| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | U.S.A. > California > Napa Valley |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Araujo Estate
Tasted at Roberson Napa tasting. A deep garnet core. This nose is far more expressive than the Dalla Valle, macerated red cherries, sloe, coconut, vanilla and a touch of chalk dust. Nice lift. Good definition. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins, nice balanced, this seems to have coalesced since I last had this. Blackberry, blueberry, crushed violets, lovely sense of vibrancy towards the silky finish. Great length. Excellent. Tasted May 2009.
90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot. Aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak barrels.
Aromatics of leather and mushroom with underlying red fruits carry into the palate mixed with dark fruits, cedar and accents of gunmetal. The 1998 shows lovely restraint and subtlety with still plenty of vitality and a feeling of freshness. This was considered a tricky vintage at the time but this wine shows the quality of the site and the talent of the winemaking team. There is a nice density here with layers of flavour housed in fine tannin and lifting acidity. The 1998 is in a nice place right now with plenty of life left but it’s worth drinking now to capture that balance of tertiary flavour and freshness. (ECB)
