Arrowood Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Arrowood Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 

Arrowood Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

We've been fans of this Arrowood cab for a long time and have selections in our cellar dating back to the 1991 vintage. We've enjoyed visiting the Arrowood Vineyards & Winery sitting in the rolling hills overlooking the serene valley on several of our Sonoma Valley visits. Its one of the highlights of the valley. 

Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from fruits from the vineyards neighboring the winery from a mix of mountain and hillside vineyard sites. The Sonoma Valley hillside vineyards give structure to the intense and concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium-full bodied, dark black purple color, this Cabernet its very expressive with full forward rich aromas and flavors of layers of spicy fruits - black berry, black currant, and black cherries with a layer of cassis, hints of toasty oak and dark chocolate in the background with a lingering firm tannin finish. It has a bit of heat that should soften with some time. This represents a great value Cal Cab at $27.

RM 91 points. 

 https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=542192

http://www.arrowoodwinery.com/ 

California Cabernet Wine & Dine Road Trip East

California Cabernet Wine & Dine Road Trip East

Another chapter in the life of a road warrior - a swing down the east coast - but one of those weeks that provides periodic rewards in the grind of business travel - some pleasurable dining experiences with great food and wine, and good company in some wonderful settings for some productive, effective business outcomes.

Hall Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Deep dark purple-garnet color - medium-full bodied. Very approachable and flavorful, a favorite, consistent with previous tastings with full forward flavors of black raspberry, black cherry, currant, hints of spice and dark chocolate. Available, tasted by the glass at Willys Steak House & Grill in Shrewsbury, Massachusets. Great complement to beef steak dinner with Jeff G.
RM 91 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=875375
http://www.willyssteakhouse.com/

Arrowood Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Medium bodied, dark purple color. Another perennial favorite, consistent pleasant easy drinking cab, aromas and flavors of black berry fruit accented by a layer of cigar box with a hint of dark mocha and cedar on a moderate smooth tannin laced finish. Great complement to beef steak filet laced with gorgonzola dinner w/ Dan H at the Fig Tree Restaurant At The Lucas House in Charlotte.
RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=654910
http://www.charlottefigtree.com/ 

A group business dinner at Wildfire Restaurant in Tyson's Corner Galleria Mall in Mclean, VA with Danny A, James S and CS partners George, Gary and David. The group provided the opportunity for a select flight dinner tasting of Napa/Sonoma cabs and a starter Carneros Pinot Noir. More to come ...

Beringer Sonoma Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 - Dark garnet color - medium bodied, aromas and flavors of somewhat forward black raspberry and black currants with a subtle layer of dark mocha chocolate through the moderate tannin lingering finish. Not as complex or sophisticated as the others but once again as is often the case, this is a high achieving moderately priced wine that offers good QPR (quality price ratio). 
RM 89 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1194880

Beringer Private Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - Dark inky purple color, medium-full bodied; complex black raspberry, black berry, with a layer of dark chocolate and hints of cassis, oak and spice on a soft, smooth silky lingering finish.
RM 92 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=770953 


Chimney Rock Napa Valley Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - Dark inky color, medium to full bodied; slightly tighter, firm and more closed than the others indicating it perhaps needs more time to open; fragrance and flavors of black berry, hints of spice and lead pencil, with subtle pepper and cedar notes on a balanced moderate tannin finish.
RM 90 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1063566


Etude Napa Valley Carneros District Pinot Noir 2008 - Opaque ruby colored, medium to light bodied; nose and flavors of red berry fruits - cranberries, bing cherries, hints of strawberry with layer of dusty rose petals and hint of spice on the finish.
RM 88 points. 
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1208540

Arrowood Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 & 1998 mini-vertical

Arrowood Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 & 1998 mini-vertical

Arrowood Winery is one of the gems of Sonoma County, nestled against the hillside overlooking the Sonoma Valley just outside the town of Glen Ellen. Proprietor Richard Arrowood was winemaker at Chateau St Jean before setting out on his own in partnership with his wife Alis. The winery is modeled after a New England farmhouse at the brow of the hill tucked behind and above small vineyards. We visited Arrowood during our Sonoma visits in 2007 and 2009.

