1995 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard- USA, California, Napa Valley (7/30/2018)
I know. Clayfu drinking some youngish napa “cult” cab?!? Who stole his IG account and how much Juge is being demanded for ransom?!?
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I’m not sure the wine has aged in the last 8 years. It’s a full scale wine with intense concentration of dark fruit. The only thing that even gives a hint to its age is the fact that there’s the slightest hint of tobacco starting to seep in on the end of the wine and that it’s surprisingly silky as the tannin is present but unobtrusive . A nice shot of acidity keeps the fruit lively. Blind this on me and I’d have guessed a 2007. It’s not a big oak fruit bomb at all, there’s no chocolate syrup, obtrusive oak or vanilla. It’s just a ton of ripe extracted fruit wrapped in a dark robe of structure to support it. (shout out to jll). I imagine this thing goes the distance.
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Sidebar: looking at the ol Parker’s notes it sounded like the wine started out as a big fruit oak bomb (Vanilla, full bodied and extremely rich, coffee, toast). It’s integrated quite nicely since then. Gives me hope for all the other fruit bomb - 100% new oak cult Cali wines being made today.
I said it gives me hope those will evolve, not that they will evolve and lose all that oak, chocolate and vanilla. If you read the note by Parker, it sounds just like a current release. I think getting too focused on the alcohol % when it’s just one data point.
“Saturated purple/black”
“sweet vanilla”
“Coffee & Toast”
“Extraordinary power and richness”
“Full bodied and extremely rich”
I guess I’m just thinking of how those descriptors meant something slightly different with and after the 97s, which most agree really pushed the ripeness boundaries. Not getting wrapped up in ABV %s at all.
Considering that many would consider that Eisele is the premier Napa Valley vineyard, the thread title would classify as a backhanded compliment to the extreme. The one misstep that Phelps made, not acquiring Eisele.
Also had the good fortune of trying this…took half the bottle home and it was singing two days later. Even on day 4, after leaving the bottle on my counter uncorked over night, it was still going. I think this wine is indestructible. Makes me want to try more Tony Soter wines. It wasn’t jammy at all, but I’m a believer in heavily oaked wines lending the ability of extended aging, given enough acidity, etc.
I understand the LaTour folks, who now own Eisele and are no longer associated with the Araujo name, are making a different style of wine from “a big Napa Cab.” I have not tasted them, but know a couple of good palates who have told me this.
Bart and Daphne Araujo’s new wine venture is called Accendo. They call it “Araujo 2.0” lol. Francoise Peschon, MIchel Rolland as winemakers, Steve Matthiasson as the vineyard consultant.
Last time I was in Napa I visited Wheeler Farms to taste Vice Versa, and they mentioned Accendo is made there as well.
Yes, it’s a big change. Veteran Chateau Latour folks, with Hélène Mingot as winemaker. We tasted a vertical for an early look. '12 was the transition wine. The declassified the new barrels, so it’s midway to the new classic style. The new barrels went to the Altagracia, which is soft toasty blueberry. '13-'15 are very structured and classic. Very impressive all that they’re doing.