Dear Wine Friend!
Unless you are new to my mailing list, by now you know I believe Piero Antinori's Napa Valley Antica Cabernet Sauvignon has established itself as one of the very finest values produced anywhere in California (reference my list of archived newsletters below). No, I am not on the payroll! I am a fan, past and present! Proof is in the bottle! But you need to try it, as the just released 2007 Antica Cabernet Sauvignon sets an even higher standard of excellence.
Napa Valley's Antica Cabernet Sauvignon has always been limited, allocated, and difficult to obtain for fine wine merchants and consumers alike. But should one really expect any less from one of the most successful wine families in the world, now in its 26th consecutive generation of winemaking?
The premiere 04 & 05 vintages were primarily marketed to only to the finest restaurants, and a few fortunate merchants. And then the 06 vintage was instantly in demand, and a collectible after Antica's Cabernet Sauvignon went off as the highest winning auction bid at the 2009 Napa Valley Wine Auction ($1.1 million).
The 2007 Antica Cabernet Sauvignon, from arguably the best northern California vintage in the last ten years, is in even greater demand since Robert Parker (The Wine Advocate) awarded it 94 points! Remarkably, the price remains unchanged from the distributor at just $57.95 a bottle. The Antinori family doesn't believe a higher price tag is an entitlement, even after only four successful vintages. Some of Napa Valley's overnight "culties" should take notice, especially those who posture with three digit price tags on early releases.
"The finest wine I have yet tasted from Piero Antinori's rocky hillside vineyard on Soda Canyon Road in southeast Napa, this 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon boasts a dense purple color along with a rich, sumptuous bouquet of licorice, creme de cassis, and smoky oak. This opulent, fleshy, full-bodied wine exhibits beautiful purity and concentrated fruit. It should age nicely for 15-20 years. Impressive ... and reasonably priced!" - 94 pts. Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate (Issue 186, Dec 09)
|
