2006 Cardinale Red OBS
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Tasting notes
(an 86/14 blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot) Ruby-red. Complex aromas of blackcurrant, plum, dark chocolate and minerals. Silky on entry, then broad, young and nuanced in the middle, with moderately dense, energetic flavors of black cherry, cassis and menthol. Finishes with a broad dusting of tannins and lovely lingering fruit. This is mostly from a blend of mountain properties owned by Jackson Family Farms, with Mt. Veeder fruit used as a natural acidification.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
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One of the flagship wines of the Jess Jackson empire, this 1,500 case cuvee is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot aged in 100% new French oak for 22 months. Made from a combination of mountain vineyard fruit (from Mt. Veeder, Howell Mt., and Spring Mt.) and fruit from valley floor sites in Oakville, St. Helena, and Stags Leap, for a 2006, this cuvee offers surprising accessibility and openness. A sumptuous bouquet of cedarwood, black cherries, black currants, licorice, and wet rocks/crushed stones give way to a broad, opulent, fleshy wine offering sweet tannin, abundant quantities of sexy, ripe fruit, a full-bodied, layered mouthfeel, and a velvety finish. This is an atypically sumptuous 2006 that should drink well for 15-20 years. Kudos to winemaker Christopher Carpenter for this brilliant effort. Available through Vin Lux Fine Wines, tel.(866) 462-4641; Fax (866) 853-1707; www.vinluxfinewines.com