
Tried to post twice to the website, but no luck? !
March 09, 2010
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2007 OBSIDIAN
RIDGE
CABERNET
SAUVIGNON |
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Dear Wine Friend!
Did you purchase the 2004 Obsidian
Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon from me when I named
it the "Best Cabernet Value
of the Year" at the end of 2006? PROOF is
in the bottle! Lucky you, if there
is any remaining in your cellar. This
would be a great time to retaste and discover how this
vineyard is indeed a special
place! Not to mention, the wine remains an
absolute BARGAIN!
Over the last ten years
a land rush for vineyard sites by the "Who's Who" of
Napa and Sonoma wineries has occurred in the Red
Hills AVA. Extending into Lake
Country at the northern end of the Mayacamas Mountain
range separating Napa from Sonoma, the appellation
is aptly named for its steeply inclined volcanic burnt
orange-red soils. Situated at a lofty 2,640 ft.
elevation, Obsidian Ridge Vineyard is a former walnut
orchard profusely littered with behemoth to shard
sizeed black volcanic glass. When we
recently sampled the just
released 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon in a
tasting last week at San Francisco's Jardinere restaurant,
a stunning 40 pound specimen of polished
black obsidian from the vineyard was
being proudly displayed on the tasting
table.
JUST
RELEASED!
The wine was pretty damn
stunning too! A
real black
beauty! In January the
highly regarded San Francisco
Chronicle Wine Competition awarded the 2007
Cabernet Sauvignon "Best of Class" & "Judge's
Choice". Yes, Obsidian Ridge
Cabernet Sauvignon is now receiving overdue
recognition from the wine
world.
I will be the first to admit, the wine needs
decanting and aeration! You can speed up the
process by vigorously exchanging the wine
back-and-forth from one decanter to the next 3 or 4
times. Even give it a good shaking for a few
seconds! And repeat again. Sediment is not
the issue at this early stage, but the wine's aromas are
"closed", or a little shy when first opened and need some
coaxing. Or as I like to say, decant at breakfast
to have for dinner!
This wine is far more than the obvious black
cherry-cassis fruit component found in a formidable Cabernet
Sauvignon (97%). Entwined with the fruit aromas are
nuances of black leather, or boot polish; call it a
loamy minerality. Hints of dried herbs, maybe fennel (?),
a lick of black licorice, and a touch
of bark spice, all add to the intrigue. The wine's
heft is full on the palate, intense, but not
ponderous. Fresh and balanced. Ample, but
integrated tannins help define the varietal
character that should be found in youthful Cabernet
Sauvignon. The wine spent 18
months in 50% new Kádár Hungarian
oak.
THE REAL DEAL!
In 2007 the Red Hills
AVA was stressed by dry heat and
winds towards the end of the growing
season. Because of Obsidian Ridge's high elevation
and exposure, its unusually extreme diurnal temperature
range (colder nights and hot days) was key
to providing the extra hangtime needed to
gain unprecedented physiological ripeness, while
maintaining natural acid balance in the
fruit.
BEST NEWS IS
THE PRICE
REMAINS THE SAME!
$27.95 A BOTTLE
LIMITED TIME OFFER!
ORDER 3+ BOTTLES
$22.50
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JUST REPLY
DIRECTLY TO THIS NEWSLETTER TO ORDER!
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Eric
Stumpf
Renee
Kroeger
8039
Greenback Lane, Citrus Heights, CA
95610
(916)
721-WINE (9463)
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The Wine Consultant | 8039
Greenback Lane | Citrus Heights | CA |
95610 |
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