2011 | Araujo | Eisele Cabernet Sauvignon 6L

Detailed Description

Compelling aromas of black fruits such as brambleberries, plus blueberries and fresh mushrooms. Asphalt, too. Forest fruits. The tannins just melt into the wine as you taste it. Aristocratic and regal in style and length. A powdery, fascinating texture.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard is simply beautiful. It is easily one of the most complete and compelling wines of the vintage. Rich, flashy and open, especially within the context of the vintage, the 2011 impresses for its depth and polish. Layers of blue and black fruit, savory herbs, mint and licorice come together in this complete Cabernet. A model of total class and elegance, the 2011 is simply remarkable for the year. This is one of the few wines of the vintage with real potential not just for the near-term, but also for the future.

• Vinous: Araujo has long made some of the more restrained Cabernets in Napa Valley. The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard is one of the more Left Bank inflected wines in the estate’s distinguished history. Beautifully layered and expressive, the 2011 graces the palate with exquisite finesse and total harmony. The 2011 isn’t a huge, explosive wine like the 2010 or 2009, but it stands out for its exceptional length and vibrancy. Readers should not expect an obvious Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. I imagine the 2011 will still be marvelous at age 30, and I won’t be surprised if it is one day regarded as one of the great, iconic wines of the vintage. The 2011 has been truly special since I started tasting the single blocks in the Spring of 2012. The blend is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.

Producer Information

Araujo Estate is a Napa Valley estate particularly associated with its noted Eisele vineyard and the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon grown there. It is regarded as one of California’s cult wineries and was included in Robert Parker’s 2005 book, “The World’s Greatest Wine Estates”. The 38-acre (15-hectare) Eisele vineyard is located on an old alluvial fan near the northern end of the Napa Valley, just east of Calistoga. It is protected by the Palisades Mountain to the north and cooled by westerly breezes, and produces a low-yielding crop of very concentrated fruit. It was originally planted in the 1880s to Zinfandel and Riesling, with the first Cabernet not planted until 1964. Now, 75 percent of the vineyard is planted to Bordeaux red varieties – mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with some Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Araujo’s winery is a barn-type construction on the vineyard, with cellars built into the hillside. Grapes are sorted and transferred without pumping to stainless steel or concrete fermenters. Individual lots are aged in French oak barrels before the final blends are assembled.