackberry, mineral and graphite. Full-bodied and complex, though shy on extra facets and depth. Drink now through 2018. 13,163 cases made. |
|
| Frog's Leap Winery |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$50 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| Futo |
2007 |
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon |
$295 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
OV Proprietary Blend |
$139 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Gemstone |
2007 |
Facets Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Ghost Block |
2007 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 89 (12/2010): The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits notes of roasted herbs, black currants, loamy soil and underbrush, a generous mouthfeel and the vintage’s tell-tale flamboyance and exuberance. Already drinkable, it should continue to evolve for 10-12 years.
WS 87 (11/2010): Up-front ripe plum, wild berry, mineral and dusty, cedary oak flavors have a trace of maturity. Full-bodied and complex, if somewhat simpler on the finish. Drink now through 2016. 2,500 cases made. |
|
| Gramercy Cellars |
2007 |
John Lewis Reserve Syrah |
$75 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Grand Reve |
2007 |
Collaboration I Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 94+ (6/2011): A Bordeaux blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 13% Petit Verdot, and 11% Merlot, the 2007 Grand Reve Vintners Collaboration Series I is made by Ben Smith of Cadence Winery and is aged for 23 months in 70% new French oak and the rest in 1-year-old barrels. The wine boasts full-scaled, complex aromatics of sweet crème de cassis, spice box, sage, tobacco, and hints of mint on the nose. This is followed by a full bodied, beautifully put together wine that has a rounded, soft texture, perfectly ripe fruit, good acidity, and a blockbuster finish that’s loaded with fine grained, polished tannin. Given the fruit and texture, this is superb now, however, it should continue to evolve positively for 3-5 years, and have a solid 15-20 year drink window.
VM 91 (11/2011): Good full red. Strawberry, raspberry, mocha and red licorice on the slightly medicinal nose. Juicy and vibrant, with harmonious acidity giving energy and definition to the cabernet-dominated flavors of red berries, spices, mocha and fresh herbs. Plenty of flavor depth here without any heaviness. Finishes with suave tannins and excellent length. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2007 |
Collaboration IV Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (8/2011): The 2007 Collaboration IV was made by Carolyn Lakewold. It is made up of 100% Merlot from free run juice from 1975 and 1994 plantings and was aged in French and American oak. Expressive aromas of dried herbs, spices, violets, cassis, and black currant inform the nose of a savory, ripe, voluminous wine with impeccable balance. It has the structure to evolve for 2-3 years and will be at its best from 2012 to 2022. |
|
| Greer |
2007 |
Greer Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Grgich Hills |
2007 |
Miljenko’s Vyd. Petit Sirah |
$60 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Harris Estate Vineyards |
2007 |
Casey’s Lakeview Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$100 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2009): The most fragrant of this trio is the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Lakeview Vineyard. Beautiful floral, blackberry, blueberry, wild mountain berry, and forest floor scents soar from the glass of this opaque purple-colored 2007. Velvety-textured and opulent with terrific fruit on the attack, mid-palate, and finish as well as admirable intensity and power, this seamless wine can be drunk now (because of its awesome purity of fruit), but should evolve beautifully for two decades or more. |
|
| Hirsch Vineyards |
2007 |
Block 6E Pinot Noir Bin Soiled Label, Torn Label |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
Block 7 Pinot Noir |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
San Andreas Fault Pinot Noir |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 92 (6/2010): Light red. Deeply pitched cherry and licorice aromas are complicated by smoky herbal, floral and spice qualities. Much more backward than the M, with a darker fruit profile and stronger tannic grip. Very young still, with potent cherry skin and bitter chocolate flavors lifted by a late spicy note. The finish features tangy minerals and lingers with great tenacity. This is a baby.
BH 89 (10/2010): A ripe red berry liqueur and menthol infused nose leads to delicious, fresh and attractively vibrant middle weight flavors that culminate in a dusty, balanced and lingering finish. This is really quite pretty and could actually be enjoyed now or held for a few years first. Drink 2013+. |
|
| Paul Hobbs |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$110 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2009): The least expensive effort is the opaque purple-colored 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa. A blockbuster, it offers up classic notes of charcoal, subtle smoke, black currants, black berries, lead pencil shavings, and earth. This deep, opulent, full-bodied Cabernet possesses terrific purity as well as length. It should drink well for 15+ years. |
|
| Hoopes Vineyard |
2007 |
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon |
$50 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| Januik |
2007 |
Champoux Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 94 (8/2010): Even better is the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Champoux Vineyard, perhaps eastern Washington’s finest site for this varietal. Purple/black in color, it sends up a soaring nose of pain grille, pencil lead, espresso, licorice, violets, black currant, and blackberry. Full-bodied, dense, smooth-textured, layered, and plush, the tannins and oak are totally integrated, and there is at least 7-8 years of aging potential. Give this large-scaled offering 5-7 years of cellaring, and drink it through 2032.
VM 93 (11/2010): Bright medium ruby. Very dark aromas of black fruits, violet, licorice and minerals. Dense, layered and sweet, with an urgent cassis flavor dominating today. Conveys superb intensity and verve, with some sexy Taransaud cocoa powder adding appeal. The very long finish features a subtle minty lift. This wine gives a very sweet impression every year, notes Januik. A beauty. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2007 |
Champoux Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94 (8/2010): Even better is the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Champoux Vineyard, perhaps eastern Washington’s finest site for this varietal. Purple/black in color, it sends up a soaring nose of pain grille, pencil lead, espresso, licorice, violets, black currant, and blackberry. Full-bodied, dense, smooth-textured, layered, and plush, the tannins and oak are totally integrated, and there is at least 7-8 years of aging potential. Give this large-scaled offering 5-7 years of cellaring, and drink it through 2032.
