2007 Vineyard 29 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
(14.8% alcohol): Saturated medium ruby. Captivating scents of blackcurrant, black raspberry, black cherry, licorice, truffle, dusty spices and cocoa powder. Then juicy but initially brooding in the mouth; not particularly silky or sweet but nicely delineated, with a hint of Petit Verdot licorice. This began considerably tighter than the '06 but softened up quickly in the glass, even showing a more evolved plummy nuance. Finishes with excellent length and high-quality tannins that dust the front teeth. Winemaker Keith Emerson described 2007 as "warm and bountiful, with juicy, plump berries."
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
(14.8% alcohol): Bright medium ruby. Strong tobacco leaf and truffley underbrush tones to the aromas of currant, mocha, chocolate, graphite and earth. Utterly seamless and velvety wine; rich but not over the top, with well-integrated acidity and some herbal accents lifting the currant, graphite and espresso flavors. This very suave wine has no shortage of richness, offering sexy sweetness without excess. The tannins are plush, smooth and harmonious, giving the wine plenty of structural support for further aging. Finishes with terrific building length.
Full deep ruby. Very ripe aromas of dark berries, black cherry and mocha torrefaction, with hints of smoke and roasted tomato. Sweet, glyceral and creamy on entry, then full and seamless in the middle, with just enough energy to frame the superripe black raspberry and dark chocolate flavors. Finishes very long and lush, with substantial fine-grained tannins.
The flagship wine, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard 29 Estate, is an extraordinary effort. Performing even better than it did last year from barrel, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon spent 20 months in French oak barrels (90% new). The nose reveals notes of graphite, ink, cassis, and flowers. Superbly concentrated with impeccable purity and balance, this full-bodied wine is one of both power and elegance. If I didn’t know better, I would guess it was from Stags Leap rather than the west side north of St. Helena ... it’s that refined and gracious. The stunning length and suppleness of the tannin suggest this 2007 should easily last for 20-25 years. Tel. (707) 963-1619; Fax (707) 887-1688