Palladian Estate Winery
2009 Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
California: Napa Valley: St. Helena
Mission Briefing
Howdy, Neighbor!
Today’s spectacular wine marks the 35th vintage for winemaker David Mahaffey and his 15th as winemaker for Palladian. David produces just one wine from the Palladian estate each year, and today we are lucky enough to have exclusive access to the wine.
The Palladian Estate Winery 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a true Reserve wine. It is treated to some of the finest white glove treatment we’ve ever heard of in winemaking. This is a true hand made wine that isn’t released until it is good and ready. The wine is all estate grown, produced, bottled - and then aged in glass for three full years after bottling and then stored at a constant 55 degrees before it is ever released. David wanted the wine to be silky smooth before it left his care. And, wow, is it ever silky. And delicious. And elegant. And what a fantastic value!
Here is what expert Sommelier Anthony Cimorelli had to say about the wine:
“Palladian’s 2009 Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is the rarified stuff that I am always hopeful of finding. From a small, organically farmed vineyard that sits next to Harlan Estate springs forth a true hidden gem of luxurious, expressive quality. It is plush, lush, bright and truly superlative in every way. David Mahaffey has been making Napa Cabernet for more than three decades. He has presided over some of the best and worst vintages in wine history. With his 2009, David has made magic. Delicious delicious magic.” - 95 points
Tasting Profile
| Look: | Deep ruby at the edges, darker and more garnet hues at the ever so slightly opaque heart of the wine. Tall, skinny, color-heavy tears cling to the glass when the wine is swirled. |
|---|---|
| Smell: | Darkly spiced black cherry, oak infused blackberry, toasty vanilla, dried cranberry, cedar, dried black rose petals, cocoa nibs and a hint of black pepper. |
| Taste: | Rich flavors of black plum, blackberry compote and braised black cherry sit atop a layer of secondary flavors that includes savory brown spice, India black tea, cigar box, tobacco leaf and a hint of slate minerality. |
| Finish: | Exceptionally long and front loaded with black fruit that gradually gives way to spice, tea and slate. |
| Pairing: | Enjoy this fine wine with something rich, like a Ragout of beef with sun-dried tomatoes or a baked eggplant with mushroom and tomato sauce. |
What the Winery Says
- Winemaker
- David Mahaffey
- Appellation
- Napa Valley, St. Helena
- Blend
- 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc
- Abv
- 13.9
- Brix at harvest
- 25
- Varietal
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Barrel aging
- 22 months
- Barrels
- 25% New French oak
- Bottle aging
- 3 years
- Production
- 350 cases