2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

I was blown away by the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, which spent almost 34 months in 70% new French oak barrels. The wine is beautifully impressive, with a deep ruby/purple color and notes of loamy soil intermixed with creme de cassis, cedar, and licorice. The wine is full-bodied, powerful, but beautifully nuanced and nicely structured, with sweet, silky tannins. This wine should evolve for at least 20 or more years. The good news is that there are about 3,800 cases of this superb Cabernet. Altamura has been making wines for almost 20 years, and I certainly thought several of these wines were the best I ever had from them. They are located in Wooden Valley, which is mostly volcanic soils about nine miles northeast of Napa. Tel. (707) 253-2000; Fax (707) 255-3937