2017 Alpha Omega Era
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Tasting notes
Big, juicy and dense brooding nose – this just oozes power. Same on the palate, that deep dark-berry fruit is sleek and ripe and underpinned by a mineral edge. This is just creeping over into the slightly overdone Napa wines of yesteryear, yet it’s quite fun and enjoyable. (AC)
Critic scores
Alistair Cooper MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The flagship wine from this estate is the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon ERA, which is based on a barrel selection from the single vineyard releases. Deep purple-colored, with a gorgeous bouquet of blueberries, violets, graphite, dark chocolate, and scorched earth, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a beautiful sense of balance, no hard edges, and a great finish. This is straight-up gorgeous, with the elegance and freshness of the estate front and center.
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon ERA is a terrific wine for the vintage. This rich and sumptuous Cabernet is creamy and expansive in feel, although naturally less explosive than it has been known to be in the very best years. Blackberry jam, chocolate, leather, licorice, spice and espresso all flesh out in the glass. The 2017 has a touch of Malbec - a first for this flagship bottling - which lends some pleasant mid-palate sweetness. I would give it a few years in bottle to allow the intense tannins to soften.
Containing 5% Malbec, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon ERA has a very deep purple-black color and scents of crème de cassis, chocolate box and blueberry compote wafting from the glass, allowing glimpses at cedar chest, tobacco, black olive, yeast extract and truffles nuances. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a wonderful juxtaposition of vivacious flavors and structured elegance, finishing with finely grained texture.