Von Strasser Diamond Mountain Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
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Blend: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec
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Wine Enthusiast
A brilliant wine that shows the world how delicious young Napa Valley Cabernet can be. Just dazzles with the richness and purity of blackberry, mocha, leather and cedar flavors, with a finish you can measure in minutes. Bordeaux yearns for such ripeness. Terrific now and through 2015.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Any who might doubt the reality of terroir need look no further than these Von Strasser lovelies, for, while all show the same, similarly careful winemaking hand, each of the wines is discrete and speak with their own voice. This particular bottling shows a slight boost in muscle with loads of extracted fruit and distinctive touches of walnuts, coffee and olives. If moderately tannic and nowhere near ready to drink, it nonetheless shows glimmers of layering that invites a second and third sip. It is so carefully balanced and free of coarseness that we could see it being enjoyed in just a few years, but it has a long life ahead of it and our bets are that it will improve for a decade of more.
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Parker
Robert
Situated on Diamond Mountain in Napa Valley, the Von Strasser estate maintains six separate vineyards. When Rudy and Rita Von Strasser purchased the old Roddis Winery in 1990, the vineyards were planted in two stages. The oldest block, 2 acres in size, was planted in 1970 to budwood from Martha’s Vineyard. The second block, 4 acres in size, was planted in 1983, also with budwood from Martha’s Vineyard. In 1991, the von Strasser’s embarked upon a vineyard modernization, changing the entire vineyard to a high density, vertical trellis system. An acre of Petit Verdot was planted that year with an eye towards its future use in a unique Reserve bottling. In 1998, a new piece of hillside land was cleared and planted to vineyard. Today, the property consists of Cabernet Sauvignon (12 acres), Petit Verdot (2 acres), and Merlot (1 acre).
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.