Dumas ‘Neighbors Vineyard’ Reserve Cabernet 2006

Dumas Cabernet

Everything about this sophisticated wine impresses from the beginning including the dense purple color, the aromas of lavender and creme de cassis, and the ULTRA silky smooth texture. Captivating flavors include a  luscious symphony of ripe plums, blackberries, and deep dark chocolate and mocha in the mid-palate. The sensuous finish crescendos with a hint of savory spices including truffle, cherries and flawlessly integrated toasty oak flavors that bode well for aging at least 5 – 7 years; peaking around 2014 in our estimate. BRAVO! 95+ points. Only 56 cases bottled” THE WINE INSIDERS

BUY: Dumas ‘Neighbors Vineyard’ Reserve Cabernet 2006

Chateau Boswell Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve 2006 – 95 points

A blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot, this wine has aromas of cassis, new leather and mocha. Dense, creamy-sweet and juicy, with excellent concentration to its luscious flavors of dark berries and semi-sweet chocolate. This grand creation features ultra luscious fruit flavors deftly melded together with plush tannins that bode well for long term cellaring (if you can wait). Enjoy tonight, after decanting an hour, or anytime over the next 7 – 10 years, peaking around 2014. Hurry because I plan to stock a few bottles in my personal cellar! 95 points

BUY: Chateau Boswell Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve 2006

Shelter Cabernet.

Shelter Cabernet

The holy grail for many Cabernet collectors might be something like finding a Cult Cabernet at less than 1/2 the auction price. While that is unlikely to happen given the demand for those wines, we have discovered a new wine – Shelter “The Butcher” 2005 Cabernet – that makes us feel like we have found just such a thing.
We rated this impeccable wine 95 points originally but are prepared to raise the rating after now having tasted the actual bottling. The truth is we do get a bit nervous when we exalt the virtues of a new wine without have a long history with the winery. In the past, we have fallen in love with a winery “sample” only to later feel duped when the real bottles arrive and bear no resemblance to the juice we adored. The Shelter is even more impressive than we remember from our tasting. Everything starting from the aromas to the depth of flavors to the finish is memorable. (All humility aside) we really have been fortunate to sample enough of the so-called Cult Cabernet to know that serious wine collectors are going to flip out over this wine.

TASTING NOTES:
Dense purple in color, with a nose of graphite, dark berries, creme de cassis, and hints of truffle, the wine shows remarkable fruit intensity, cocoa powder, tobacco, dense body, sweet and plushy tannins, vibrant acidity, and a stunning, seamless, long finish that last a full 60 seconds. We predict this wine will deliver a captivating experience over the next decade, peaking around 2012 in our estimate. 95 points.

BUY: Shelter Cabernet Sauvignon ‘The Butcher’ 2005

Comparing Pahlmeyer’s Cabernet Blends – Old And New.

Pahlmeyer Cabernet

On Valentines night, my wife and I popped a cork of the 2002 Pahlmeyer. I’m thrilled to report that this wine was truly stunning, fulfilling my highest expectations for a “perfectly aged” Napa Cabernet. It’s no secret that the concept of “drinks well now but ages well” is considered the ‘Holy Grail’ in Napa (+ worldwide). Everyone aspires to this hurdle but very few actually achieve this success. Pahlmeyer’s winemaker Erin Green has a long track record of fulfilling the promise of age-worthy red wines (and some Chardonnays).

One of my ‘first loves’ in the wine world was the 1997 Pahlmeyer Merlot and the Cabernet (bottled ‘Red Blend’) has always been a personal favorite. I must say that for my individual tastes, I rarely swoon over the Cabernet blend upon release. In fact, the latest release 2005 vintage has achieved the highest rating ever (from Robert Parker) for a Pahlmeyer Red. I can only dream that the 2005 will age into the grandeur of the 2002 we drank recently. The entire experience was seemless with integrated, silky smooth tannins that had melded together with a galaxy of dark fruit flavors that delivered a magnificent experience! When I origanally sampled, I rated this wine 95 points. Today, this wine is clearly a 98 point wine!

Shelter Cabernet ‘The Butcher’ 2005 – 95 Points.

Shelter Cabernet

Dense purple in color, with a nose of graphite, dark berries, creme de cassis, and hints of truffle, the wine shows incredible fruit intensity, cocoa powder, tobacco, full body, sweet and plushy tannins, vibrant acidity, and a stunning, seamless, long finish. 95 points
About Shelter Wines:
The Shelter label was created when the two former sommeliers from a world famous Napa restaurant in Napa were approached by one of their high-profile cult winemaker friends. This unnamed winemaker had some extra wine which was identical to their top Cabernet. Rather than raise their production and go through the hassle of re-bottling, ordering new labels, capsules, etc–they decided to sell it in bottle to be re-corked as the Shelter Wine Co. The wine “Shelter” sells for 1/2 to 1/3 of the price of the identical wine bottled by this unknown producer. It is a wine for those customers who know quality Cult Cabernet when they taste it, but would rather drink a wine for a fraction of the price than pay extra just for the renowned label.