VM 93 (11/2010): Bright medium ruby. Very dark aromas of black fruits, violet, licorice and minerals. Dense, layered and sweet, with an urgent cassis flavor dominating today. Conveys superb intensity and verve, with some sexy Taransaud cocoa powder adding appeal. The very long finish features a subtle minty lift. This wine gives a very sweet impression every year, notes Januik. A beauty. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| James Johnson Vineyard |
2007 |
Bisou Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2011): The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Bisou is a gorgeous wine laced with dark red fruit, flowers, spices and licorice, all of which come together in an open, radiant style that is very appealing. This is a decidedly mid-weight, gracious 2007 that stands out for its classiness and understated personality. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. |
|
| Jones Family Vineyard |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (12/2009): A gorgeous offering, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate comes from a hillside vineyard located between St. Helena and Calistoga. Its dense blue/purple color is accompanied by complex aromatics of white flowers, creme de cassis, blueberry pie, charcoal, and a hint of subtle oak. With full-bodied power, stunning purity, concentration, and texture, an undeniable minerality, and a 45-second finish filled with fruit and tannin, this may be the finest wine yet produced by Jones Family Vineyards. It should evolve for 20-25 years. |
|
| Juslyn |
2007 |
Perry’s Blend Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$110 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2010): The 2007 Perry’s Blend (42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, all from the estate vineyards on Spring Mountain) exhibits tremendous aromas of flowers, blue, red and black fruits, graphite and forest floor. Elegant yet powerful, rich, concentrated, pure and impeccably well-balanced, it reminds me of a hypothetical blend of a Bordeaux and a cool climate, Cabernet-based red from Napa. Drink it over the next 15+ years. |
|
| Justin |
2007 |
Isosceles Proprietary Blend |
$79 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 90+ (11/2010): (88% cabernet sauvignon, 8% cabernet franc and 4% merlot) Inky ruby. Lively aromas of red and dark berry preserves, with subtle floral and oak spice notes adding complexity. Juicy, gently sweet cherry and blackberry flavors show very good depth, picking up mocha and anise qualities with air. Late-arriving tannins are quickly absorbed by the densely packed, sweet fruit. This is a youngster. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Kamen Estate |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon Very Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$79 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 93+ (2/2010): The 1,800-case cuvee of 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma is virtually identical, with perhaps less oak and structure. Both of these Cabernets beg for 4-5 years of cellaring, and should keep for two decades. |
|
| Kanzler Vineyards |
2007 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
| WS 96 (8/2009): Bold, ripe and assertive, with rich, distinctive blueberry, huckleberry and boysenberry fruit that's pure and delicious. This is tightly focused on the fruit, showing hints of mineral, sage, cola and earth on the finish. Finally the vintage in which the estate wine struts its stuff. Drink now through 2015. 348 cases made. |
|
| Kapcsandy Family |
2007 |
State Lane Vyd. Estate Cuvee |
$119 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 96 (12/2009): The 2007 Estate Cuvee State Lane Vineyard (a 750-case blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) boasts an inky/plum/purple color as well as a complex bouquet of melted licorice, chocolate, creme de cassis, mocha, and sweet forest floor aromas. Full-bodied and layered with exquisite purity, texture, and length, this large-scaled offering reveals a supple texture along with 20-25 years of drinkability. It is a seductive yet extraordinarily complex wine that should prove to be a future super-star.
VM 92 (6/2010): (46% each cabernet sauvignon and merlot, 6% cab franc and 2% petit verdot) Bright deep ruby. Deep aromas of blackberry, graphite and violet. Sweet, rich and concentrated, with a layered, chocolatey ripeness to the black fruit, mineral and licorice flavors. Finishes with broad, dusty tannins and terrific length. Stephen Tanzer.
WS 92 (10/2010): Reminiscent of Bordeaux with its loamy earthiness, texture and structure, this is rich and full-bodied, with mouthcoating tannins yet also plenty of herb- and currant-laced mineral and graphite flavors that are intense and concentrated. Needs time. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2012 through 2020. 750 cases made.
JS 91 (4/2011): Notes of iodine and dark fruits on the nose. The palate is full and velvety, with a long finish. A serious wine that needs some time. Pull the cork after 2012. 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, the rest Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot. 650 cases. |
|
| Robert Keenan |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
8 |
|
| |
WA 92 (12/2009): The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa, a sleeper of the vintage, exhibits a dense ruby/purple hue along with plenty of crushed rock, black currant, black raspberry, white chocolate, and earth characteristics. A supple texture, beautiful concentration, and a long finish suggest it will continue to drink well for 15-16 years.
VM 90 (5/2017): Bright ruby. Lively aromas of cassis, blueberry, spicecake and dusty cocoa. Juicy purple fruit and violet pastille notes come across as quite primary, even a bit medicinal, and could use a bit more give. A rather powerful, focused style, finishing with a firm spine of slightly gritty tannins and hints of blueberry and herbs. Will this wine continue to open and expand with more time in the cellar? (Drink between 2019-2027). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2007 |
Spring Mountain District Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 91+ (5/2011): Full ruby-red. Tarry blackberry, black cherry, licorice and graphite on the nose, lifted by a note of violet. Juicy and vibrant but primary and tight, with a medicinal reserve to the black fruit, licorice and mineral flavors. Precise and fine-grained but youthfully folded in on itself. Finishes with suave, mouthcoating tannins and lovely lift. Enjoy the basic 2007 cabernet while allowing this one more time to evolve in the bottle. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Keever |
2007 |
Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
3 |
|
| |
| WS 92 (6/2010): Intense yet elegant and stylish, this is a wine of subtlety and finesse, with a layered mix of cedary currant, spice and anise flavors that unfold gracefully, with a pleasing, lingering aftertaste. Drink now through 2018. 650 cases made. |
|
| Keplinger |
2007 |
N=1 Grenache |
$50 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 94 (12/2011): The 2007 N=1 is 100% Grenache from Pelkan Ranch in Knights Valley. It is a huge, rich wine bursting with dark red fruit, white flowers, spices, mint and licorice. Today the wine is remarkably primary, but it should start drinking well in another few years. Mint, flowers and citrus wrap around the finish. This is a fabulous showing. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022.
