Deep red. Nose opens with overtly sweet oak character, but somehow infuses itself with deep cassis fruit. Dried oak stave, tobacco, and wet cement. Classic New World Cab nose - no hints of green here. Palate is dense, but polished and has a sense of elegance with taut acidity. Some heat definitely shows. Fine tannin, but brawny. Oak completely dominates long finish. Oak intensity is subdued with decanting time. Enjoyed this with Austalian rack of lamb, but without a serious a hunk of meat, not sure what to do with this wine - maybe an intense stinky blue cheese? Don't usually go for oak bombs like this, but preferred it to the '05 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon, which seemed light in comparison.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec.
$37
B
Friday, June 12, 2009
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