Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997
Much has been written here in this blog about our enjoyment of and support for Robert Craig Vineyards and his family of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons. Indeed, we've been fans and collectors since his inaugural release in 1993 and still hold a vertical collection dating back that far. We continue to be rewarded for our patience in holding these wines and enjoying their longevity. They're safely in their prime drinking window and promise several more years of fine drinking to come. Tonight was typical as we chose their 1997 vintage for a special dinner welcoming a new colleague and trying out a new local eatery, Cuisine de Saigon - an Asian French fusion restaurant in Naperville. They offer a nice selection of entrees featuring all fresh and authentic preparations at great prices for fantastic value and a economical BYOB policy. This wine was a perfect complement to their soy rib-eye steak entree.
My Winesite features six tasting notes of previous bottles of this wine
from the case we bought at the winery in Napa Valley a dozen years ago.
This bottle continues to be expressive, still revealing
itself and its full potential with lingering fruit and staying
power. - rich, medium full bodied, dark garnet colored -
fruit filled with black currant,
black berry, raspberry, cassis and earthy leather reminiscent of a left
bank Bordeaux with silky tannins on the finish. (82%
Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc).
The 1997 vintage was praised at the time while the panned follow-on 1998 vintage has been more enjoyable over the last several years. Finally the '97 is awakening and revealing itself, as we're getting down to the last few bottles of a case we purchased long ago. It will be fun to see how this continues to evolve, and how long it lasts in its glory.
RM 92 points.
This is Robert Craig's Cabernet Saivignon Blend from his three mountains (Mt Veeder, Howell Mountain and Spring Mountain) and a (Napa) Valley collection. Known for its good value and early drinking ability, this fifteen year old is holding up well.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=29715
From our Robert Craig vertical collection that is highlighted regularly in this blog. Click on the Robert Craig link for more features.
Previous tasting journal entries for this wine are: July 26, 2000, June 23, 2000, April 28, 2007 , December 25, 2007, April 1, 2009, February 21, 2012, August 29, 2012.
http://www.robertcraigwine.com/
Much has been written here in this blog about our enjoyment of and support for Robert Craig Vineyards and his family of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons. Indeed, we've been fans and collectors since his inaugural release in 1993 and still hold a vertical collection dating back that far. We continue to be rewarded for our patience in holding these wines and enjoying their longevity. They're safely in their prime drinking window and promise several more years of fine drinking to come. Tonight was typical as we chose their 1997 vintage for a special dinner welcoming a new colleague and trying out a new local eatery, Cuisine de Saigon - an Asian French fusion restaurant in Naperville. They offer a nice selection of entrees featuring all fresh and authentic preparations at great prices for fantastic value and a economical BYOB policy. This wine was a perfect complement to their soy rib-eye steak entree.
The 1997 vintage was praised at the time while the panned follow-on 1998 vintage has been more enjoyable over the last several years. Finally the '97 is awakening and revealing itself, as we're getting down to the last few bottles of a case we purchased long ago. It will be fun to see how this continues to evolve, and how long it lasts in its glory.
RM 92 points.
This is Robert Craig's Cabernet Saivignon Blend from his three mountains (Mt Veeder, Howell Mountain and Spring Mountain) and a (Napa) Valley collection. Known for its good value and early drinking ability, this fifteen year old is holding up well.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=29715
From our Robert Craig vertical collection that is highlighted regularly in this blog. Click on the Robert Craig link for more features.
Previous tasting journal entries for this wine are: July 26, 2000, June 23, 2000, April 28, 2007 , December 25, 2007, April 1, 2009, February 21, 2012, August 29, 2012.
http://www.robertcraigwine.com/