VM 94 (6/2011): Good deep red. Reticent but surprisingly high-pitched nose for a wine that underwent extended barrel aging, with aromas of sour cherry, Earl Grey tea and blood orange carrying through on the vibrant palate. Rich and deep but not especially sweet, with a powerful structure and underlying rocky character contributing to the wine's superb definition. The longest and the most explosive of these wines today, finishing with fine, building tannins and terrific verve. This has the same 3.75 pH as the 2007 Red Slope but a bit less acidity, with no loss of energy.
WS 93 (7/2011): Firm and structured, with an enticing mix of mineral, dried berry, sage and floral scents. Medium- to full-bodied, ending with a nice burst of layered black cherry, blackberry, nutmeg and spice. Drink now through 2017. 60 cases made. |
|
| Kobalt |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (2/2010): Slightly softer and more velvety-textured, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon will be drinkable slightly sooner than the Special K, but the two wines are almost identical in quality as well as character. It possesses outstanding fruit, full-bodied power, and well-integrated wood, acidity, and tannin. |
|
| Krupp Brothers Estates |
2007 |
Veraison Stagecoach Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$125 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Lail Vineyards |
2007 |
Mole Hill Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$350 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Lamborn Family |
2007 |
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Larkmead Vineyards |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$100 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 94+ (12/2009): Composed of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (nearly 4,000 cases produced) is a great buy for a world-class Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. It exhibits a dense purple color, notes of charcoal, creme de cassis, graphite, and forest floor, and a ripe, opulently fruity, rich, full-bodied style. Its endearing silkiness, multi-dimensions, and mature, sweet tannins suggest it has two decades of life ahead of it.
VM 91+ (6/2010): (includes 3% merlot and 1% cabernet franc) Good full ruby. Pungent aromas of raspberry, currant, graphite, dried herbs, violet and loam, along with a whiff of dark tobacco; smells like a Graves. Less giving on the palate than the nose suggests, with a firm edge of acidity keeping the flavors under wraps today. Finishes with youthfully strict tannins. Winemaker Smith notes that he has not added either water or acid to any of the Larkmead reds since the 2004 vintage. |
|
| Karl Lawrence Cellars |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Lillian Winery |
2007 |
Syrah |
$65 |
4 |
|
| |
JD 95 (3/2011): Missing from the Rhone Ranger report last November was the 2007 Lillian Winery Syrah. Sporting stunning purity and depth on the nose, the wine possesses decadent blackberry and cassis fruit aromas that are complemented by subtle meat, pepper, tar, and wild herb nuances that come through more with air. Layered and complex on the nose, the wine is full bodied on the palate with a gorgeously rich texture, perfect balance, superb mid-palate depth, and a very long, focused finish. Very pure, and showing solid complexity even at this young stage, this classic California Syrah should evolve over the next 3 to 6 years, and drink well for 15+ years.
VM 94 (12/2010): Opaque purple. A kaleidoscopic bouquet evokes black raspberry, cola, incense and olive tapenade, with a sexy floral quality that gains power with aeration. Lush, palate-staining dark berry preserve flavors are complemented by exotic spice and violet pastille qualities and are lifted by zesty minerality. Gains weight with air but retains its energy, finishing spicy, smoky and with Outstanding persistence. |
|
| Maybach |
2007 |
Materium Cabernet Sauvignon |
$350 |
9 |
|
| |
WA 99 (12/2009): The prodigious 2007 Materium exhibits an even more opaque purple color, and ratchets up the level of intensity and aromatic complexity. Blackberry, black raspberry, blueberry, and cassis aromas intermixed with notes of crushed rocks, spring flowers, and toasty new oak are found in this beauty. Outstanding intensity along with full-bodied power and beautifully integrated acids, tannins, alcohol, and wood suggest this 2007 should hit its peak in 5-7 years, and evolve for three decades or more.
WS 98 (10/2010): (Wine Spectator #24 wine of 2010) A riveting wine, notably rich and sophisticated, with layers of plush yet firm mocha, blackberry, plum and wild berry flavors that are full-blown. A dash of lavender and mineral, with floral scents, give this great depth, persistence and range of flavor, followed by a grand finish. Best from 2012 through 2024. 460 cases made.
VM 94 (6/2010): Good full ruby. Sweet, ripe aromas of dark berries, graphite and flowers. Creamy and lush, with an almost confectionery sweetness leavened by exotic floral lift and perfectly integrated acidity. This wine, which comes from a vineyard above Dalla Valle and Showket in the eastern hills of Oakville, has a relatively low 3.5 pH and was harvested in mid-October. Sexy soil tones add complexity. Finishes with broad tannins, excellent grip and length, and lingering sweetness. This is seamless in the way of many 2007s but not at all heavy. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Meander Cellars |
2007 |
Morisoli Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 89 (12/2010): The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Morisoli Vineyard exhibits a more opaque ruby/purple color as well as a spicy, fruity nose, medium body and a short finish that does not live up to the aromatics. Smart consumers will put their money on the Napa Cabernets rather than the Morisoli Vineyard offerings. |
|
| Meteor Vineyard |
2007 |
Perseid Cabernet Sauvignon |
$119 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93 (12/2010): The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Perseid (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) exhibits abundant aromas of crushed rock, charcoal, creme de cassis and subtle smoke in a ripe, full-bodied, exuberant style with terrific intensity, texture and concentration. There is not a hard edge to be found in this pure, dramatic Cabernet. It should drink well for 15 or more years.
VM 90+ (5/2011): (a blend of Clone 7, Clone 4 and Clone 337, the last of which which general manager Jason Alexander says gives the "cabernet franc high notes"): Medium red-ruby. Sexy aromas of redcurrant and violet, with an ephemeral minerality that carries through onto the palate. Juicy and spicy in the mouth, with lively acidity framing the dark berry and bitter chocolate flavors. Not a particularly fleshy style but quite penetrating. |
|
| Mirror |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (12/2010): A blend of St. Helena and Oakville fruit aged 20 months in 50% new French oak casks, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon displays sweet black cherry and black currant fruit intermixed with hints of herbs, underbrush and vanilla. Its opulence, full-bodied richness, endearing, layered texture and impressive purity as well as finish suggest this showy 2007 should keep for 10-15+ years. |
|
| Robert Mondavi |
2007 |
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Mount Eden Vineyards |
2007 |
Domaine Eden Cabernet Sauvignon Wrinkled Label |
$55 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 91 (8/2011): The Mount Eden 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate possesses a solid core of dark red fruit supported by firm yet well-integrated tannins. It is a typical mountain vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon that needs time in the bottle to come together. The finish is sweet and inviting. The blend is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14 % Merlot and 1.5% each Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022.
