Grapelive New Producer Update: Dos Lagos Vineyards, Better the second time around!

By Kerry Winslow

***

2008 Dos Lagos Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Atlas Peak, Napa Valley.
Tom and Marcie Dinkel have again proved to be a star of the vintage, after last year’s amazing effort, this one might even be better, as the 2008 Dos Lagos shows more life and complexity. Tom Dinkel credits his vineyard team lead by Hector Lopez, with doing a monumental job under stressful and difficult conditions, for getting perfect grapes to famed winemaker Robert Foley to craft this amazing wine. The 2008 Dos Lagos Cabernet is dense and richly textured with powerful tannin structure and ripe flavors, leaving no doubt to Foley’s talents in making a blockbuster wine, though while the alcohol is near 15.5% it is a balanced Cabernet in the modern style. The nose is full of blackberry, mocha and pencil lead, with hints of vanilla and tobacco leaf, before a lush palate of currant, cassis, blackberry and plum fruits with a thick creamy body. There is added depth with hints of rocky mineral, dark chocolate and cherry liqueur, plus a touch of minty black licorice. This extreme vineyard site produces only tiny yields so there is not much of this intense wine available, all of which makes this Cabernet a rare find, and one that continues to get better with each vintage under the deft touch of an artisan Cabernet master.
($125 Est.) 95 Points, grapelive

***

By admin