Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Gorgeous, refined and supple, this is our flagship wine from a vintage defined by elegance and grace – picture a dancer. The 2006 growing season started with a mild spring but finished with an usually dry, hot summer. This led to earlier-than-usual flavor maturity, and while we had hoped for the corresponding lower-than-normal sugar levels as well, the result was actually the development of bright higher tone characters and a beautiful clear fruit profile. A good splash of Merlot adds roundness and silkiness, and the bright fruit lends itself to a smooth, polished mid-palate. These elements make for a pretty, lush wine that is approachable and delicious upon release. The age of the vines, seventy-five percent of which are twenty years or older, contributes to its aging potential.

Classic Cabernet Sauvignon characteristics combine with mulberry, creamy boysenberry, and vanilla in a wine that isn't as dark and tannic as 2005, but has every bit as much personality. We are very happy with this Cabernet Sauvignon, and while it is drinking really well even in its youth, we look forward to enjoying it for years to come.

The music on this one was simple. To me, the wine has many different layers and nuances that need a classic album, filled with subtlety and detail, like Pink Floyd's The Wall. Their signature flying pigs at their concerts make me think of the "pig plate" at Higgins Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. For lighter fare, I would pair this wine with a ginger-beef salad or a grilled pork chop with a root-vegetable gratin. Never underestimate the power of the root vegetable, which pigs love too!