VM 89 (8/2011): The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is an attractive, pretty wine layered with bright red fruit, flowers and spices. It is best suited to near-term enjoyment. Small amounts of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec round out the blend. The Cabernet Sauvignon was made from six different vineyards across the estate. Anticipated maturityTel (888) 865-9463, info@mounteden.com (Drink between 2013-2015). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Nickel and Nickel |
2007 |
State Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 90+ (12/2010): The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon State Ranch is from Yountville, a sector that is becoming populated with such high quality wineries as Cliff Lede and Kapcsandy. This deep ruby/purple effort is not so much austere as it is more narrowly constructed than its siblings. There is a lot going on in this outstanding Cabernet, but it is the least expressive of all these Nickel & Nickel Cabernet Sauvignons. It reveals some minerality along with white chocolate and black currant characteristics, but the structure dominates at present. Forget this wine for 3-4 years and drink it over the following 20 years. |
|
| O'Shaughnessy |
2007 |
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$139 |
7 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2009): The stunning 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain (83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, and the rest Malbec and Petit Verdot) is the finest Cabernet this estate has yet produced from their Howell Mountain holdings. A dense purple color to the rim as well as an exquisite bouquet of black raspberries, blueberries, camphor, creme de cassis, smoke, and crushed rocks are followed by sweet fruit, gorgeous density, a full-bodied mouthfeel, and a layered, multidimensional mid-palate and length. With no hard edges, this flawless wine should drink well for 20-25 years. |
|
|
2007 |
Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 96 (12/2009): A staggering wine of exceptional concentration, flavor dimension, and texture, the opaque blue/purple-tinged 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder boasts copious notes of smoked meats, subtle barbecue smoke, creme de cassis, charcoal, licorice, and background mountain flora. With terrific intensity as well as full-bodied power, this is a brilliant Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the next 25-30 years.
VM 90-92 (6/2009): Deep ruby. Youthfully tight nose of blueberry, crushed stone and new leather, along with a whiff of exotic flowers. The strong leathery character currently suppresses the intense underlying flavors of crushed blueberry and lead pencil. This very backward, youthfully medicinal wine finishes with a powerful spine of rather tough tannins and will require long aging. Today I prefer the balance of the Howell Mountain examples, but this may be going through an awkward stage today. |
|
| Ovid |
2007 |
Experiment A2.7 |
$115 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (12/2012): Cabernet Franc takes center stage in the 2007 Experiment A2.7, a wine that impresses for its fabulous balance and overall harmony. Mocha, red cherries, spice box and crushed flowers are wrap around the palate in this supple, mid-weight offering. A rich, radiant finish rounds things out in style. The 2007 is 48.02% Cabernet Franc, 45.37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.23% Merlot and 0.38% Petit Verdot, all done in concrete. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Pahlmeyer |
2007 |
Proprietary Blend |
$150 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 96+ (12/2009): The sensational 2007 Proprietary Red Wine (a 7,000-case blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec) is slightly more restrained aromatically than the Merlot, but there is no doubting its extraordinary bouquet of subtle smoked meats, oak, mountain wild flowers, blueberries, blackberries, coffee, and cassis. Super-rich and full-bodied with noticeable, but stunningly sweet tannins, it possesses a rare minerality and definition, characteristics that seem to be found across the board in Napa’s 2007s. This dense, powerful red needs 3-5 years of cellaring, and should have 25 years of life ahead of it.
WS 95 (9/2010): A rich, explosive style, packed with layers of currant, blackberry, wild berry and black cherry fruit woven together in a tight way. Full-bodied, turning supple and polished on the finish, where the fine-grained tannins are ripe and let the fruit flavors flow freely. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Drink now through 2020. 6,400 cases made.
VM 93 (5/2010): Full ruby-red. Slightly syrupy dark fruit aromas complicated by truffle and earth, with an element of minerality providing lift. Then surprisingly ripe and lively in the mouth, with very intense, rich black fruit, licorice and mint flavors. Offers a lovely combination of sweetness and lift and a real impression of small-berry concentration. |
|
|
2007 |
Jayson Pinot Noir |
$30 |
6 |
|
| |
| WS 88 (3/2010): Pleasantly fresh earth scents join supple ripe plum and black cherry fruit in this medium- to full-bodied wine that wins points for delicacy and finesse. Drink now through 2014. 2,449 cases made. |
|
| Quintessa |
2007 |
Proprietary Blend |
$175 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (12/2009): The 2007 looks to be one of Quintessa's stronger efforts in a number of years. Dark ruby/purple, with sweet black currant, cherry, and loamy soil notes intermixed with some subtle spice box and background oak, this wine is rich and medium to full-bodied, with round, silky tannins, and an attractive set of aromatics. Very accessible and drinkable now, it should age nicely for 15 or more years. |
|
| Ramey |
2007 |
Annum Cabernet Sauvignon (6.0 L) |
$1,000 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (12/2009): From Diamond Mountain, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Annum possesses a dense purple color, full-bodied power, and lots of scorched earth and loamy soil notes intermixed with smoked herbs, creme de cassis, and blackberries. This rich, but backward Cabernet Sauvignon needs 4-5 years of cellaring, and should keep for 25+.
WS 95 (8/2010): A bold, rich, expansive style, offering tiers of opulent blackberry and wild berry flavors, with touches of black and red licorice and a notable rustic hot brick wall earthiness, all of it dense, focused, complex and concentrated. Ends with a long, persistent finish. Drink now through 2020. 1,700 cases made.
