Ministry of Vinterior Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
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The 2016 Ministry of the Vinterior Cabernet Sauvignon broods a deep burgundy color with flirty purple undertones. The nose is inviting with red currants, blackberries and a hint of blackberry. In the mouth, the wine reveals a sexy mix of black cherries, blackberries, pipe smoke and espresso tightly woven into a matrix of supple and broad tannins that layer the flavors densely and persistently on the tongue. The finish reveals a light touch of vanilla and caramel oak, lingering with a silkiness that invites another sip.
Try this stunning Napa Cab with a pan seared skirt steak served with garlic roasted potatoes and a wilted spinach salad with bacon.
In 2009, Elijah Pfister and Chris Nikolopoulos started a little import company called Maritime Wine Trading based in San Francisco. Given their proximity to Napa and Sonoma and their backgrounds in fine wine, the two were immediately inundated with requests by colleagues to make wines of their own from domestic grapes. With their growing network and proximity to great sources, it was simple enough to go into their “backyard” so to speak, and work with some of the best wines, grown and made by the best winemakers and from the top appellations in the world. The two partners got so good at sourcing and blending, they decided to make it a fulltime focus and purchased Nine North Wine Co from their friends based in Napa. Now they produce, market and sell the Nine North portfolio alongside the imported offering from Maritime nationally. Nine North Wine Company represents a varied portfolio of limited production, handcrafted wines from California, Oregon and Washington State. They specialize in offering exceptional quality and value across more than 15 bottlings, with prices that won’t dent your pocketbook.
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.
Reaching up California's coastline and into its valleys north of San Francisco, the North Coast AVA includes six counties: Marin, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake. While Napa and Sonoma enjoy most of the glory, the rest produce no shortage of quality wines in an intriguing and diverse range of styles.
Climbing up the state's rugged coastline, the chilly Marin County, just above the City and most of Sonoma County, as well as Mendocino County on the far north end of the North Coast successfully grow cool-climate varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and in some spots, Riesling. Inland Lake County, on the other hand, is considerably warmer, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc produce some impressive wines with affordable price tags.