Spring Mountain Vineyard Estate Reserve (stained label) 1996
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Robert
Parker
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
In 1996, a reserve cuvee had been produced, although it had not been named when I visited the winery. The 1996 Premier Reserve/Cellar Selection (850 cases from a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot) boasts an opaque purple color, followed by a textbook California Cabernet nose of mint, black currants, tobacco leaf, and spice. Dense, with dazzling fruit extract, full body, layers of concentration, moderate tannin, and a hefty, long but well-balanced finish, this appears to be slightly superior to the regular bottling, but it is in need of 4-5 years of cellaring. It should keep for 20-25 years.
Barrel Sample: 91-93
The upper most property on the estate, La Perla, was founded in 1873 by Charles Lemme and expanded by the Schilling Spice family. Originally 285 acres it had the first Cabernet Sauvignon planted on Spring Mountain. The old winery remains today along with much of its original equipment and horse drawn carriages and wagons. Immediately below La Perla, and eventually added to it was the first vineyard planted by Fredrick and Jacob Beringer in 1882. These terraced hillsides were planted in a wide assortment of grape varieties to support the Beringer brothers fledgling winery.
Adjoining to the north of the Beringer vineyard was a Frenchman, Fortune Chevalier, whose stone winery, Chateau Chevalier, was making wine in 1891. And finally, next door to Chevalier was Tiburcio Parrott who grew olives, citrus and grapes. Parrott built a grand home on the estate which he named Miravalle.