VM 92 (4/2018): A rush of black cherry, smoke, torrefaction, new leather and licorice make a strong opening statement in the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Annum. Rich, powerful and heavily extracted, the 2007 shows the style that was in vogue a decade ago, and yet also retains tremendous depth. It will drink well for another decade or more. The Annum is the most overtly ripe wine in this range. At times, the alcohol peeks through. Otherwise, the 2007 is nicely rendered. Fruit sources are J. Davies and Larkmead. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2007 |
Pedregal Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$325 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97+ (12/2009): Ramey’s sensational 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Pedregal is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Petit Verdot. Notions of blueberry pie, charcoal, camphor, blackberry, cassis, and smoky oak are followed by a wine with sizeable tannins as well as structure. The extravagant fruit, richness, and intensity result in a remarkable, young Cabernet Sauvignon from one of Napa-s finest areas, the Oakville Corridor.
VM 93-95 (6/2009): Deep ruby-red. Hypnotic bouquet of cherry-cola, cassis, incense, dried rose and smoky minerals. Structured red and dark fruit flavors are improbably graceful and finely etched, picking up brown spice and floral pastille qualities with air. The floral and mineral notes carry through the strikingly pure, very long finish. |
|
| J. Rochioli Vineyards |
2007 |
Little Hill Pinot Noir |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 94 (6/2009): Vivid red. Sweet aromas of blackberry, Asian spices and minerals, with a gentle smoky undertone. Red and dark berry flavors are strikingly pure and precise, with an exotic candied rose quality adding complexity. The finish repeats the mineral and floral notes and is pretty much endless. Wow! This wine is made from a West Block selection and includes some suitcase vines that reportedly came from Richebourg.
WA 92-94 (2/2010): This is another beautiful portfolio of wines from Tom Rochioli. Since they all possess a similar style, one can quibble over just how much difference there is between all the different cuvees of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. However, there are subtle differences that I will do my best to articulate. With respect to his Pinot Noirs, Rochioli completely destems his grapes, does a cold soak for 4-5 days, and keeps the wines in 100% Francois Freres French cooperage for 14-16 months or less. The wines are racked directly from barrel to tank, and are bottled without fining or filtration.
BH 89 (10/2010): Discreet wood hints set off notably ripe floral notes along with a melange of different pinot fruit expressions that precede the round yet nicely detailed middle weight flavors that possess an attractive mouth feel but deliver neither the same depth nor length as the best in the range. In sum, this is perfectly good but not really distinguished. Drink 2014+. |
|
| Round Pond |
2007 |
Rutherford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$35 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Rubicon |
2007 |
Estate Rubicon Proprietary blend (375 ML) |
$39 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Rudd |
2007 |
Oakville Estate Proprietary Blend |
$135 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 98+ (12/2009): The flagship wine, the 2007 Proprietary Red from Oakville is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. A prodigious effort, it boasts a dense purple color along with gorgeously complex aromatics reminiscent of a hypothetical blend of a first-growth Pauillac and a top Graves. Notes of burning embers, forest floor, creme de cassis, blackberries, espresso, and a hint of chocolate soar from the glass of this full-bodied, well-delineated, structured wine with tremendous depth and texture. This awesome red is a future legend in the making. Give it 4-5 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following 30-35 years.
VM 92-95 (6/2009): (69% cabernet sauvignon, 14% cabernet franc, 8% merlot, 8% malbec and 1% petit verdot) Bright, saturated ruby. Aromas of crushed black fruits, menthol, licorice, violet, espresso and cocoa powder. At once primary and suave, with more inner-mouth perfume and aromatic lift than past vintages of this wine. The dark raspberry and violet flavors offer terrific intensity and aromatic lift. The tannin management here is far more sophisticated than just a few years ago here, when the tannins had a tendency toward hardness. But then this wine has only been racked twice so far. Sullivan noted that 2007 was the first year in which David Abreu controlled the vineyard work; Michel Rolland will finalize the blend, and the bottling will not occur until at least August. Outstanding potential here.
WS 94 (10/2012): This is pure, deep, rich and concentrated, with firm, spicy currant and creamy mocha-laced oak. Firms nicely on the finish, where the tannins are grainy and add traction. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Best from 2014 through 2028. 1,000 cases made. |
|
| Rudius |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (5/2010): Bright red-ruby. Redcurrant, blueberry, tobacco, tar, licorice and menthol on the nose. Sweet and aromatic in the mouth, with good intensity and lift to the flavors of black cherry, currant and mint. Builds nicely on the back end, finishing with substantial but suave tannins and a lightly candied character. Sweeter and deeper than the 2006 version. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2007 |
Emerald Pool Alder Springs Vyd. Syrah |
$38 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 90+ (5/2010): Bright ruby-red. Musky black raspberry, chocolate, mocha and truffle on the nose. Sweet on entry, then a bit youthfully clenched in the middle, with a slightly edgy quality to the flavors of black raspberry, pepper, herbs and spices. Not as pliant or creamy at this early stage as the 2006 was a year ago. This structured, firmly tannic wine finishes with a light saline nuance. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Mark Ryan |
2007 |
Dead Horse Cabernet Sauvignon |
$51 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (12/2012): Bitter-edged black currant and seedy blackberry invigoratingly if granularly inform the Mark Ryan 2007 Dead Horse, with accents of smoky black tea, crushed stone, and pencil lead adding intrigue to an admirably gripping finish. What would significantly benefit this palpably dense Cabernet are primary juiciness, brightness, and dynamic interplay such as were achieved in its 2009 counterpart. I would recommend planning on enjoying it over the next 6-8 years. Given the generally high quality of vintage 2007, it’s tempting – and, I suspect, fair – to see the strength of the 2009 Dead Horse when compared with this recent predecessor as proof of a new quality standard being set at Mark Ryan since the arrival of Mike MacMorran. |
|
|
2007 |
Lonely Heart Cabernet Sauvignon |
