Cardinale Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
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Winemaker Notes
Cardinale is more than one wine - it is several wines from disparate mountain and benchland vineyards along the Mayacamas and Vaca ranges that surround Napa Valley. Every bottle reveals the artistic sensibility of the winemaker, each vineyard lot fused into a seamless blend in which you can sense the constituent parts, but still taste them as one wine. Our philosophy is guided by the pursuit of grape selectivity in the vineyard, gentlehandling and the ability to accommodate the different winemaking needs of each vintage.
"In the late 1980's an elite group of musicians called The Traveling Wilburys was formed. Itconsisted of musicians like Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, George Harrison and Roy Orbison. Each werelegends in their own right, yet together they formed a band that layered the musicians' individualsounds and created a harmony that spoke to the times. Cardinale mirrors that unique fusion in a wine as the 2006 captures and harmonizes the expressive tones of each vineyard source. The expansive aromatic comes through first with Mt. Veeder's dark fruit and minerality followed by Howell Mountain freshly brewed French roast and a hint of Stag's Leap cassis. The palate conveys the floral tones of Spring Mountain, the lushness of Oakville's To Kalon and the backbone of Mt. Veeder."Christopher Carpenter, Cardinale Winemaker
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Tasted in a flight of great and famous Napa wines, this cardinale stood at the head of the pack. Starts with a very fine nose of cedar, cassis, ripe blackberries and violets, then turns dramatic and refined in the mouth. Shows vast depth and length, with the finish a full minute of sweet fruits and spices. Marvelous tannins, so plush and elegant, so powerful yet refined. The grapes hail from Mt. Veeder, Howell Mountain, Stags Leap and Oakville, and the blend contains 14% Merlot. As good as it is now, it will improve for at least eight years. Cellar Selection.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A sumptuous bouquet of cedarwood, black cherries, black currants, licorice, and wet rocks/crushed stones give way to a broad, opulent, fleshy wine offering sweet tannin, abundant quantities of sexy, ripe fruit, a full-bodied, layered mouthfeel, and a velvety finish. This is an atypically sumptuous 2006 that should drink well for 15-20 years. Kudos to winemaker Christopher Carpenter for this brilliant effort. Rating: 94+
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Tasting Panel
(an 86/14 blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot) Ruby-red. Complex aromas of blackcurrant, plum, dark chocolate and minerals. Silky on entry, then broad, young and nuanced in the middle, with moderately dense, energetic flavors of black cherry, cassis and menthol. Finishes with a broad dusting of tannins and lovely lingering fruit. This is mostly from a blend of mountain properties owned by Jackson Family Farms, with Mt. Veeder fruit used as a natural acidification.
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One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.