Mission Codename The missing link
Maybe it’s the Harvest Moon.
Or the third “moon” entering our orbit (supposedly a comet but I have my doubts.)
Or the unseasonably warm temps frying our brains into mush.
Or all of the above.
How can we drop a perfectly aged, ten-year-young, $125 Cabernet down to $37?!
We’ve had a few Taddei Cabs over the years, but this one takes the cake. An absolute knockout, approaching a plateau in its development (and there’s a LONG way to go.)
Not surprising, really. Chris Taddei pushes the limit in a quest to make big, bold, kickass wines. Like wearing camouflage Crocs with jean shorts, his Cabernet reflects a uniquely confident bold style. If you can pull it off, it just works.
This 100% Knights Valley Cabernet is born from impossibly steep hillsides at 1,500’ elevation. Linked Vineyard is smack in the middle of this almost-Napa appellation. Within a stone’s throw lie prized sites tended by Beringer, Anakota, or Peter Michael. That’s $125-$300 a bottle territory, nowhere near what you are paying for this mother of all finds. Speaking of… the owners of the precious Link Vineyard work with Luc Morlet of Peter Michael for their version, a small world indeed!
Raised in 100% new French oak for 36 months, it’s transitioning into a friendlier, softer, more relaxed version of its younger self. The hedonistic core of blackberry jam, dark cherry, and blueberry pie is still there, the tannins all resolved. The oak has become one with the gradient of fruit, spices, and minerality. The first hints of tertiary nuances are emerging and bring some added complexity to the picture.
What began as a class IV rapid has become a lazy river of easygoing, steady flowing and immensely enjoyable Cabernet. It still has all the big, bold, and dense elements you want, but brings a little extra sophistication and class.
And for $37?! Aged Cabernet at price like this is a rare treat that you absolutely deserve!
What the Winery Says
2014 Linked Vineyard Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
- Winemaker
- Chris Taddei
- Varietal
- 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Vintage
- 2014
- Alcohol
- 15.3%
- Appellation
- Knights Valley, Sonoma County
- Vineyard
- Link (Linked) Vineyard
- Clones
- 15,(50%), 337 (50%)
- pH
- 3.82
- Residual sugar
- < 0.5 g/L
- Aging
- 36 months
- Barrels
- 100% new French oak