More tannic than Rockledge’s regular ’03 Cab, this wine is also more concentrated in black currant fruit, and seems oakier, too. It has that elusive quality of importance, hard to define but so obvious in the mouth. Rich, luscious and on the soft side, it’s a gorgeous wine, drinkable now and with the balance to ride smoothly for ten years or longer.
— S.H.
(12/31/2006)
Quite sleek and elegant, with a fine-tuned core of richly textured flavors, redolent of cassis, blackberry, coffee, tar, herbs, anise and toast. The tannins are firm but ripe, giving good structure to the wine, which tastes like Bordeaux in a great vintage. Long and lush on the finish. A good price for this kind of quality.
— J.M.
(8/1/2004)
Made in the modern cult style, this 100% varietal Cabernet is soft and lush. While it’s technically dry, it tastes sweet, the result of ripe fruit, high alcohol and lots of charry new oak. Shows oodles of chocolate, black currant and plum flavors that end in a swirl of Asian spices. Now through 2012.
— S.H.
(4/1/2009)
A well-structured Cabernet, with complex layers of blackbery, cassis, chocolate, herb, coffee and spice flavors. Tannins are firm and ripe with a good long finish and a tangy note at the end. A fine first release from this new winery.
— J.M.
(11/15/2002)
Rich, plush aromas lead off. The wine is smooth-textured and dense, with robust tannins that give good structure and staying power. Spicy black cherry, plum, choclate and herb flavors are well integrated. Toasty oak frames the ensemble. Related to but different from this winery’s Zinfandel.
— J.M.
(12/1/2002)
Somewhat floral up front, with a sleek, elegant mouthfeel. Silky smooth tannins frame a core of black cherry, coffee, herb, spice, anise, herb and clove flavors. It’s made in a classy style from Zinfandel’s alter ego, Primitivo, which is just a clone of the quintessential California variety.
— J.M.
(8/1/2004)
With the ’03, Rockledge returns to form with a ripe, lush and balanced Cab that contains a drop of Petite Sirah. It’s deliciously deep and long in blackberry pie filling, chocolate, green olive and smoky oak flavors, in a voluptuous texture.
— S.H.
(12/31/2006)
Plush and velvety, with a core of black cherry and herbs couched in firm, powdery tannins. Anise, chocolate and coffee flavors finish nicely here.
— J.M.
(11/1/2002)