2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Pedregal Vineyard

Saturated ruby. Assertive red- and blackcurrant aromas are accented by strong mineral notes and complicated by licorice, espresso and tobacco. Deep, concentrated and powerfully sweet, with liqueur-like dark berry flavors and firm but integrated tannins. Gains weight with air but maintains remarkable structure, finishing with palate-enveloping sweetness. Stunning stuff.

Another killer wine from David Ramey comes from the Pedregal Vineyard. This is one of my favorite sites for Cabernet Sauvignon in all of Napa, right on the Oakville crossroads on the western side of the valley, just adjacent to Rudd and slightly down the hill from Dalla Valle and the Phelps Backus vineyard. Rocky, iron-rich, red soils seem to produce terrific Cabernet Sauvignon, and certainly this is a knock-out. Sadly, there are only 325 cases of the 2004 Pedregal, a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Petit Verdot. Dense purple with notes of creme de cassis, cedar, truffle, and crushed rocks interwoven with extravagant levels of graphite, black currants, and scorched earth, this dense, powerful, rich wine is a real connoisseur’s selection as it will need 3-4 years of bottle-age and should keep for 20-30+ years. Tel. (707) 433-0870; fax (707) 433-0871

Good deep ruby. Currant and cedary cigar box aromas dominate the nose. Velvety, lush and sweet, with the concentrated fruit complicated by intriguing mineral and iron notes. Finishes very long, with noteworthy breadth and sweetness of tannins. Like a Pauillac on steroids.