Showing items 1
through 8 of
17
Volker Eisele Family Estate 2005 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Chiles Valley)
- Cellar Selection
- $42
The grapes for this Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend were grown in the Chiles Valley section of Napa. The wine in its youth is extremely tannic and dry, making it unsuitable for drinking anytime soon. But it’s exceptionally balanced and has a deep, attractive core of black currant and cedar flavors. There’s no reason why it should not age well. Try after 2011.
— S.H.
(9/1/2008)
Louis M. Martini 1997 Merlot (Chiles Valley)
- $25
An exceptional wine from this historic producer. Very aromatic, with generous blueberry, chocolate, mint, mushroom, and sweet charred oak. Rich and full-bodied. The fruity ripeness is delicious and sweet. The mouthfeel is luscious and creamy, and it finishes with a slight tannic bite. Probably at its youthful best now.
— S.H.
(11/15/2000)
RustRidge 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon (Chiles Valley)
- $40
Tastes amazingly young and fresh at more than six years, hardly showing its age. Bursts with vibrant blackberry and cherry flavors, crisped with acidity and wrapped into finely spun tannins. A lovely, dry wine to drink now, but one that might develop interesting bottle complexities.
— S.H.
(4/1/2011)
RustRidge 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (Chiles Valley)
- $44
This is a big, powerhouse Cabernet that should develop bottle complexity over time. Right now, it’s very dry and tannic, and the blackberry and black currant flavors are unintegrated with the oak. Better after 2010.
— S.H.
(12/15/2009)
RustRidge 2006 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Chiles Valley)
- Online Exclusive
- $50
This Napa producer based in the Chiles Valley has made a big style of Cab here, with plenty of tannins and black currant aromas and flavor but the wine’s acidity tastes a touch out of balance and could improve with time. Producer recommends waiting to open until 2013.
— V.B.
(12/31/2011)
RustRidge 2005 Racehorse Red (Chiles Valley)
- Online Exclusive
- $25
Here’s a lusty, strongly flavored red wine that’s utterly dry. It’s stuffed with juicy red currants, red cherry pie filling, anise and smoky cedar, with lots of zesty spices. A fine wine for pasta, chops, barbecue.
— S.H.
(12/15/2009)
Louis M. Martini 1997 Family Vineyard Selection Ghost Pines Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Chiles Valley)
- $30
This wine begins with very oaky, charry aromas riding high over black currants. An elegant, soft but complex wine with sweet blackberry extract, oak overlays and lush tannins. There’s a rough earthiness, however, that keeps it from the top echelon.
— W.E.
(8/1/2001)
RustRidge 2008 Estate Chardonnay (Chiles Valley)
- Online Exclusive
- $43
This Chiles Valley producer, on the eastern edge of the Napa Valley, has made a big Chardonnay that doesn’t exude much aromatically at first and veers sweet, but is otherwise balanced and could develop some interesting minerality over time.
— V.B.
(12/31/2011)
Showing items 1
through 8 of
17
Most Reviewed Varietals [All]
Most Reviewed Producers
advertisement
What We're Tasting
2008 Rodney Strong Symmetry
Symmetry is Rodney Strong’s most important red wine, the one they pull…
Facebook Activity
advertisement
Twitter Activity