Winemaker Notes
The 2008 vintage of Cariad Red wine is savory straight out of the glass thanks to the old vine Cabernet. Dark aromas of barbecue rub, broiled steak and black licorice infuse the wine. The Madrona Ranch components of the blend bring a vivid gravel and mineral graphite quality to the wine. Nuances of musk and clove of the Petit Verdot add intrigue to the nose. This wine has a deliciously layered texture on the entry, yet to me it also has the structure of a great first growth. As the Cariad ages, its aromas in particular become more and more complex, so we recommend a minimum of 5 to 7 years of aging in the cellar. The wine will then age for 20 or more years
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This shows such amazing aromas of porcini mushrooms with dark fruits and Chinese tea and smoke. Decadent. Changes all the time. Exotic. Full-bodied, with a round and soft texture. Long and very intense with fabulous fruit. So much going on. 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot 7% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot. Hard not to enjoy now but will improve with age.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Originally rated 95+, this dense opaque purple-colored blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot exhibits notes of chocolate fudge, mocha, black cherry, blackberry, licorice, smoke and toasty oak. Dense, full-bodied and chewy, it has not yet begun to reveal the nuances and complexity of other Cariad vintages. While it is a big, rich effort, I think it will develop along the lines of the 2000 and 2003, rather than reach the super qualitative level such as 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
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Wine Spectator
Aromas of ripe blueberry, strawberry and red currant are engagingly complex and supple in this Cabernet blend, which is full-bodied, graceful and elegant, ending with a long seamless finish that picks up a touch of gravel and tobacco leaf. 54 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2022.
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.