Havens Bourriquot 2004
-
Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The 2004 Bourriquot shows lovely ripe Franc character, heading more into the cedary aromas, then blueberry and mineral range of flavors than the cooler-year tobacco. It has a full, sweet entry, then fine, firm tannins, and a presence that continues into a long finish—the mark of good Cabernet Franc. This wine shows how 2004 is the year that proves out winegrower care in the vineyard.
"A Cheval Blanc look-alike, the 2004 Bourriquot (70% Cabernet Franc and 30% Merlot) is an elegant, savory, deep ruby/purple-colored wine revealing spicy, menthol, raspberry, blueberry, and incense notes. Medium to full-bodied with sweet tannin, it is a lovely finesse-styled red that should drink nicely for 10-15 years." 90 Points,
Wine Advocate
December 2007
Professional Ratings
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Havens Wine Cellars is located just south of Yountville and a short quieting drive off Highway 29, Napa Valley’s main winery tour route. The pastoral 10-acre site located on the Mayacamas benchland includes a 7½ acre vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah grapes lovingly tended.
Our own estate vineyard on Hoffman Lane, planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah, is an interesting variation on the south Napa Valley vineyard characteristics we value so much. First, we are actually in a little warmer spot here than many of our other vineyards because we sit close to the Mayacamas foothills, slightly in their lee from the prevailing south wind. This means that our daily cooling from the marine airflow is a bit delayed, keeping us warmer for an hour or two longer than vineyards even a few miles east. On the other hand, since we sit on the east-facing slope, we don’t get the full heat of the afternoon sun like vineyards just across the Valley, five miles away in the Stags Leap District. All this combines to define what is called the “diurnal range,” or the daily swing of temperature and wind, and we think it is the single most important factor in a vineyard’s terroir. Our soils here on Hoffman Lane are deep, but include a lot of gravel in the clay loam, and thus they can dry out quickly without drip irrigation. We are still learning the subtleties of farming this site, but have found Syrah here especially well-adapted to the place.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.