Ardente Estate
2001 Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
California: Napa Valley
Mission Briefing
Burning Desires
Highly Recommended
Today’s 92-Point (Rober Parker, Jr.) 2001 Ardente Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon is the Aged Cabernet Sauvignon lover’s dream. Just a little bit shy, at first, this wine really opens up to reveal aromas of leather, tobacco, spice and dark fruit. On the palate, the wine is elegant, supple and soft. Decant this delicious, food-friendly wine for best results. Pair with a grilled steak or a bacon wrapped pork chop with rosemary.
Tasting Profile
| Look: | Dark burgundy hues, through the darker core of the wine. Color is evenly concentrated, from the heart of the wine right out the the edge of the glass. Thin, closely-spaced tears run quickly down the glass wall after you swirl. |
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| Smell: | Somewhat shy, at first, this wine really opens up as you swirl or decant it. After it breathes for a bit, dried broad tobacco leaf, spice, black cherry, smoky braised plum, overripe blackberry and leather rush up to greet you on the nose. These are followed by toasty vanilla and oak, dusty bramble and a hint of brown sugar. |
| Taste: | Spin this wine, just a little bit, after opening and you’ll coax out delicious black cherry, ripe blackberry, dark cocoa, leather, tobacco leaf, dried earth, bramble and hints of star anise and subtle savory herbs. |
| Finish: | Long and complex, with dark fruit and earthy flavors slowly dwindling in even proportion. At the very end, subtle spice and a dark, mineral dryness remains. So, too, does a hint of brown spice and black pepper. |
| Pairing: |