2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Pedregal Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Dark-fruited and nearly opaque, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Pedregal Vineyard has lifted aromas of white pepper, pencil shaving, redcurrant, and fresh, cooling menthol. Full-bodied, on the palate it offers notes of ripe cherry, gravelly earth, and dried roses as well as good tension, with an angular feel that I rather enjoy. Drinking well now, this is a great wine to show haters of 2011 to prove the longevity these wines can achieve. Drink it over the next 20 years. Founded in 1996 by David and Carla Ramey, the Rameys are continuing to produce benchmark wines, while raising the bar for what Sonoma can achieve. In 2022, the Healdsburg-based winery was officially handed over to their children, Claire and Alan, who now share responsibility as co-presidents. During my tasting with Dave, Claire, and Alan, they arranged several side-by-side comparisons with reference point wines from other wine regions. The highlight of these comparisons came when I tasted the 2020 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard alongside the Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey 2020 Saint-Aubin Premier Cru En Remilly Hommage A Marguerite (94 points), as well as the Domaine Michelot 2020 Meursault Premier Cru Perrieres (92 points). While the Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey was wonderfully impressive and textural, the Hyde had fantastic purity and length by comparison. The Domaine Michelot has the structure to have some longevity but felt a touch weedy, which masked its otherwise purer characteristics of green apple, citrus, and toast. It fell short compared to the Hyde and the Saint-Aubin, which was surprising considering the pedigree of this Premiere Cru site from Meursault. The overarching theme across the tasting was the longevity and balanced nature of the wines from Ramey, which comes as less and less of a shock to me as I get to know their wines more intimately. Though I personally have an affinity for the whites, these wines offer tremendous value with age-worthiness across the portfolio.
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Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2011 Pedregal Proprietary Red (now called Cabernet Sauvignon Pedregal Vineyard) is the latest library release from Ramey. It is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot, co-fermented and aged 19 months in 100% new French oak—David Ramey says 26 months maturation is normal, but the challenges of the 2011 vintage dictated a shorter élevage. Medium ruby, it has pretty redcurrants, licorice, dried herbs and leather on the nose. The palate is soft, elegant and at its peak for drinking with its blend of red fruits and savory, mature tones. 364 cases were made.
Pungent nose that has a lot of methoxypyrazine peppery flavour. Technically, that’s complexity, but it seems very sour and clashing to my palate. The green and red flavours don’t combine in the way that it does for great Chinon, say. Underripeness? In Napa?? (RH)
With 15% co-fermented Petit Verdot. From a small vanity vineyard with house attached, three acres (1.2 ha) of Cabernet Sauvignon and each acre is worth $500,000. Very very rocky. Just below Dalla Valle estate, on the Silverado Trail. Made since 2004, and leased and farmed since 2008. Never manipulated, and they are often picking before their neighbours. 2011 was a cold vintage. Good to smell Napa Cabernet. Fresh. This works really well. Just a little astringent at present but awfully nice. Real lift. (JR)