Miner Family The Oracle 2009
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Parker
Robert -
Guide
Connoisseurs'
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Blend: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot, 5% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2009 The Oracle is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot, 5% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet colored, the nose delivers loads of savory/earthy/meaty characters to begin, opening to reveal a core of crème de cassis and plum preserves plus hints of chargrill, truffles and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a sturdy structure and bags of savory-laced black fruit, finishing on a stewed tea note.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
There is a good deal of character to this ample, fairly full-bodied effort not the least of which is a full measure of curranty fruit, a bit of briary spice and plenty of creamy, vanilla-bean oak. There is more than a bit of youthful tannin at work too, yet even though a touch rough and ragged at the finish, the wine ends on a positive note as its basic fruit emerges unscathed. It is not long on manners just now, but will find some much needed smoothing with age, and it is best left alone for six to eight years.
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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.