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Beaulieu
Vineyard 2006 Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon / Rutherford
Sourced from selected blocks from the winery's original
estate, this latest Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon
is a fine expression of the area's terroir. Swirl a glass
to release aromas of ripe bramble fruit, black currants,
dark chocolate, coffee, clove, and licorice. Full-bodied
with a firm structure, the wine is still rather smooth with
blackberry, plum, semi-sweet chocolate, and roast coffee
flavors drifting across the palate. There is great aging
potential here. Ten years in the cellar would do wonders.
Score: 89
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Flora
Springs Winery 2006 Rutherford Hills Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
/ Rutherford
Sourced exclusively from their famous J block, this vintage
delivers another classic Rutherford Cabernet. The bouquet
is striking with strawberry jam and black cherry mingling
with musty earth and cocoa. When sipped, black currants
and cherries flow into bright notes of minerals and hints
of truffles building to a signature dusty finish. While
very nice now, ten years in the cellar would do nothing
but good for a bottle.
Score: 90
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Frank
Family 2006 Winston Hill Red Wine / Rutherford
A blend of predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with splashes
of Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc added for complexity.
Allowed to open up in a glass, a rich, intoxicating nose
of strawberry, cherry, blueberry, dark chocolate, sweet
oak, and woodsy notes wraps up your senses. A sip brings
very smooth, very elegant flavors of ripe black cherry,
blueberry with highlights of toasty oak and mocha providing
a nice balance to the lush fruit. With such silky tannins
and soothing flavors, this wine begs for a rich chocolate
dessert. Savor this one. Score:
92
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Hewitt
Vineyards 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon / Rutherford
This is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon produced with 100% Rutherford
fruit that shows in its deep layers. Currents, plum, blackberry,
chocolate, clove, and cedar ascend from a freshly swirled
glass. On the palate, signature dusty tannins carry intense
black fruit flavors which unfold into notes of roast coffee,
vanilla, dark chocolate, and sweet spice. Quite dry and
bright, the wine can stand up to the hardiest of beef dishes.
Enjoy now or age a bottle for five years. Score:
88 |
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Meander
2006 Morisoli Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon / Rutherford
Sourced entirely from their Morisoli Vineyard this Cabernet
is available exclusively to the winery mailing list. Rich
black fruit dominates the nose with currants, plum, and
blackberry showing through. Hints of earth and mocha rise
up from deeper pockets. The palate reflects the dark fruit
aromas on the nose, with notes of clove, licorice, chocolate,
and bright minerals nuances proving some zip. Score:
88
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Monticello
Vineyards 2006 Tietjen Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon / Rutherford
A grand expression of the winery's trademark elegance, the
2006 Tietjen Vineyard Cabernet is a lush, very smooth wine.
It opens with a lovely nose packed with sweet cherry and
raspberry, with soft hints of vanilla and spice. Sleek tannins
carry ripe berry flavors across the palate with lovely notes
of vanilla, toffee, oak, and herbs providing a very nice
depth. Only 224 cases were produced, so enjoy this one while
it is still available. Score:
92
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PEJU
2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon / Rutherford
All the fruit was hand picked and hand sorted for this Cabernet,
and the extra care comes through in the quality. An invigorating
nose of ripe cherry, raspberry, plum, smoky oak, violets,
and vanilla greet the senses. When sipped, cherry, currants,
and plum unfurl into deeper notes of vanilla and a kiss
of toasty oak. Supple tannins and a very smooth finish make
this a lovely, elegant wine that deserves the company of
a juicy prime rib.. Score:
91
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Pina
2006 Firehouse Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon / Rutherford
A bold wine that packs a powerful nose filled with cherry,
raspberry, plum and currants, with hints of herbs and spicy
oak. On the palate the wine is well-structured with solid
tannins and offers the zip of dried red fruit flavors and
minerals that build to a hot, lingering finish. It is a
great candidate for the cellar. While good now, in five
years, it promises to be exceptional. Score:
87
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Provenance
Vineyards 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon / Rutherford
Small berries produced a layered, highly structured wine.
