2002 Vintage. Made by the owner of "V Wine Cellars" an upscale wine shop/wine bar in Yountville. I remember not being convinced by the latest release vintage of this winery...Now I am thinking these cabs just need a little time. And, one cannot expect the big, ripe fruity style of Napa Cab (13.5% abv, and it tastes like this is an accurate measurement....Absolutely no heat or portyness at all! Bravo!)
Anyway...nice dark color in the decanter. Nose really opened up over the hour...this is one of those wines I like sniffing even more than drinking, because the nose has wonderful anise and red current fruit. very earthy and restrained at first, it blossomed with air. Great, great nose!
The palate is more restrained, even perhaps "elegant"???? It actually reminded me quite a bit of the very restrained 2004 Pauillac (Ch. Bellegrave) I tried the other week. Certainly some very restrained fruit, but this wine is much more about structure and gentle herbs. Not bell pepper per se...just light and elegant herbs. I really like this lighter style of Napa Cab and I confided to Beau that I wish more wines were this light and elegant. If you are looking for big ripe Napa Cabs..not this one. 90 points. Would be higher if it had a just a bit more fruit on the palate. Bravo, though!