2006 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon- USA, California, Napa Valley (8/4/2009)
Traci needed a glass of red wine after a strenuous evening of tacos and margaritas in Alameda…so I popped and poured this wine. Nose is rich and ripe with some menthol, ripe cassis/and dark raspberry along with a little coconut. The palate is big with more menthol (not offputting Aussie menthol), ripe fruit, vanilla, tobacco leaf. Deeply layered and very tasty…92+/100 (92 pts.)
Oh oh, I don’t like menthol. Not sure of the difference between Aussie menthol and Napa menthol. Have tasted both. Don’t like either. Yuk. Is it eucalyptus-like? (If so, double-yuk.) Tony, to your palate, are the 2007’s similar? Should I open a 2006 before committing to buy 2007?
Errol - I don’t like eucalyptus either and normally don’t like menthol but in this case it works in the wine…more mint than menthol really.
I don’t recall what the final blend was for the 2007 but i think it was more valley floor fruit than outpost (howell mtn) fruit…but I am operating from memory.
The 2007 components were very, very good at harvest and early on in barrel so I would definitely be a buyer.