Aurielle Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Cabernet Sauvignon
from Napa Valley, California
winemaker's notes:
The 2008 Aurielle Cabernet Sauvignon is a terroir driven 100% California mountain cabernet sourced from the same grapes as previous vintages with a new Howell Mountain component.
2008 Aurielle Cabernet Sauvignon is a vibrant plum color with good clarity. Upon opening there is a distinct nose of orange peel and cinnamon resins due to the time the wine has been allowed to age in the bottle. A scent of heated stone, clay earth and spicy florals undulates to cherries, plums, cassis and a lingering of red berries.
Balanced flavors of cassis, plum, black cherry, tobacco and leather course across the sides of the tongue, up to the cedar and vanilla in the back of the mouth, to a bright finish of spice at the front again.
Mouthfeel is rich and velvety with firm, fine-grained tannins that provide excellent structure. It matches particularly well with garlic, rosemary, sage and nutty, aged-cheeses like pecorino-romano. It can be savored by itself or its leaner balanced acidity pairs well with grilled meats, gourmet burgers, rich seafoods (salmon), risottos, cream based sauces, charcuterie and cheese courses.
While accessible now, the wine will reward those with the patience to cellar it with increasing complexity, smoothness and character for a decade or so.
critical acclaim:
"Rich and complex, deep and boasting plenty of still youthful yet outgoing curranty fruit, this wine is about as close to classic as a wine of its size and expressiveness is likely to get. Its keen focus on varietal character is matched by the supportive, wonderfully complementary oak in its makeup, and if a wine of size, it is also a wine of great sophistication. That it comes with a fairly evident wash of latter palate tannins is neither a surprise nor a problem because the wine's depth is matched to its lean underlying sense of balance. A decade or more of growth would seem to be in the offing with this one."
94 Points
Connoisseurs' Guide
"Aurielle’s Cabernets have been consistent over the years, offering lots of ripe, modern-style blackberry, blueberry, dark chocolate and oak flavors in a wine that’s drinkable now. This ’08 is quite stylish and elegant despite the power, with near-perfect tannins. You could age it, but it’s really best enjoyed for flashy, youthful richness."
92 Points
Wine Enthusiast
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