2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Lotus Vineyards
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Tasting notes
A rich, sensual wine, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Lotus Vineyard captures the best qualities of the vintage. Layers of dark red fruit, kirsch, sweet spices, tobacco and herbs saturate the palate as this large-scaled, voluptuous wine opens up in the glass. There is a purity and centeredness to the 2009 that is striking. At the same time, the tannins aren't quite as polished as they are in the very best wines here. Overall, though, that is a pretty small critique for a wine that delivers so much pure pleasure. Exotic spice and kirsch notes reappear on the finish. The 2009 was fermented in a combination of 45% oak uprights, 45% cement and 10% barriques. It spent 26 months in 100% new French oak barrels.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
A rich, sensual wine, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Lotus Vineyard captures the best qualities of the vintage. Layers of dark red fruit, kirsch, sweet spices, tobacco and herbs saturate the palate as this large-scaled, voluptuous wine opens up in the glass. There is a purity and centeredness to the 2009 that is striking. At the same time, the tannins aren’t quite as polished as they are in the very best wines here. Overall, though, that is a pretty small critique for a wine that delivers so much pure pleasure. Exotic spice and kirsch notes reappear on the finish. The 2009 was fermented in a combination of 45% oak uprights, 45% cement and 10% barriques. It spent 26 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029. It’s hard to know where to start with these magnificent wines from Dana Estates. The 2010s are epic, while the 2011s continue to show all the promise I sensed when I first tasted the wines this spring. The 2010s were brought in between October 6-20, while the 2011 harvest didn’t even start until October 22, only to finish on November 3! Napa Valley has attracted a lot of wealthy, big-time investors over the years, but few, if any, have managed to accomplish as much as Hi Sang Lee and his team have in such a short period of time. Readers who want to learn more about Dana Estates might enjoy taking a look at my video interview with winemaker Cameron Vawter. Tel. (707) 963-4365
Good saturated full ruby. Nose initiallly hints at brooding black fruits, licorice and graphite, but opened with air to show toffee oak, tobacco and captivating violet lift. Seriously deep and sweet, with surprising energy giving the superripe, floral mid-palate lovely vibrancy. Most impressive today on the enveloping black-fruit finish, where the wine's fully ripe tannins spread out horizontally to saturate the palate. A great showing today, but lay this down.
The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Lotus Vineyard emerges from the glass with an attractive, floral bouquet. Dark red fruit, leather, spices and tobacco flow gracefully to the seamless, elegant finish. This is a very typical, open 2009.
About the producer
Located on the Rutherford bench, Dana Estates is a small Napa estate focused on producing fine, single-site Cabernet Sauvignon. The concentrated wines are some of the region’s most sought-after, regularly earning top ratings from critics – with 19 100-point scores to date.