Lewelling Vineyards
St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon
St. Helena, Napa Valley, California, USA
This family did things in the right order. They were farmers before they made wine. The expression says, “ you can’t make great wine without great fruit.”
The first thing I would say about this 2007 is, it’s really good but, if you have this 2007 you should wait another 7-10 years for it best self. I decanted it 2 1/2 hours and it’s still a beast. Lots of primary going on here.
In ten years, this wine has a shot at 97-99. Their 2007 was just that strong as it was with much of the rest of the Napa Valley.
The nose reveals ripe, ruby & creamy fruits of; black cherries, black raspberries, black raspberries, cooked/stewed strawberries & black plum, raspberries, purple fruit blend, pomegranate with blue fruits hovering the edges of the glass. Black licorice, dark fruit cola, understated smoked meats, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla & notes of clove, caramel, light sage, limestone, dark, rich, moist earth, moist clay, limestone, dry, crushed rock powder, black olive, fig with candied; blue fruits & field of violets.
The body is; round, lush & full. Still has meaty, tarry, teethe tannins that still show some astringency. This bottle properly stored has another 20 years of good drinking ahead of it. For those that like that older, brickier side of wine perhaps another 7-10 years. It’s in its early side of gorgeous headed to Marilyn Monroe. Ripe, ruby, candied & creamy fruits of; black cherries, black raspberries, black raspberries, cooked/stewed strawberries & black plum, plum, raspberries, purple fruit blend, pomegranate with blue fruits hovering the edges of the glass. Black licorice, dark fruit cola, understated smoked meats, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla & notes of clove, salted caramel, black tea, dry herbs with sage dominance, dark spice with pronounced heat, powdered limestone, dark, rich, moist earth, moist clay, limestone, dry, crushed rock powder, dry tobacco, dry underbrush & twig, graphite, black olive, peppery characteristics with candied; blue fruits & field of violets. The acidity is round and full...almost holds the slightly elevated alcohol heat. The finish is big; tarry, meaty tannins, ripe fruit at the mid point with a long dark, earthy spice on the long set.
Photos of; one of Lewelling’s vineyards, family member & Vineyard Manager-Doug Wight, Cabernet fruit just harvested from the Wight Vineyard & old farm/winery building.
This family did things in the right order. They were farmers before they made wine. The expression says, “ you can’t make great wine without great fruit.”
The first thing I would say about this 2007 is, it’s really good but, if you have this 2007 you should wait another 7-10 years for it best self. I decanted it 2 1/2 hours and it’s still a beast. Lots of primary going on here.
In ten years, this wine has a shot at 97-99. Their 2007 was just that strong as it was with much of the rest of the Napa Valley.
The nose reveals ripe, ruby & creamy fruits of; black cherries, black raspberries, black raspberries, cooked/stewed strawberries & black plum, raspberries, purple fruit blend, pomegranate with blue fruits hovering the edges of the glass. Black licorice, dark fruit cola, understated smoked meats, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla & notes of clove, caramel, light sage, limestone, dark, rich, moist earth, moist clay, limestone, dry, crushed rock powder, black olive, fig with candied; blue fruits & field of violets.
The body is; round, lush & full. Still has meaty, tarry, teethe tannins that still show some astringency. This bottle properly stored has another 20 years of good drinking ahead of it. For those that like that older, brickier side of wine perhaps another 7-10 years. It’s in its early side of gorgeous headed to Marilyn Monroe. Ripe, ruby, candied & creamy fruits of; black cherries, black raspberries, black raspberries, cooked/stewed strawberries & black plum, plum, raspberries, purple fruit blend, pomegranate with blue fruits hovering the edges of the glass. Black licorice, dark fruit cola, understated smoked meats, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla & notes of clove, salted caramel, black tea, dry herbs with sage dominance, dark spice with pronounced heat, powdered limestone, dark, rich, moist earth, moist clay, limestone, dry, crushed rock powder, dry tobacco, dry underbrush & twig, graphite, black olive, peppery characteristics with candied; blue fruits & field of violets. The acidity is round and full...almost holds the slightly elevated alcohol heat. The finish is big; tarry, meaty tannins, ripe fruit at the mid point with a long dark, earthy spice on the long set.
Photos of; one of Lewelling’s vineyards, family member & Vineyard Manager-Doug Wight, Cabernet fruit just harvested from the Wight Vineyard & old farm/winery building.
Find this to be overripe alcoholic in finish. Disappointed. Not a bad wine. Just not what this vineyard should produce
Find this to be overripe alcoholic in finish. Disappointed. Not a bad wine. Just not what this vineyard should produce
Jan 8th, 2014
Great wine. Big, jammy, plums with a little bit of anise on the finish. Some chocolate.
Great wine. Big, jammy, plums with a little bit of anise on the finish. Some chocolate.
Mar 19th, 2017So good! Plums, raspberries, and graphite on the nose. In the mouth the plums taste fresher, less ripe. Nice acidity is giving that tad bit of crispness I think. More graphite, maybe milk chocolate, and some chili powder in the back. Super long finish.
So good! Plums, raspberries, and graphite on the nose. In the mouth the plums taste fresher, less ripe. Nice acidity is giving that tad bit of crispness I think. More graphite, maybe milk chocolate, and some chili powder in the back. Super long finish.
Mar 19th, 2016
As it warmed up from cellar temperature, this was more and more like cherry cough syrup.
As it warmed up from cellar temperature, this was more and more like cherry cough syrup.
Nov 29th, 2013
Puerto Rico had this 10 years ago
Puerto Rico had this 10 years ago
May 25th, 2014