Tasting Notes
Vinous 91+
Bright medium ruby. Captivating, pungent aromas of raspberry, Bing cherry, blood orange and flowers, plus a hint of mocha. Much more tightly wound than when I tasted it shortly after the bottling, displaying a pure raspberry puree flavor complemented by underlying savory minerality. Not opulent or fleshy but has no shortage of mid-palate stuffing. Boasts lovely purity and thrust, finishing with reasonably ripe tannins, hints of pepper and herbs and repeating minerality. Shows the coolness of this very late harvest but the fruit is ripe. (14.7% alcohol; 95% new oak)
Anticipated maturity: 2023-2036
Robert Parker 89
Made in a much lighter style, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvee is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 18 months in French oak. It offers up notes of cedarwood, tobacco leaf, underbrush and red and black currants. Medium-bodied with soft tannin and low acidity, it will need to be drunk over the next 7-8 years. One of my favorite small wineries in Napa Valley, Lail Vineyards produces the most singular and distinctive Sauvignon Blanc in Napa. Although it’s expensive, it is a delicious Sauvignon modeled after a great white Graves, and is meant for long-term cellaring. In most vintages, around 300 cases are produced. Lail’s less expensive Cabernet Sauvignon, Blueprint, comes from four to six different appellations, ranging from the cooler Yountville and Coombsville areas in southern Napa Valley, to mountain vineyards such as Howell Mountain and further north to the warmest region of Napa Valley, Calistoga. The wine spends 18 months in French oak, of which about half is new. Tel. (707) 968-9900
Anticipated maturity: 2013-2021
