2013 Accendo Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
This is the first vintage of Accendo. Made by Françoise Peschon for the Araujo family. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Vinehill Ranch and Oakville Ranch. The aromas offer a mix of savoury characteristics with fresh black berries and plums. There is a light note of dark chocolate and light spice that is well integrated. Together they bring depth and density to the palate as well as vibrant fresh acidity and a lightly tactile, fine-grained tannin. The wine still has enough tension to benefit from decanting and will age a very long time. 2013 is regarded as one of Napa Valley’s most structural vintages. That character shows here but Peschon has also brought an elegant expression of a powerful vintage, which is impressive. This wine drinks with power moving through grace. (ECB)
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Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Made by the old Araujo team – Bart and Daphne Araujo, Françoise Peschon and Michel Rolland – from grapes sourced in selected vineyards, the choice 'illuminated by the revolutionary wines of the 1950s, '60s and '70s'. Made in borrowed space in Angwin, it's certainly not nearly as deep and impenetrably purplish-crimson as most of its peers. Savoury nose with a hint of balsam (not black fruit!). Rather a sweet palate entry (that's Napa presumably). And a reasonably complex overlay of herbal notes. Just enough freshness on the end but this does taste like a work in progress. It's definitely more refreshing than the Napa Cab mainstream. But it's already accessible. Good persistence on the finish. (JR)
Accendo's 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is a surprisingly open-knit, succulent wine for the year. There is good lift and creaminess throughout, but less of the energy, depth and structural intensity that is such a signature of this vintage. Mocha, black cherry, spice, and tobacco are some of the notes that open up in the glass. This is one of the more supple, accessible 2013 Cabernets readers will come across.
Debut vintage of the Araujos' new venture. Mid (not deep) crimson. Light and lifted on the nose. Very distinctive. Very racy and new wave. Françoise Peschon is the winemaker, Michel Rolland the oenologist. Polished. The winery that bought the rest of the grapes kept them on the vine for another three weeks! Very long. More than 14% but less than 15%. Will stand out from the Napa crowd! (JR)