2009 Croze Cabernet Sauvignon

It’s not every day you can try a wine that was recently bottled by the wine maker and then try it again a few years later.   We had the opportunity in May 2012.  We hosted a barbecue with our friends in Napa at the house we rent in Napa.  Chris, Heather, Dave and I provided the food and we asked our friends to bring wine to share.  Gary and Suzanne (previous vintner/owners) of Croze and Smith Wooton brought a couple bottles of wine including the recent bottling of the 2009 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon.

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When ever you bottle a wine it will conduct bottle shock.  Bottle-shock or Bottle-sickness is a temporary condition of wine characterized by muted or disjointed fruit flavors. It often occurs immediately after bottling or when wines (usually fragile wines) are given an additional dose of sulfur (in the form of sulfur dioxide or sulfite solution), and are subject to other forms of handling and transport. After a few weeks, the condition usually disappears.  Gary expressed concern that the wine might be experiencing bottle shock.  We all were willing to take the chance so we gave it a try.

I had my tasting sheets ready for everyone to take notes as we tried the newly bottled Rutherford fruit.  It was fun watching people take sips and make notes.  Sight; deep color depth, purple hue.  Most thought the aromas were closed but a few thought cherry, chocolate, pepper.  Tasting; dry, slightly tart, astringent, long finish.

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Here are my notes after two additional years in the bottle.

Sight
Deep color depth, purple hue.

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Smell
Very aromatic, young-fruity.  I noted black fruit, spice, chocolate.

Taste
The Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon was dry, full-bodied, and the acidity was very balanced. Rich mouth-watering mid-palate flavors with a luscious long finish.

abv: 13.8% (This is an ageable wine).

How much: $38.00

Region/Appellation: Napa Valley, Rutherford AVA.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

I rated the 2009 Croze Cabernet Sauvignon four glasses.  An excellent wine for the price.  This wine compares to a $100 plus Cabernet Sauvignon.

Life is too short to drink crappy wine!

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