2016 Seven Hills Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard begins with a softness on the nose of just-ripe red fruits and a dusty, mineral-driven core. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has flavors of tart cherry, black raspberry and juicy plum with a shyness across the mid-palate. The finish lingers with notes of dusty cherry skin, blackberry blossom and subtle baking spices. 1,000 cases made.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
I loved the 2016 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Wine, a classic Red Mountain Bordeaux blend that does everything right. Notes of cassis, black raspberries, crushed rocks, and lead pencil all flow to a full-bodied Cabernet that has loads of sweet fruit, building tannin, and the classic minerality and savoriness of the appellation. It will benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age and keep for 15+. The 2016 is 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, all brought up in 50% new French oak, bottled with no fining.
(50% new oak; from an old block of vines): Bright, full ruby-red. Currant, blackberry and licorice on the slightly inky nose, along with plenty of spicy oak. Dense cherry and milk chocolate flavors convey a restrained sweetness and good energy but are currently a bit shortened on the back end by serious dusty tannins. Today I actually prefer the balance and mid-palate complexity of fruit of the 2016 Seven Hills Vineyard Merlot but this wine needs time to open. (about 15% alcohol)