Showket Cabernet Sauvignon 1999
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Other Vintages
2003-
Wine
Enthusiast
-
Wine
Enthusiast
-
Wine
Spectator -
Robert
Parker
The soils of Oakville are known to be one of the top winegrowing regions in the world for Cabernet Sauvignon. The concentration of cult wineries in this area is a testament to the high quality of wines this part of the world can produce. Within the Oakville appellation, Showket Vineyards with an elevation of approximately 600 feet is perched in the hills above Silverado Trail. With neighbors like Dalle Valle, Vine Cliff, Phelps’ Backus vineyard, Oakville Ranch, Turnbull’s Weitz Vineyard and sitting above Screaming Eagle and Rudd Estate—this is undeniable prime Cabernet real estate. Before producing wines under their own label, the Showkets sold some of their fruit to top wineries like Caymus, Dalle Valle, and Shafer. The vineyard’s pedigree is unquestionable.
The vineyard, which is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Sangiovese experiences slightly cooler temperatures in the summer than the valley floor and slightly warmer ones in the winter. Because of the elevation and orientation of the vineyard no frost protection is required. The soil is clay-loam type that is very rocky. The vines are stressed sufficiently to produce excellent wines. The tonnage is considerably less than what vines produce on the valley floor giving intensity in flavor that can only be produced in such a pristine hillside vineyard. Dorothy and Kal Showket are committed to giving respect to their unique property and handcrafting red wines of great quality and distinction.
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.
Home to some of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon in America, Napa Valley’s Oakville district stretches across the center of Napa's valley floor and foothills between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. This AVA is home to the legendary To Kalon Vineyard and Martha's Vineyard, as well as many powerhouse wineries including Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Far Niente and Groth.
The climate is generally warm and agreeable, resulting in year after year of favorable vintages. Summer days see a gentle tug of war between warmer inland air and the cool air coming in from the San Pablo Bay, creating an ideal environment to grow red varieties. Oakville's diverse soils, namely ancient sea bedrock, clay and gravel, are well-drained, and perfect for high-caliber viticulture.
Cabernet here is often bottled varietally but is also popular in Bordeaux Blends. Oakville wines are known for their silky, sensual textures, structured tannins, dark and brooding fruit and lovely aromatics. These age-worthy and prestigious wines are favored by collectors throughout the world.