1995 Lail Cabernet Sauvignon J Daniel Cuvée

The 1995 J. Daniel Cuvee is the debut release from Lail Vineyards. An outstanding effort, it is a blend of 56% Merlot and 44% Cabernet Sauvignon made by Philip Melka (the winemaker at Seavey). The wine is a beautifully rendered, Medoc-like California red with a dense, saturated ruby/purple color, and stylish, complex aromatics consisting of tobacco, black currants, creme de cassis, and subtle toasty oak (approximately 33% new oak casks are utilized). The wine is medium to full-bodied, with sweet tannin, a graceful, long mid-palate and finish, and 15 or more years of potential evolution. From the finesse/elegant school of California proprietary reds, this wine is rich and layered, with everything in impeccable balance. Anticipated maturity: now-2015. Robin Lail is a veteran Napa Valley resident who was raised in a winemaking family (her father was the legendary John Daniel who fashioned many of Inglenook's greatest Cabernet Sauvignons). A former partner of Christian Moueix in the Dominus operation, Robin Lail has branched out on her own to produce limited quantities (about 450 cases) of a graceful, elegant, proprietary red wine from vineyards in Yountville, Vine Hill Road, and Howell Mountain. Given the small quantities produced, this wine will undoubtedly be sold largely via a mailing list. Phone 707-965-1300; fax 707-965-1311