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Mission Codename: The View From Above

Operative: Agent White

Objective: With Howell Mountain’s Burgess Cellars under extended surveillance, rush to procure their newest Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Burgess Celllars

Wine Subject: 2007 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker: Steve Burgess

Backgrounder: Our Operatives love Burgess Cellars’ Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2004 and 2005 vintages we featured previous have become top operative favorites When we got wind that Steve’s 2007 vintage was ready, we were able to secure a special preview allocation of the fantastic 2007 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, a delicious wine that is sure to please even the toughest of Cab critics.

Today’s selection comes from Burgess’s Howell Mountain Estate Vineyard. The Howell Mountain region in the Napa Valley is the birthplace of some of our very favorite wines. We fell in love early on and we have not been disappointed by a high-elevation Howell Mountain wine.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Dark garnet and deep purple with a clear but dark and murky core. Its dense color remains to the meniscus and when swirled thins legs hang for a moment before descending to the wine below.

Smell – Toasted and smokey oak frame the spiced and ripe dark blackberry, cassis and red currants along with dark earthy minerals. The initially bold fruit, spice and wood aromas are woven with green herbal, sweet black licorice, cocoa and toasted vanilla hints.

Feel – Rich and expansive with highly textured minerality and a sturdy and powdered tannic structure. Its balanced acidity provides an chewy and generous feel and its soft spice lingers on the tip and corners of the tongue.

Taste – Blackberry, cassis, plum and currants lead the way in this fruit forward rich, concentrated and expansive wine. Toasted oak, soft spice, green herbal, pepper and black licorice linger along with tart fruit.

Finish – Long and expansive with the textured powdered tannins and earthy minerality coating the palate while the fruit flavor lingers. The dry and chewy mouth-feel makes the mouth water for another sip just as the fruit fades.

Conclusion – The *2007 Burgess Celllars Estate Cabernet Sauvignon * will instantly appeal to lovers of mountain fruit Cabernet. Lead in with an inviting nose of classic aromas, this wines great texture and structure grasps a hold of the rich and concentrated flavors and lasts long after you take your sip. A great wine for prime rib roast with all the decadent fixings. Enjoy now after decanting or cellar for 5-7 years.

Mission Report:

WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER

SUBJECT: Steve Burgess

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: We are into terroir and brilliance.

FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: 1972

WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT WHITE: Greetings, Steve. We are thrilled to be showing your 2007 Napa Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.

STEVE BURGESS: You are welcome. We look forward to spreading our normally clandestine wines through your network of spies, “terroirists,” and foodie operatives.

WHITE: Excellent! Tell me, was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

STEVE: Europe in the 1960s.

WHITE: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?

STEVE: Europe in the 1960s.

WHITE: Who do you make wine for?

STEVE: We make wine for ourselves – in a style that is LOVED by chefs, foodies, and serious-wine people.

WHITE: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.

STEVE: This is a special wine, from our mountain estates on the slopes of Howell Mountain. Only 4% of wines from California are from Napa, only about 10% of wines from Napa are hillside- if that. therefore, this wine represents a style that only 4/10 of 1%, of California wine can taste like. The beauty, depth, and character are amazing.

WHITE: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

STEVE: Lamb, Steak, Lasagne, Everything.

WHITE: In your opinion, what makes your Napa Valley vineyards so special?

STEVE: See above, plus, our winery was originally built in the 188

WHITE: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

STEVE: Re-wiring a barn, fixing a gate, bottling the 2009s, blending the 2010s, fine-tuning which barrels we use…

WHITE: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?

STEVE: With an open mind, mouth, and a curiosity as to “Wow, why is this so different and great? Where have you been all my life!”

WHITE: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

STEVE: Please visit Burgess, we have the best view of the Napa Valley to enjoy while trying our estate-only wines. We are a part of Napa’s history, come see why!

WHITE: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Burgess Cellars can be seen in this satellite photo.