$51 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 89 (12/2012): Like the corresponding Dead Horse, Mark Ryan’s 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Lonely Heart is not as impressive as the corresponding 2009, but it’s even more brooding, almost somber, with mulberry and blackberry fruit, peat, and black pepper playing well below the bar line. A suggestion of pencil lead adds to the rather Bordelais impression conveyed in a rather grainy finish. It will certainly be worth revisiting this over the coming half dozen years. |
|
|
2007 |
Water Witch Klipsun Vyd. Red Wine |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (8/2010): The 2007 Water Witch Red Blend is composed of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon and 43% Merlot sourced from the Klipsun Vineyard and aged in 92% new oak. Medium purple-colored, it presents an expressive nose of pain grille, pencil lead, espresso, violets, black currant, and blackberry. On the palate it displays some elegance despite its size. It has excellent volume, intense fruit, enough tannin to evolve for 2-3 years, and a lengthy finish. Drink this stellar effort from 2013 to 2027. |
|
| Sbragia Family |
2007 |
Wall Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2010): One of my favorite offerings is the brilliant 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Wall Vineyard. From an 1,800 foot elevation vineyard, it is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cabernet Franc. Black raspberry, blueberry, licorice, incense and graphite characteristics are accompanied by an opaque purple color, gorgeous complexity and richness and hints of toasty oak as well as flowers. The wine is generous, savory and expansive, but the wealth of extravagant fruit nearly hides abundant tannin in the finish. This brilliant Cabernet is actually underpriced for its quality. Drink it over the next two decades. |
|
| Sherwin Family |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
3 |
|
| |
| WS 92 (9/2011): A stylish effort, ripe, complex, supple and layered, with a mix of black cherry, wild berry, road tar, graphite and cedar notes. Full-bodied, turning supple and elegant on the finish, where the tannins are ripe and fleshy. Drink now through 2021. 1,182 cases made. |
|
| Sinatra Family Estates |
2007 |
Come Fly with Me Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (5/2010): Includes bits of cabernet franc and petit verdot) Good medium ruby-red. Varietally expressive aromas of currant, musky espresso, tobacco leaf and smoky oak. Sweet, lush and deep, with a silky texture to the flavors of blueberry liqueur, redcurrant, mocha and spicecake. Finishes with ripe, fine-grained tannins and very good length. This rich, serious wine has plenty of structure for mid-term aging. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Sine Qua Non |
2007 |
Dangerous Birds (Bomber Label) Syrah |
$675 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (8/2011): The 2007 Syrah Dangerous Birds, from Eleven Confessions, includes 4.5% Grenache and 2.5% Viognier, all fully destemmed. It is a seamless, show stopper of the highest level. The fruit is decidedly opulent in the 2007, while the high percentage of new oak barrels (84%) contributes to the wine’s shape and volume. An impeccable, eternal finish rounds things out in style. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022.
VM 95 (12/2010): (includes 4.5% grenache and 2.5% viognier; 15.8% alcohol) Dark purple. Powerful blackberry and cassis fruit aromas are complicated by licorice, woodsmoke and exotic Asian spices. Juicy, concentrated and sharply focused, with impressive intensity to its pure dark berry and spice flavors. This very youthful, densely packed wine manages to be both broad and light on its feet, with Outstanding clarity and appealing spiciness. Finishes with lovely lingering florality and mineral-driven persistence. |
|
| Spring Mountain Vineyard |
2007 |
Elivette Proprietary Blend |
$110 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 89 (12/2009): With sweeter black currant and berry fruit, and hints of white chocolate and espresso, as well as wood spice, the 2007 Elivette (84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot) should age for 10-15 years. It is more linear, less textured, and more austere, but it has more depth and volume than the 2006. |
|
| Sterling Vineyards |
2007 |
Diamond Mountain Ranch Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
Napa Valley Zinfandel Heavily Bin-Soiled Label |
$25 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Stewart |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (8/2018): Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon exudes pronounced crème de cassis, baked blackberries and stewed plums notes with hints of cigar box, chargrilled meats, bay leaves and truffles. Full-bodied and packed with black fruit preserves and savory/meaty layers, it has a firm frame of chewy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing with an herbal lift. |
|
|
2007 |
Nomad Cabernet Sauvignon Nicked Label |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Orin Swift |
2007 |
Mercury Head Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 93+ (12/2009): The brilliant 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Mercury Head exhibits a dense ruby/purple hue as well as classic notes of lead pencil, creme de cassis, black cherries, spice box, and cedar. Full-bodied, concentrated, deep, and layered, this impressive, but youthful, primary Cabernet needs 2-5 years of aging, and it should last for two decades. |
|
|
2007 |
The Prisoner Proprietary Blend |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Switchback Ridge |
2007 |
Peterson Family Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
4 |
|
| |
WS 94 (10/2010): Rich and flavorful, with tiers of ripe plum, black cherry, mocha, herb, cedar and dill. Full-bodied, focused, pure and well-structured, gaining nuance and substance on the finish, where the flavors sail on and on, ending with black licorice and raspberry touches. Best from 2011 through 2021. 1,079 cases made.
WA 92+ (12/2009): No such issues emerge with the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Peterson Family Vineyard. Opaque purple with lots of creme de cassis, creosote, charcoal, blackberry, and espresso roast, this wine again has a chocolatey edge, full-bodied flavors, and loads of fruit, depth, and power. Drink it over the next 15+ years.
VM 91 (6/2010): Saturated bright ruby. Livelier on the nose than the merlot, with showy aromas of crushed cassis, black cherry, licorice and violet. Then juicy and energetic in the mouth, offering captivating sweetness and good grip to the dark berry and dark chocolate flavors. I find much more definition and structure here than in the 2007 merlot. Finishes with substantial tongue-dusting, building tannins. Serious wine for aging. |
|
|
2007 |
Peterson Family Vyd. Petite Sirah |
$50 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (12/2009): The monster 2007 Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard is a massively concentrated, huge, tannic wine that needs a good 7-8 years of cellaring and should keep 20 years. It will be another legend for Petite Sirah, but unless you are a patient connoisseur, few people will ever get to see it at its best.
WS 92 (12/2011): Extremely dense, with a chunky mouthful of black cherry, blackberry and dried fig flavors that are accented with toasted nut, pepper and dark chocolate details. Wrapped up in velvety, thick tannins, full of intensity and detail. Drink now through 2017. 541 cases made.
