TN: 2009 Cresta Velia Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain)

WINE TALK
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  • 2009 Cresta Velia Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain (5/12/2013)
    Decanted into a wide bottom decanter for about 30 minutes. Very dark in color. Good strong red fruit, meatyness and dept of flavor, smooth balanced finish. No heat from unbalanced alcohol. Miles to go before it peaks.

This wine is a project of John Giannini, as assistant winemaker under Thomas Rivers Brown. We met John when we went to Outpost last year for a tasting and he let us try his new project. He said we were the first non-employees who had a chance to taste it. We loved it and ordered six of them. This is the first one we opened. Shared it with other family members and they really enjoyed it. We had it just before a Ridge 100% zin, and compared to this, that tasted must too sweet and creamy to me. This is “just” an outstanding, balanced, solid Cali Cab that has has all of the strength and power without any excesses. (91 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

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I received an email from Outpost yesterday introducing the Cresta Velia wines. I clicked on the winery’s website (http://www.crestavelia.com), and it looks like the 2010 and 2011 are for sale.

Does anyone have any experience with either vintage, or have any more insight into the wine being produced by Cresta Velia?

Thanks

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I have had the 2009 several times (spot on note Jay), and drank my first 10 last week. It was very young, tight and promising. Happy I have three more.
2011 on Howell Mountain is fabulous.

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Thanks. I like giving the “new guy” a chance, especially at that price point.