When swirled in a glass, a cascade of aromas pour out with
black cherry, plum, and dark chocolate leading the way.
Notes of roast coffee, smoky oak, and vanilla follow. After
a sip, ripe dark berries and plum unfold into notes of chocolate,
mint, and creamy oak. The bold tannins linger on the dry,
cherry finish. Serve now with a Steak Au Poivre or an elegant
cheddar and save a bottle for the cellar, too.. Score:
89 |
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Quintessa
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon / Rutherford
Sourced from multiple Vineyard blocks, the fruit spent 18
months in medium toast French Oak. In a glass, bold aromas
of plum and black currents greet the senses, flowing into
the concentrated palate of black fruit, with vibrant accents
of cedar, coffee, chocolate, and sweet spice. Generous dusty
tannins provide a nice structure, which promises graceful
aging. Enjoy a bottle now, or cellar it for five years,
and see what awaits. Score:
90
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Raymond
Vineyards 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon / Rutherford
After a mild spring and summer, the fruit was picked in
mid-October and aged 18 months on new French Oak. With a
fall release, date the wine is still a bit young, but the
nose is rich with layers. Floral notes, with a ripe cherry
and plum backing mingle with bold smoky accents and hints
of herbs and spice. Dried cherry and currants come to the
forefront of the palate, with hints of oak and spice passing
through on the way to a dusty finish. Classic Rutherford,
indeed. Score:
90
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Riboli
Family Wine Estates |
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Riboli
Family Wine Estates 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon / Rutherford
Genuine Rutherford Cabernet blended with a splash of Petit
Verdot spent 24 months in French Oak. Allowed to open in
a glass, the wine reveals a layered bouquet of cherry, currents,
blackberry, and plum, with touches of oak, vanilla, and
coffee providing nice accents. Full-bodied with supple tannins,
this wine shows good promise for the cellar. Score:
87
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Round
Pound Estate 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon / Rutherford
The estate grown fruit was farmed sustainably using traditional
old-world methods as well as modern innovations. The wine
is rich with cherry, blackberry, plum, sweet spice, and
pepper rising out of a freshly swirled glass. On the palate,
plum and sweet blueberry move into hints of green herbs,
clove, and cocoa. This is a nicely balanced wine with a
promising structure for aging. Score:
89
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Rubicon
Estate 2006 Rubicon / Rutherford
100% Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon with a splash of Petit
Verdot and Cabernet Franc comprise the 2006 Rubicon, which
was aged in French Oak for 22 months. In a glass, its bouquet
is deep with layers of cherry, blackberry and currents flowing
into rich notes of chocolate, coffee, and a hint of tobacco.
A very nice structure and a nice jammy character make the
wine highly drinkable. Enjoy it now, or save it for the
cellar. Score:
90 |
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Sequoia
Grove 2006 Rutherford Bench Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon /
Rutherford
A blend of predominately Cabernet Sauvignon with the other
four Bordeaux varietals, it is unmistakably Rutherford.
Blackberry, burnt currant, and dark chocolate aromas rise
up from a glass with a lovely backdrop of dusty minerals.
The blackberry and currants return on the palate, with complicating
notes of vanilla, coffee, and cocoa. Rare grilled lamb or
juicy tri-tip would make excellent pairings.. Score:
88
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Staglin
Family Vineyard 2006 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon / Rutherford
Due for an October release, the 2006 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
is accented with a touch of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and
Petit Verdot. The nose is pack with bright cherry and red
plum aromas, with hints of cedar, chocolate, and cassis.
Lush plum and currants flavors unfold into sweet cherry,
dark chocolate, and notes of sweet, smoky earth. A thick,
juicy rib eye would compliment a bottle very nicely. Score:
87
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Sullivan
Vineyards 2006 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon / Rutherford
Blended in the tradition of France with Cabernet 75% Cabernet
Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, the wine presents
with a rich, layered nose. Strawberry, cherry, and blueberry
move into notes of spice, clove, and smoky cedar. A soft
palate of ripe red berries with hints of orange peal, earth,
and pepper is balance by a nice acidity. Grill up some succulent
short-ribs, and enjoy a bottle. Score:
89
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