2007 Vineyard 7 & 8 Cabernet Sauvignon 7
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(includes fruit from younger estate blocks as well as hillside vineyards from Spring Mountain Vineyards and another grower on Spring Mountain) Good deep ruby. Currant and fresh herbs on the nose. In a serious mountain style but with less depth to its purple fruit and bitter chocolate flavors than the estate wine is showing today. A less refined style, finishing with tannins that are a bit tough for 2007 and a lingering note of bitter chocolate. Incidentally, this seems considerably more vibrant in bottle than a somewhat porty barrel sample I tried a year ago.
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Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The opaque purple 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits cassis, charcoal, graphite, and sweet tannins in an exuberant, opulent style that would please both Joe the plumber and the connoisseur. It is deep, fleshy, and best drunk over the next 10-15 years. None other than the well-known Luc Morlet makes the wines at this winery on Spring Mountain. Tel. (707) 963-9425
Saturated bright medium ruby. Ripe black fruit nose shows a slightly syrupy quality. Concentrated, large-scaled and fat but a bit high-toned and chunky-even porty-compared to the Estate wine. The wine's slightly roasted character is leavened by underlying minerality. Finishes with palate-saturating fruit and a boatload of tannins.
(total maceration time was up to 32 days, including a cold soak, vs. 21 days in previous years) Saturated ruby. Captivating nose offers black raspberry, smoke and a hint of game; the first vintage here to avoid herbal aromas. Then fat, dense and substantial, with a chocolatey ripeness to the mouthfilling, layered dark berry flavors. A superb example of powerful mountain fruit, and at a completely different level from the earlier vintages. The superb rising finish features big but thoroughly ripe, silky tannins that coat the cheeks and teeth. This features 75% estate fruit, with much stricter crop thinning practiced during the summer.