2011 Venge Cabernet Sauvignon Bone Ash Vineyard
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Tasting notes
(14.9% alcohol): Good full ruby-red. Sexy ripe nose combines cassis, cocoa powder and smoky oak. Plush, sweet and ripe in the mouth, showing excellent definition and a light touch for such a silky cabernet. Finishes with substantial but wonderfully suave tannins and slowly mounting flavors of dark berries and chocolatey oak. This is deeper and longer than the Silencieux and will need some time in bottle but is seamless from day one. A real triumph for the vintage--and not at all green.
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Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The bottled 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Bone Ash Vineyard has turned out exceptionally well in this lighter, more challenging vintage. Sweet, creamy cassis, licorice, and subtle oak and smoke notes are present in this forward, evolved, sexy, full throttle Cabernet. While the 2010 may be slightly bigger, denser and more formidable, the amazing 2011 is certainly one of the stars of the vintage. A gorgeous, long, velvety finish adds to the appeal of this wine, which should be drunk over the next 10-15 years. The good news is 525 cases were produced. The Venge family, charismatic father Nils and son Kirk, sourced the Bone Ash Cabernet from their 12-acre family vineyard in Oakville. The name is taken from the white volcanic soils that some refer to as tufa. Kirk Venge purchased the brand in 2008 from his father Nils and has been making the wines for Venge Family Reserve ever since. Tel. (707) 942-9100
The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Bone Ash Vineyard is surprisingly dense and rich for the year with good depth, balance and harmony. It will be interesting to see how the 2010 shows once it is in bottle, but this is certainly more than a respectable effort for a very difficult year.