2004 Sbragia Family Cabernet Sauvignon Wall Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Not surprisingly, Ed Sbragia has turned in a brilliant performance with his 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Wall Vineyard from Mt. Veeder. Blueberry liqueur intermixed with licorice, incense, graphite and vanillin are followed by a wine with a meaty cassis note, lavender and forest floor. This full-bodied, inky, purple-colored wine is still young, but approachable and luscious. Drink it over the next 10-15 years. The bigger-than-life, formidable, long-time winemaker at Beringer, Ed Sbragia, has his own operation in Sonoma and turns out some of the best wines money can buy. Sbragia has never forgotten that ultimately it is the consumer who makes the market. That consumer has to make a living as well as have discretionary income to buy fine wine and Ed always seems to have realistic, if not humble, prices. His six wines I tasted from 2004 all performed well. Sbragia’s Cabernet Sauvignons are one of his strengths, along with his Zinfandels and Chardonnays. Tel. (707) 473-2992
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Fabulous purity and intensity of mountain blackberry and black cherry fruit. Underlying cedar, spice and minerals, with sweet tannins and refreshing acidity. At once rich and racy, and with a long life ahead of it. (LM) $75
Fabulous purity and intensity of mountain blackberry and black cherry fruit. Underlying cedar, spice and minerals, with sweet tannins and refreshing acidity. At once rich and racy, and with a long life ahead of it, this wine represents the best that California Cabernet Sauvignon can be. (LM)
Good full ruby. Classic cabernet aromas of cassis, licorice and dark chocolate; shows a faint medicinal austerity. Then fat, sweet, lush and large-scaled, with impressive depth of fruit in the mid-palate. The huge, horizontal, thoroughly ripe tannins saturate the mouth but there's no hardness here. This is downright chocolatey on the aftertaste. This was blended with 11% cabernet franc; winemaker Sbragia noted that he typically adds 3% or 4% of franc to all his cabernet bottlings.