Grapelive Daily Pick
By Kerry Winslow
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2007 Vineyard 29 “Cru” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley.
Cru, made from purchased grapes and crafted by Vineyard 29 and their winemaker Philippe Melka, who also makes Bryant Family, is a terrific Cabernet Sauvignon that must surely rank up there with the best of top line Napa Cabs under $75, in fact it may just be up there with the best $100 wines. This vintage, the 2007, is a stunning wine with total class and pure Cabernet Sauvignon character and flavors, without question it gives lots of pleasure and depth, while being rich and forceful on the palate. The nose is smoky sweet with nice oak, flowers, fruit and it has a very dark hue all of which make you want to dive right in. The palate has blackberry, cedar, plum, currant, pencil lead and hints of tobacco leaf all wrapped up in smooth, ripe and dusty tannins that never seem aggressive or out of place in this focused and vibrant Cabernet. The finish is very long and mouth coating with cassis, mocha and vanilla lingering, though not taking away from the essence of the natural fruit. You can cellar for 5 years easy, not that you would need to at all, but I still want to hold a few away for a another year or so to see what happens.
($55 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive
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