SUPERIOR WINE ALERT:

Today’s selection from Jocelyn Lonen Winery deserves special recognition as a superior wine. If you love Napa Valley Cabernet, this is an exceptional example

SECRET SAVINGS ALERT:

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Mission Codename: Mother Nature’s Daughter

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Secure an artisan Napa Valley Cab from a spectacular woman winemaker.

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Jocelyn Lonen Winery

Wine Subject: 2005 Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker: Alison Green Doran

Backgrounder: Napa Cabernet Sauvignon continues to dominate as the leader in California red wine. For good reason, too, as Napa produces some of the richest and most delicious examples on the planet. Today’s wine is a perfect blending of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon with 13% Cabernet Franc. Read Agent Red’s tasting notes and mission report for the full briefing

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Deepest dark purple with a deep inky core of nearly black, this wine’s deep color concentration extends to its edges. When swirled fast thick legs first collect at the upper edge then race down the side of the glass

Smell – Starts with lush layers of dark fruit, leading with black currant, blackberry, smoky black cherry, and tobacco, with softly earthy notes and a delightful and subtle hint of fresh, uncooked asparagus

Feel – Soft, plush and light on entry, this round full-bodied wine shows off velvety tannins, with a touch of bright acidity and soft spice that reaches the far corners of the palate as the wine lovingly coats the mouth

Taste – Delicious fruit which almost mirrors the fruit found on the nose, with additional favors of early plum, softly toasted oak, vanilla and the slightest hint of dark chocolate

Finish – Smoky and dark, but also clean and very long, with lingering plum, cherry, soft spice, mild sweetwoods and earthy notes – all supported by this wines smooth tannins

Conclusion – An impressive Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that is a true delight to drink! Rich and delicious, but beautifully balanced in flavor, aromatic profile and feel, this wine is one of those that make you really take your time getting to know. And, it was a pleasure getting to know this great wine. We enjoyed a bottle at Peter Lowell’s in Sebastopol, California (where we can often be found conducting covert wine tastings) along with a wood fired Arugula, onion and sausage pizza. This was a stellar pairing. Ready to drink now, this slightly youthful wine is the sort that you should buy a few extra bottles of. You’ll want to see how well it develops over the next 5 to 10 years. Finally, while this wine will drink beautifully on opening, we recommend letting it breathe to allow it to express its full potential

Mission Report:

SPECIAL MEMO : Agent Surveillance Report, Cover Assessment

SUBJECT : Agent Red

AUDITING AGENT : [REDACTED]

OBSERVATIONS : Since January of 2009, Agent Red has been repeatedly observed conducting public wine tastings at Peter Lowell’s, a restaurant in Sebastopol, California. These tastings are usually conducted with restaurant staffers and, on occasion, patrons and other known assets of Agent Red.

While this agency recognizes the value of conducting tastings with experienced wine-drinking assets, it is this agents concern that in conducting these tastings so frequently – and in so public a manner – that Agent Red places his own cover, and the cover of this organization, in jeopardy.

Earlier this week, Agent Red was spotted sampling a bottle of 2005 Jocelyn Lonen Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, a Napa Valley wine with a great reputation. It was this agents concern that Agent Red’s reviews were being compromised by these seemingly casual tastings. As such, an independent tasting panel was convened to evaluate the wine. After our panelists completed their review, Agent Reds own review (see tasting notes above) was cross-referenced and compared. Fortunately, Agent Red’s review held up. It is because of this that my own recommendation for how to deal with this latest Agent Red problem is not overly stern.

RECOMMENDATIONS : Agent Red has been issued a warning. Further, it is this agent’s recommendation that Agent Red be placed under probationary watch for 90 day, after which, a further recommendation will be made to suspend probation – or proceed with disciplinary action. If he maintains cover, record of this memo will be expunged from his permanent record.

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the world-famous Stagecoach and Krupp Vineyards can be seen in this satellite photo.