2007 Behrens Family The Heavyweight
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
A blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 20% Petit Verdot, the 2007 The Heavyweight reveals intriguing notes of blueberries, black currants, licorice and forest floor. Rich and full-bodied with good balance, purity and overall texture, this silky-textured, fleshy 2007 should drink well for a decade or more. This Heavyweight is more like Mohammad Ali than Haystacks Calhoun. Les and Lisa Behrens are two of my favorite people in Napa Valley for the simple reason that they love wine and make gorgeously delicious wines with a fun approach that is reflected in their creative labels. They had issues with some of the synthetic corks they used early on, but they are now back to true corks and are, hopefully, on the road to even greater success and good fortune. All their wines now appear under the label Erna Schein. Les and Lisa are like truffle dogs in terms of sniffing out somewhat underrated top sites for Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Early on they discovered many vineyards that were later swiped away by people with more money. However, the Behrens still have a loaded deck of Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards. If you haven’t yet discovered these wines, it’s about time you do. If there is a future in the wine world for real people, Lisa and Les Behrens have to succeed. Tel. (707) 963-1774; www.ernaschein.com
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(40% each cabernet sauvignon and merlot, with 20% petit verdot) Good deep ruby. Complex nose offers redcurrant, smoked meat and licorice, accented by pepper and tobacco notes. Then sweet, lush and fat with fruit. A very ripe style, but the wine's spicy component and smoky minerality provide lift to the middle palate. The broad finish features sweet tannins and excellent persistence.