This mini-vertical tasting featured the 1996 and 1998 vintages. The 1996 Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon was still holding after fifteen years. Garnet colored, medium bodied with moderate tannins it shows muted black cherry and black currants fruits accented by spice and a hint of anise and cedar on a modest finish.
RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=3599

The 1998 was less polished and less structured by comparison and was beginning to show its age with a slight rust hew. The aroma and flavors revealed a slight hint of tart cherry before turning to slightly sweet black berry and plum fruit with a layer of cassis, an earthy leather layer with hint of toasty oak and spice on the modest short finish. Tasted from magnum.

RM 88 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=12044

These wines were served at family dinner gathering to celebrate Lucy's birthday and dedication at the Compass Church. They were great complement to roast beef, green bean casserole, brussel sprouts in cheese sauce and chocolate cake.  

California Cabernet New Release Discoveries - Rodney Strong Brothers Ridge & Hoopes Estate Discovered

California Cabernet Spring '10 Release Tasting - Rodney Strong Brothers Ridge & Hoopes Estate Discovered

Tasting of recent California Cabernet Sauvignon releases uncovers some new discoveries - Rodney Strong Brothers Ridge and Hoopes Estate Cabernet Sauvignons. Malloy's Finest Wine and Spirits in Lisle, Illinois hosted their annual gala spring tasting of 120 wines. I focused on six California Cabernets - four known and two new discoveries uncovering some some nice surprises.

Wines tasted:

Rodney Strong Brothers Ridge Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Rodney Strong Symmetry Meritage Red Wine 2007
Hoopes Estate Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Faust Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Arrowood Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

We've long known Rodney Strong Cabernets and Symmetry Meritage wines and especially enjoyed their recent vintages of Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. It was a pleasant surprise to discover their new single vineyard designated Brothers Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006, from a 140 acre property in the hills near Cloverdale, Sonoma County Alexander Valley. I deemed this best in class of this tasting.

This wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, barrell aged 22 months in French Oak with 40% new barrels. Deep dark purple in color, firm but very approachable, full bodied with rich extracted black and blue berry fruits, ripe plum, hints of vanilla, dark chocolate and touch of spice. this wine exhibited complexity, depth and polish with a well balanced acidity on a long finish. RM 93 points. 

The Rodney Strong Symmetry Meritage Red Wine 2007 was also impressive. This Bordeaux blend consisting of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 3% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot was aged 26 months in French oak barrels. Dark inky purple color, medium to full bodied with flavors of blackberry and plum fruits,  layers of cassis, dark chocolate and a hint of spice on a smooth soft lingering finish that belays its 15.1% content.  RM 91 points.

Another new discovery of the tasting was Hoopes Family Estate Napa Valley Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2007. Dark color, full bodied, firm, intense and complex blackberry, black cherry and black raspberry fruits with a layer of spice, leather and tobacco box on a firm tannin lingering finish. This would be a great accompaniement to hearty cheese or grilled steak. RM 92 points.

A good benchmark to measure these wines against was the Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007.  Dark ink color, full bodied, complex and sophisticated dark berry fruit with hint of  cassis, licorice, touch of smoke and mocha on the long lingering finish. RM 92 points.

Robert Parker gave the Beringer 95 points, revealing his more sophisticated palet that likely apprecated the complex sophistication of this wine, while I tended to favor the more forward perhaps narrower but deeper cabs above.

Arrowood Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2007. This wine was more subdued and almost delicate compared against the 'big'hitter's' above.

From vineyards near the lower Sonoma Valley hillside winery, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits predominant black berry and black cherry fruits, a hint of cassis, toasty oak and a touch of mocha on the soft finish. RM 89 points.

Rounding out the tasting was  Faust Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 
Dark color, medium-full bodied, black cherry fruits with hint of earth and cassis framed by balanced acidity and tannins. RM 89 points.

Kudos and thanks to Malloy's Finest Wine and Spirits in Lisle for hosting this quality event.