Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A complex nose of smoke, grilled meats, dark fruits, asphalt, and lead pencil. Full bodied, with super fine tannins, fresh acidity and a long complex and fruity finish. This is all about complexity and finesse. Already coming out and drinking wonderfully now.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard is a surprisingly soft, round, delicious wine that, while quite backward and tannic last year, now seems to be up-front, forward, and easy to drink. Much lighter than I remember, with less color saturation, the wine has a dark plum/ruby color and an attractive nose of red currants, cherries, and black currants, with some loamy soil notes and hints of licorice. It is mid-weight, medium-bodied, and ideal for drinking now and over the next 12-14 years.
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Wine Spectator
Fresh mint, bay leaf, anise and savory herb notes highlight the aromas, which also feature supple plum, cranberry and red currant flavors that are dense and focused, if limited in scope. The minty bay leaf scents remain, and this offers an elegant body that makes for a graceful drink. Has aged as predicted.—2006 California Cabernet blind retrospective (December 2015). Drink now through 2020.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
One of Napa Valley’s oldest wine growing subregions but last to gain appellation status, Calistoga occupies the northernmost section of the valley. Beginning at the foot of Mount St. Helena, its vineyards stretch over steep canyons and roll out onto the valley floor. The soils in Calistoga are volcanic, which means they are heavy in minerals, low in organic matter and allow good drainage for vine roots, creating less green growth and more concentration of flavor within the grape berries.
Summer days are very hot but most nights cool down with moist ocean breezes sneaking in over the Mayacamas Mountains or from Knights Valley to its northwest.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the area’s star variety with Zinfandel coming in a strong second, though the latter commands far less price per tonnage so continues to be outshined by Cabernet in vineyard acreage, save for some important exceptions.