Robert Craig Napa Valley Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
For BBQ rib dinner I pulled this label from the cellar. I was eager to try this after drinking the Marco DiGuilio Mt Veeder Pym Rae Vineyard Cabernet recently, and upon researching that wine, learned it was the same site that provided fruit for this label for two decades. I also learned that the property and estate had been sold to the Tesseron family of France, producers of legendary Bordeaux Chateau Pontet Canet.
The estate was owned by the late Robin Williams, comedian and movie star, who named the vineyard after the middle names of his two kids. Robert Craig managed the property for Robin decades ago and sourced the fruit from there for this label for twenty five years. The final vintage released by Robert Craig was the 2016.
I've written often in these pages about Robert Craig and his portfolio of mountain fruit Napa Valley Cabernets from Mt Veeder, Howell Mtn, Spring Mtn, Mt George, Atlas Peak and of course Napa Valley.
We dined and tasted with Robert and Lynn Craig at the winery, in Chicago, and at numerous Napa Valley events over the years. I recall Robert saying that this label, the Mt Veeder was his favorite. Our records show we still hold over four cases of this label over fifteen vintages dating back to the inaugural vintage in 1993. Our Robert Craig collection of these labels is one of the largest holdings in our cellar collection
From here forward, from this bottle, and those remaining vintage labels in the cellar, we'll drink and savor the passing of a legendary brand/label with fondness and great memories.
Robert Craig Napa Valley Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
This was still drinking well but likely past the apex of its drinking window, not to improve further with aging, but still holding its own at seventeen years of age.
Dark garnet colored, medium-full bodied, bright forward firm structured backbone of tangy black cherry and blackberry fruits accented by notes of cedar, spicy oak, leather, tobacco leaf and tea with firm but smooth approachable tannins on the finish.
RM 90 point.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=48933
Shown left,
Dining with Robert and Lynn Craig, our featured wine producer, special guests at CIA back in 1998.
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| Rick & Bill with Robert at Robert Craig harvest party |
The estate was owned by the late Robin Williams, comedian and movie star, who named the vineyard after the middle names of his two kids. Robert Craig managed the property for Robin decades ago and sourced the fruit from there for this label for twenty five years. The final vintage released by Robert Craig was the 2016.
We dined and tasted with Robert and Lynn Craig at the winery, in Chicago, and at numerous Napa Valley events over the years. I recall Robert saying that this label, the Mt Veeder was his favorite. Our records show we still hold over four cases of this label over fifteen vintages dating back to the inaugural vintage in 1993. Our Robert Craig collection of these labels is one of the largest holdings in our cellar collection
From here forward, from this bottle, and those remaining vintage labels in the cellar, we'll drink and savor the passing of a legendary brand/label with fondness and great memories.
Robert Craig Napa Valley Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
This was still drinking well but likely past the apex of its drinking window, not to improve further with aging, but still holding its own at seventeen years of age.
Dark garnet colored, medium-full bodied, bright forward firm structured backbone of tangy black cherry and blackberry fruits accented by notes of cedar, spicy oak, leather, tobacco leaf and tea with firm but smooth approachable tannins on the finish.
RM 90 point.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=48933
Dining with Robert and Lynn Craig, our featured wine producer, special guests at CIA back in 1998.
