TN: 2006 Lewelling Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena)

WINE TALK
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  • 2006 Lewelling Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (11/30/2009)
    Another beautiful wine from Lewelling. I’m continually amazed at the early approachability of these Estate Cabs, and it’s a joy to drink them while I wait for the Wights to emerge and develop. Just a touch of heat on the nose that quickly blew off, beautiful red and black fruits, cassis, subtle spiciness and earthiness as well on the nose. On the palate, this is where Lewelling Estate Cabs shine for me - the silkiness is just beautiful immediately, and continues even to the finish - so well balanced and seamless, it could have a terrible flavor profile and STILL be hugely enjoyable, just for that silky mouthfeel - as soft as a rose petal, not heavy like satin. Fruit is vibrant, good acidity, large, round tannic structure - fantastic with a wide variety of foods, even spicy foods. I heart Lewelling, period. (95 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

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thanks for your note, Todd. if i had any more than $0 to spend on wine right now, i’d pop for some of these. flirtysmile 95 points is a whole lotta heart!! flirtysmile

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I’d seriously consider selling every other cab I have in my cellar and buying ONLY these Lewelling two packs, assuming the Wights will shine after some cellaring…it’s damn near the perfect cab for my preferences. I went with 95 points because I was going to put 94 but figured Jordan Whitehead would bitch and moan because my descriptors seem like a 95 point wine, not a 94, ‘so where’s the loss of the point?’

Maybe all Lewelling and a few nice older CA cabs…and that’s all I need!

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Earlier this year, I bogarted the last 2/3 of a '98 Wight at somebody’s birthday party – it was one of numerous bottles on the table, and for some inexplicable reason nobody was touching it. I’d never had a Lewelling before, let alone one of their Wights; despite the fact that we were basically on our way out, I refused to leave until that bottle was dry. I’ve since discovered that '98 was, quite possibly, their weakest vintage. I was head-over-heels for that wine, and can hardly imagine the magic they pull-off in better vintages. Needless to say, I had a whole lotta heart going on when I got off their waiting list this year. … now, I just have to find some way to keep my grubbies off 'em for at least 10 years!*##%@!!

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THAT’S WHAT THE ESTATE CABS ARE FOR!

Wow I’m lovin’ these estate cabs, and you can enjoy the bejezus out of them until the Wights are ready!

I’ll have to look for your name at some future Offline or Berserkerfest that I am attending and be sure to bring a bottle. We can sit in a corner and down it!

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[thumbs-up.gif] i’ll wear an extra drop of pheromone to help draw you and your lewelling my way any day [thumbs-up.gif]

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I am shocked. I thought you were a senior officer in the “wines without flavor” brigade. Seriously, I’m glad you took one for the team and now I have to tee one up to try soon. Do you really think this is drinkable now? The first ones I bought were the 2006s and I planned to put them in storage for at least a few years.

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Nice note, Todd, but forgive me, if you dump all of your other cabs, how will you measure your cab against all others? By height?

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C’mon Mike! You know you measure wine quality by weight [training.gif] [training.gif] not height…heavier bottles=better wine!

Cheers!
Marshall

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Mr. Gelb, I stand corrected!

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Jay, abso-frickin-lutely is it ready to drink! The great showing of the '05 Estate got me prompted to open the '06, and I think it was Jack Bulkin who told me to crack the ‘05 because it was kickin’, and it was. This one just as well.

These are not ‘flavor bombs’ that I know you prefer - it’s not Pride, or anything big of the sort. It’s a very elegant, soft, but complex cab, so it’s right up my alley. Rather than a big cab, I’d call it an elegant one.

Go ahead, crack one, and see! I HEART LEWELLING

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Ok, Mr. Frenchie, I will be making a foray to WineX today to pick up a bottle of this…my first effort to calibrate my palate to yours. If I don’t like it, will you buy back from me what I don’t drink???

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Absolutely!!! (but not if you overpaid for it)

I’m quite confident you’ll love it. Has there been anyone on here who did NOT like an Estate Lewelling cab? (the Wight is more polarizing, but that’s because of the 100% new oak treatment, which means hands OFF for some years)

Did I mention I heart Lewelling yet?

flirtysmile

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Does $39.99 seem ok, loverboy??

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DAYUM! That’s a great price! I might have to pick up some more! Which vintage?

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2006… want me to pick some up for you?? call it in. I’ll pick it up…

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Not unless I sell some of my other stuff - but for you, if you feel ‘stuck’ with wine you don’t like, I’ll buy it from you. I have some wine there, maybe you should pick it up for me - then I’ll be forced to drink with you again soon!

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Six times.
Baller. [berserker.gif]

How does it compare to Le Pin? [stirthepothal.gif]

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I told you while driving through Napa that the 05 was ready and that the 06 that I had tasted the day before was even better.
Nice you didn’t hit us with another “at least ‘you’ still post here” Pobega. [whistle.gif]

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???