VM 91 (6/2010): Opaque ruby-blue color. Brooding aromas of black fruits and licorice. Dense, powerful and sweet; a black hole of a wine, with powerful tannins spreading out to saturate the entire palate. This serious, broad, highly concentrated petite sirah is a bit chunkier than the cabernet and will require a lot of patience. Has the sheer fruit to outlast its tannins, but will it become more interesting? |
|
| Tenor Wines |
2007 |
1:1 Proprietary Blend |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 89 (12/2012): The Tenor 2007 1:1 – its equal shares of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blended with 10% Malbec and aged “just” 18 months in new barrels – is faintly volatile but intense and complex on the nose, featuring arbor vita, cedar, rosemary accents to subtly sweet cocoa powder and ripe dark cherry. There is a certain sweet-sour bifurcation but the sense of piquancy and pungency – with nips of black pepper and juniper berry – make for an impressively persistent and invigorating finish, the wine’s abundant, firm tannins having themselves a rather bracing as opposed to (in its 2008 and 2009 successors) roughly aggressive effect. This encourages me to believe it will be worth following for at least another 3-5 years.
VM 88 (11/2011): Saturated ruby. Black raspberry, minerals and roasted oak on the slightly high-toned nose. Fleshy and full, with attractive sweetness to the black raspberry fruit. Compared to the tougher 2008 version, here the tannins are suaver and riper and arrive later, giving the wine much more immediate appeal. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Tensley Wines |
2007 |
Colson Canyon Vyd. Syrah |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2009): The brilliant 2007 Syrah Colson Canyon is Tensley's biggest production single vineyard Syrah. Like the other wines, it is aged in 80% neutral and 20% new French oak barrels, and is bottled with no fining or filtration. This blockbuster effort is as black as a moonless night. It offers up stunning notes of graphite, blackberry liqueur, creme de cassis, licorice, barbecue smoke, and a deep meaty character. The layered palate feel as well as the enormous richness and length result in one of the finest Syrahs being produced in California's Central Coast. It should evolve over the next 10-15 years.
JD 94 (11/2009): The largest scaled and most hedonistic of the Tensley wines I was able to taste, the 2007 Tensley Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard is packed with freshly crushed berries, jam, earth, subtle meat and spice aromatics. Big, sweet and intense, the wine is full bodied on the palate with a silky, light texture and a long, decadent finish where gobs of fine grained tannins come out. The sweetness to the fruit and the upfront, lush texture will make this hard to resist young.
WS 94 (2/2009): (Wine Spectator #22 wine of 2009) Firm and musclebound, with rich, chewy tannins. Full-bodied, this is the most complex and potent of the 2007 Tensleys, offering layers of earthy wild berry, sage, mineral, dried currant and floral scents. Drink now through 2016. 1,259 cases made. |
|
| Torii Mor |
2007 |
Olson Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 87 (6/2016): The 2007 Pinot Noir Olson Estate Vineyard was a huge crop that was apparently not quite as ripe as they wanted it to be. It has a more rustic bouquet than the 2008, lighter and earthier than subsequent vintages, but still with freshness. The palate is medium-bodied with tart red cherry fruit, not as much depth as the 2008 with a piquant finish. Not bad, though I would drink this over the next 2-3 years. |
|
| Turley Wine Cellars |
2007 |
Dragon Vyd. Zinfandel |
$52 |
1 |
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VM 93 (5/2009): Good medium ruby. Urgent aromas of crushed berries and licorice. Dense, pliant and sweet, with surprising lift to the lush berry flavors. This rich, concentrated, chocolatey wine really spreads out to saturate the palate. The long finish features floral and spicy nuances. These vines are situated downslope from Rattlesnake and are planted on richer soil.
WA 91-93 (12/2008): The 2007 Zinfandel Dragon Vineyard possesses good ripeness, full-bodied power, and sweet, pure black cherry and currant aromas intermixed with spring flowers, incense, and crushed rocks. This is another high elevation effort with plenty of power, generosity, and was obviously picked at the perfect moment for phenolic maturity. |
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| Venge |
2007 |
Scout’s Honor Napa Valley Proprietary Blend |
$45 |
3 |
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| VM 90 (5/2010): Bright full ruby. Strong coconutty oak dominates the nose. Full, glyceral and sweet, but with sneaky energy and firm structural underpinning to the dark raspberry flavor. More complex and serious than the 2008 version, and a bit less sweet and obvious. Finishes with building tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Vine Cliff |
2007 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$69 |
1 |
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| WS 88 (7/2011): A solid, if straightforward, effort, showing mature currant, herb, dried berry, cedar and sage flavors. Smooth-textured and full-bodied, ending with a minerally edge to the tannins. Drink now through 2018. 1,200 cases made. |
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2007 |
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
1 |
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| WA 89 (8/2018): Medium garnet in color, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Estate displays notes of warm Bing cherries, red and black currant jelly, crushed plums and bouquet garni with touches of eucalyptus and unsmoked cigars. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a generous amount of juicy black and red berry flavors, framed with soft tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing on an earthy note. |
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| Vineyard 29 |
2007 |
Cru Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
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| WA 92 (12/2009): One of Napa’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines in the $50 range is Vineyard 29's 2007 Cru. Produced by owners Chuck and Ann McMinn and their consulting winemaker, Philippe Melka, there are 5,000 cases of this blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The grapes are all purchased, and the wine is made at their state-of-the-art facility just off Highway 29 north of St. Helena. This beautiful wine exhibits a dense ruby/purple color as well as pure black currant fruit aromas intermixed with notions of licorice, charcoal, subtle smoke, and high class unsmoked cigar tobacco. It is an elegant, stunningly concentrated, seductive, lush wine that should age nicely for a decade or more. |
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| Vineyard 7 & 8 |
2007 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
2 |
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| WA 95 (8/2018): Deep garnet colored, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate reveals a wonderfully expressive nose of dried mulberries, blackberry pie, plum preserves and cigar box with touches of dried lavender, sauteed herbs and menthol plus a waft of charcuterie. Full-bodied, firm and with a beautifully ripe, grainy texture, the palate is heading into tertiary territory with plenty of spice box and earth notes, finishing long and savory. |
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| Andrew Will |
2007 |
Champoux Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
5 |
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WA 95 (9/2016): Shockingly good and rivaling the Sorella in terms of quality, the 2007 Champoux Vineyard (52% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot) offers layered, floral characteristics intermixed with ample wild herbs, olive, dark fruits and earth. Medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated, with seriously impressive purity and length on the finish, its impeccable balance will keep this drinking nicely through 2031.
