Premier Cru - Cabernet Sauvignon RSS/RDF Feed http://www.premiercru.net/premier/jsp/xml/premiercrucab.php 95+ points Parker: "The 2006 Insignia (95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot; 16,000 cases produced) is a superb effort in this vintage. Another 30+ year wine, it boasts a dense plum/purple color as well as abundant notes of licorice, black currants, charcoal, black olives, and graphite. Full-bodied, pure, and rich with moderately high tannins, it represents a California version of a Bordeaux from Pauillac or St.-Julien. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2045." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40949 96 points Parker: "The 2005 Proprietary Red is significantly better than what I tasted last year, although I certainly gave it a high score. This wine has fleshed out beautifully. The final blend (84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec) has a deep purple color, a beautifully sweet nose of blackberries and cassis intermixed with some meatiness, smoke, and a touch of pain grille as well as notes of espresso and licorice. Full-bodied, rich, with decent acidity, excellent delineation, and moderately high tannin, this is a beauty that should evolve for 25-30+ years It is no wimpish wine at 15.2% natural alcohol, but that is buried beneath a cascade of gorgeous fruit and glycerin. This wine should be cruising along brilliantly in 2030+." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=41010 95 points Parker: "There are 7,000 cases of the prodigious 2006 Proprietary Red Wine (a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec). Most of the fruit comes from the Stagecoach Vineyard and the Waters Ranch. Sweet, smoky, meaty aromas interwoven with melted asphalt, camphor, blackberry, cassis, and charcoal scents emerge from the complex aromatics. In the mouth, the wine is full-bodied, displaying sweet tannin, a concentrated mouthfeel, and a long, heady finish with substantial fruit, glycerin, and extract. It should drink beautifully for 20+ years." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=41009 92 points Parker: "The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve possesses more blueberry, raspberry, and floral notes, an elegant personality, full body, and outstanding depth, richness, and texture. Enjoy it for 15+ years." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40951 96 points Parker: "An outrageous wine is the 2006 Mernet Reserve, a 350-case blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a Spring Mountain version of the famed Bordeaux St.-Emilion, Cheval Blanc. Sweet, rich aromas of subtle menthol, roasted herbs, black currants, black cherries, licorice, and lavender emerge from this fragrant wine. It hits the palate with substantial flavors, but the overall impression is one of grace and elegance. A super rich, long, gorgeous example of Spring Mountain fruit, this 2006 is intense in flavor, but light on its feet. Enjoy it over the next 20+ years." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40952 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40947 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40948 99 points Parker: "The virtually perfect 2001 Claret (80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot) is a tour de force in winemaking. It possesses extraordinary concentration, intensity, purity, and ripeness, yet retains an elegant style. With a spectacular perfume of blackberry liqueur, cassis, acacia flowers, graphite, espresso roast, and chocolate as well as a 60-second finish, this long, dense 2001 is still primary, but already fun to drink. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2020." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=31930 93+ points Parker: "The Cabernet Sauvignon from the Aida Vineyard is becoming one of the most exceptional northern Napa Valley Cabernets, with a production ranging between 600-700 cases. The dense ruby/purple-tinged 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Aida Vineyard reveals aromas of melted chocolate, scorched earth, pepper, and creme de cassis. Fashioned from 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, Petit Verdot, and a touch of Cabernet Franc, it exhibits a superb texture along with those notions of charcoal and burning embers that come from this rock-laden soil. This full-bodied 2006 is more masculine and muscular than the 2005, without that wine?s complexity (of course, it has been in bottle for less time). While it is a successful wine for the vintage, buyers will need to be patient as it requires 2-3 years of bottle age; it should drink well for 20 years." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40896 95 points Parker: "There are between 400-450 cases of the Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard 29 Estate, a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon cuvee. The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard 29 Estate reveals extraordinary elegance for this vintage as well as a perfume of sweet black currants, dark cherries, and notions of chocolate, licorice, and smoke. Deep, textured, and beautifully balanced with no hard edges (an anomaly for a 2006), this full-bodied, seductive effort can be drunk now or cellared for two decades." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40897 94 points Parker: "The unfined, unfiltered 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve spends two years in French oak and another year in the bottle before being released. This cuvee has a long track record of aging (the 1990 and 1991 are still going strong). The dense ruby/purple-tinged 2006 offers notes of new saddle leather, black currants, autumnal vegetation/forest floor, cassis, and cherries, superb richness, and a full-bodied, powerful finish. Cellar it for 5-6 years, and drink it over the following 25 years." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40825 95+ points Parker: "The 2006 Eloge?s dark plum/ruby color is followed by a sweet kiss of plum, black cherry, earth, licorice, and spice box, a medium to full-bodied wine, abundant tannin, and impressive concentration, purity, and overall complexity. Reasonably evolved, and extremely seductive aromatically, with a slightly structured finish, it can be enjoyed now and over the next 15 years. It is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot, and 3% Merlot." