2008 Dana Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Lotus Vineyard
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Tasting notes
(from a very exposed west-facing site at an elevation of 1,200 feet, on Crystal Springs Road north of St. Helena; these 2008s were bottled in January of this year): Deep ruby. Aromas of dark cherry, menthol and violet complicated by sage, anise and earth. Dense for the vintage but with lovely mid-palate definition and finesse. A rather dark and brooding wine with the stuffing to buffer its considerable tannins. This has a pH of 3.76 and sound natural acidity of 6.3 grams per liter. I underrated this wine a year ago from barrel, which is not the first time I've done this. (Incidentally, there will be little or none of the Hershey Vineyard wine in 2008, as these vines on Howell Mountain were hit hard by the spring frost.)
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The flagship offering is the Lotus Vineyard cuvee. The 2007 was pure perfection and the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Lotus Vineyard is another impressive effort (about 200 cases produced). Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Clones 337, 4 and 15, this is a relatively high elevation (1,200 feet) site and because of that, the wine shows lots of minerality and freshness. Expansive black currant and blackberry notes intermixed with graphite and flower aromas are followed by a full-bodied wine with lots of structure, density and purity. This 2008 requires 4-5 years of cellaring and can be enjoyed over the following two decades. Dana Estates boasts Philippe Melka as their consultant. The biggest production cuvee for conscientious proprietor Hi Sang Lee's small estate in Rutherford is the Helms Vineyard (a 4.8-acre parcel). Interestingly, the estate has custom made their fermenters to the size of their parcels which adds efficiency to the winemaking. Tel. (707) 963-4365; Fax (707) 963-4975
Saturated ruby to the rim. Superripe aromas of kirsch and licorice; a bit like a vintage port on the nose. The palate offers primary, liqueur-like black cherry and blackberry fruit flavors perked up by licorice pastille and given energy by sound acidity. Not a particularly mineral style of 2008, and a bit musclebound today, not yet showing much nuance. This hints at the same slightly rustic tannins as the 2006. I should note that I underrated the 2007 when I tasted it a year ago from barrel, so I look forward to sampling this wine in finished form.
About the producer
Located on the Rutherford bench, Dana Estates is a small Napa estate focused on producing fine, single-site Cabernet Sauvignon. The concentrated wines are some of the region’s most sought-after, regularly earning top ratings from critics – with 19 100-point scores to date.