VM 91+ (11/2009): Bright ruby-red. Medicinal blackberry and violet aromas are accompanied by a slightly decadent quality. Deep, broad and rich, conveying an extremely ripe dried-fruit impression. This is most impressive today on the back half, where it spreads out impressively to coat the palate, and where the big, broad tannins serve to accentuate rather than cut off the wine's fruit. Stphen Tanzer. |
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2007 |
Ciel du Cheval Proprietary Blend |
$59 |
3 |
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WA 94 (8/2010): The 2007 Ciel du Cheval is a blend of 45% Cabernet Franc, 40% Merlot, and 15 % Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 40% new French oak for 20 months. Medium purple in color, it offers up an enticing nose of pain grille, pencil lead, herbs, olives, violets, cassis, and black currant. Ripe, smooth-textured, and mouth-filling, it has enough structure to evolve for several years. This lengthy effort will offer prime drinking from 2013 to 2027.
VM 92 (11/2009): Deep red. Reticent but pure aromas of blueberry, spices and dark chocolate. Juicy, spicy and intensely flavored if a bit imploded today; more vibrant than the Two Blondes. The fresh dark berry flavors and this young and serious wine's broad, fine, tooth-dusting tannins suggest that it will be superb with four or five years of cellaring. One of many terrific Bordeaux blends I tasted this year that downplays cabernet sauvignon in favor of cabernet franc and merlot. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2007 |
Sorella Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
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WA 96 (8/2010): Andrew Wills' flagship wine is called Sorella; the 2007 Sorella, sourced entirely from the Champoux Vineyard, one of Washington's finest sites, is made up of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. Aromas of toasty oak, espresso, Asian spices, incense, black currant, and blackberry lead to a firmly structured wine with impeccable balance and serious aging potential. This pleasure-bent offering will offer a drinking window extending from 2016 to 2032, perhaps longer.
WS 93 (6/2010): Lithe, focused and beautifully detailed, offering a gorgeous array of floral-accented blackberry, boysenberry and anise flavors, lingering easily on the deftly balanced finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2017. 958 cases made.
VM 91+ (12/2009): (72% cabernet sauvignon, 15% cabernet franc, 10% merlot and 3% petit verdot) Bright ruby-red. Cassis, black cherry and berry skin aromas are lifted by a floral note. Supple, sweet and densely packed, with savory and floral notes adding interest to the smooth dark berry flavors, and ripe, harmonious acidity giving shape and energy to the wine. Youthfully medicinal in a positive way. Finishes with big, broad tannins and flavors of dark fruits and licorice pastille that dust the entire palate. This may ultimately merit an even higher score. |
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2007 |
Sorella Proprietary Blend Bin-Soiled Label |
$75 |
3 |
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WA 96 (8/2010): Andrew Wills' flagship wine is called Sorella; the 2007 Sorella, sourced entirely from the Champoux Vineyard, one of Washington's finest sites, is made up of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. Aromas of toasty oak, espresso, Asian spices, incense, black currant, and blackberry lead to a firmly structured wine with impeccable balance and serious aging potential. This pleasure-bent offering will offer a drinking window extending from 2016 to 2032, perhaps longer.
WS 93 (6/2010): Lithe, focused and beautifully detailed, offering a gorgeous array of floral-accented blackberry, boysenberry and anise flavors, lingering easily on the deftly balanced finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2017. 958 cases made.
VM 91+ (12/2009): (72% cabernet sauvignon, 15% cabernet franc, 10% merlot and 3% petit verdot) Bright ruby-red. Cassis, black cherry and berry skin aromas are lifted by a floral note. Supple, sweet and densely packed, with savory and floral notes adding interest to the smooth dark berry flavors, and ripe, harmonious acidity giving shape and energy to the wine. Youthfully medicinal in a positive way. Finishes with big, broad tannins and flavors of dark fruits and licorice pastille that dust the entire palate. This may ultimately merit an even higher score. |
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2007 |
Two Blondes Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
7 |
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WA 94 (9/2016): A big, sexy wine that's up with the top vintage from this site to date, the 2007 Two Blondes Vineyard is locked and loaded with notions of creme de cassis, plums, leafy herbs, truffle and earth. Full-bodied, rounded, seamless and unctuous, with a great finish, drink this forward, superbly textured and pleasure-bent beauty anytime over the coming decade.
VM 91 (11/2009): Good dark red. Captivating nose melds very ripe raspberry, smoked meat and mocha; just this side of roasted and yet there's also attractive floral lift. Then supple, smoky and very dry in the mouth, savory more than sweet. This wine's clinging, glyceral texture reminded me a bit of a Chateauneuf du Pape, of all things. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2007 |
Two Blondes Vyd. Proprietary Blend Bin-Soiled Label |
$55 |
3 |
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WA 94 (9/2016): A big, sexy wine that's up with the top vintage from this site to date, the 2007 Two Blondes Vineyard is locked and loaded with notions of creme de cassis, plums, leafy herbs, truffle and earth. Full-bodied, rounded, seamless and unctuous, with a great finish, drink this forward, superbly textured and pleasure-bent beauty anytime over the coming decade.
VM 91 (11/2009): Good dark red. Captivating nose melds very ripe raspberry, smoked meat and mocha; just this side of roasted and yet there's also attractive floral lift. Then supple, smoky and very dry in the mouth, savory more than sweet. This wine's clinging, glyceral texture reminded me a bit of a Chateauneuf du Pape, of all things. Stephen Tanzer. |
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