Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - at or approaching its peak with a decade of more enjoyment to go.
For casual midweek dinner I took BYOB to Angelis Italian, our favorite neighborhood Italian Trattoria, from our cellar, this Napa Bordeaux Blend from one of our favorite producers, a known label from a good vintage for a dependable good selection for the evening.
This release of this label was awarded 96 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and 92 points by Wine Enthusiast.
 |
| With Robert Craig at the estate high atop Howell Mtn back in 2008. |
We visited Robert Craig's site high atop Howell Mountain several times with sister Jan and bro-in-law Bill, and Bill and Beth C.
One of our memorable trips featured a picnic lunch at the site overlooking the valley below shown below. It was during that trip that Bill discovered and subsequently sourced Howell Mountain Cabernet, Affinity and Robert Craig Zinfandel which they served at daughter Krista's wedding.
Sadly, Robert passed away in 2019 and I wrote about him in a Tribute Blog at that time. I opened a 2007 vintage of his favorite label, Robert Craig Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon that evening.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/09/robert-craig-tribute.html
We bought a case of this upon release and still hold most of it of this label from this vintage - one of a dozen vintages we hold dating back two decades, all totaling more than four cases. I've blogged tasting notes of this label numerous times with similar results, five of which are summarized below:
My Cellartracker record for this label shows a half dozen tasting notes for this release going back from 21 to 2010 as shown below.
As posted: 4/8/2021 - This exceeded my expectations for this label and indeed was one of
the best drinking Affinity's in memory. Mini-vertical tasting alongside
2000. Dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, elegant, polished
and smoothly balanced, black berry and black currant fruits with notes
of mocha chocolate and spice, hints of cassis, smoke and cedar with
smooth silky tannins on a lingering cloying finish. 93 Points
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2021/04/tomahawk-rib-eye-dinner-features-robert.html
6/28/2020 - Consistent with earlier tasting notes.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2020/06/robert-craig-affinity-napa-valley.html
2/10/2019 - Earlier tastings of this label cited this release being "a bit tight and slightly closed on opening, but after an hour opened up to show wonderful black and blue berry fruits". 92 Points
This week this was more
approachable on opening and even appealing in the couple of following
days, better than when young. It showed the same profile as earlier,
garnet colored, medium full bodied, complex black berry and black
currant fruits with slight hint of mocha - nicely balanced and polished
with velvety well integrated smooth silky tannins on a nice lingering
soft finish.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/02/robert-craig-affinity-napa-valley.html
5/9/2013 - 90 Points
A bit tight and slightly closed but after an hour opened up to show wonderful black and blue berry fruits, red currant and slight hint of mocha - complex, polished, velvety well integrated smooth silky tannins on a nice lingering soft finish.
3/27/2010 - 93 Points - Initially a bit tight and closed but after an hour opened up to show wonderful black and blue berry fruits, red currant and slight hint of mocha - complex, polished, velvety well integrated smooth silky tannins on a big long soft finish.
Robert Craig "Affinity" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 2007
In 2009, Robert Parker wrote, "I think these are the finest wines that I have ever tasted from Robert Craig Cellars."Wine Enthusiast wrote about this release, "Craig has produced his best bottling since the late 1990s." In 2010 they wrote, "Enjoy now or hold up to 20 years."
In 2009, Parker wrote in another review, "Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the next 15 or possibly 20 years. This is the best group of wines I have ever tasted from Robert Craig Winery."
Tonight this was delightful, perhaps approaching the apex of its drinking profile and window. Knowing I have about half the case left, I'll need to be patient to enjoy watching this mature and age over the next decade.
Consistent with earlier tasting notes, tonight, "Dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, elegant, polished and smoothly balanced, black berry and black currant fruits with notes of mocha chocolate and spice, hints of cassis, smoke and cedar with smooth silky tannins on a lingering cloying finish.
RM 93 points
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=802059
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2021/04/tomahawk-rib-eye-dinner-features-robert.html
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2020/06/robert-craig-affinity-napa-valley.html
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/02/robert-craig-affinity-napa-valley.html
http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2015/04/napa-vs-sonoma-2k-cabernet-duo.html
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/09/robert-craig-tribute.html
https://robertcraigwine.com/
@RobertCraigWine