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40838 98 points Parker: "I have drunk some memorable Reserve Cabernet Sauvignons from Robert Mondavi, including the gloriously fragrant, elegant 1971, the powerful, dense 1974, the seductive 1978, the mammothly-endowed, tannic blockbuster 1987, the silky, opulent, super-concentrated 1990, and the compellingly rich, layered 1991. However, if I were to select the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon that may turn out to be the greatest Mondavi has yet made, the 1994 might edge out the 1991 and 1987. It may not appear to be the case, but I am often at a loss for words when it comes to writing about truly profound wines. They seem to have their own stature, presence, and character that transcend the significance of mere words. That being said, Mondavi's 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is an exquisite wine, as well as a Cabernet that may turn out to be one of the wines of the vintage. The deep opaque purple color, and tightly wound nose and flavors still reveal enough profound aromas and flavors to mark this as one of Mondavi's most sensational efforts. The nose possesses a Margaux/Mouton-like cassis, lead pencil, floral aroma, backed-up by copious quantities of blackcurrant fruit. In the mouth, my notes said, "great stuff." The wine is full-bodied, layered, multi-dimensional, and astonishingly well-balanced, with an inner-depth and core of exceptional richness and intensity. All of this has been accomplished without any notion of obtrusive weight, tannin, or alcohol. The finish lasts for 35+ seconds. Because of its luxurious quantity of fruit, this wine will be accessible young, thus much of it will be drunk long before it ever reaches full maturity. However, for those able to buy more than a bottle or two, and who possess the discipline to wait 10-15 years, this wine should prove to be a formidable California Cabernet with a rare complexity, elegance, and richness. It should be at its best between 2002-2025." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=RE699 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=39218 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=29221 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40525 91 points Parker: "The flagship wine, the 2005 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Estate displays a lovely perfume of fresh herbs, loamy soil, black cherries, and black currants. Spicy and very Bordeaux-like in this vintage, with high tannins, a cool climate freshness, and a leaner personality than is found in riper vintages, it will benefit from 1-2 years of cellaring, and should drink well for two decades or more." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40152 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40438 87 points Wine Spectator: "A fleshy wine, with smooth cherry, plum and blackberry fruit that's supple and engaging, turning elegant and graceful. Drink now through 2008." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=30802 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40377 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40376 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40333 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=RR121 100 points Parker: "From the Pritchard Hill Vineyard, the 2006 IX Proprietary Red Estate is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. The good news is that there are 1,500 cases of this cuvee. It, too, reveals the noble sweetness of tannin, the extraordinary rich, intense mouthfeel, and sumptuous aromas of flowers, burning embers, blackberries, blueberries, spice box, and cedar. With extraordinary intensity, beautiful purity, a texture and flavors that build incrementally on the palate, and a significantly long finish, this is a perfect wine." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40316 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=RE735 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=19908 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=26773 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=30820 89 points Tanzer: "Red-ruby. Aromas of raspberry, menthol, espresso and fresh herbs. A juicy, sappy wine with a light touch, despite the fact that the label says 14.1% alcohol. Essentially in an understated style but offers good creamy depth. Finishes with fine tannins and an herbal nuance." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=31086 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=39060 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=39215 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=RE746 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=19209 91 points Tanzer: "Saturated ruby-red. Roasted plum, mocha and chocolate liqueur on the inviting nose. Sweet and lush in the mouth, with very ripe, mellow flavors of currant, cherry, tar and melting chocolate. This has the fat of a topnotch merlot. Long finish features substantial but thoroughly sweet tannins." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=30759 88+ points Tanzer: "Bright red-ruby color. Smoky black fruit aromas complicated by notes of tobacco, leather, pepper and gunflint. Dense and sweet but youthful, with pliant flavors of roasted black fruits and smoky oak. Shows a slightly candied character. Finishes with big, sweet, chewy tannins and very good length." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=28330 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=35593 87 points Wine Spectator: "A fleshy wine, with smooth cherry, plum and blackberry fruit that's supple and engaging, turning elegant and graceful. Drink now through 2008." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=30803 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=32325 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=38006 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=35911 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=38300 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=37775 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=38968