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2004 Lewelling Vineyards |
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Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard (release date 9/07) |
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96+ points |
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2004 Lewelling Vineyards |
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Cabernet Sauvignon (release date 9/07) |
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90 points |
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For some reason, Lewelling Vineyards remains under most consumer's radar, which is a mistake. Proprietor Dave Wight makes a pure Cabernet Sauvignon possessing Pauillac-like sweet crème de cassis, charcoal, and spice box characteristics, but more power than is normally found in Bordeaux. These impressive efforts offer extraordinary natural beauty and symmetry. The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa exhibits an opaque purple color as well as beautiful aromas of crème de cassis, flowers, licorice, and a hint of barbecue spice, medium to full body, silky tannin, adequate acidity, and well-integrated toasty oak. Enjoy this lovely Cabernet over the next 10-15 years. The more limited production, spectacular 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard is one of the vintage's most stunning efforts. It reminds me of a top vintage of Screaming Eagle...it's that good. The purity, equilibrium, and sumptuous perfume of black currant liqueur intermixed with smoke and blueberries are all dazzling. Full-bodied, multidimensional, and beautifully layered, with a 45+ second finish, it is already accessible, but should age effortlessly for 15 or more years. If you haven't gotten on the Lewelling bandwagon, it's time to do so as these are absurdly modest prices for this level of quality. |
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2003 Lewelling Vineyards |
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Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard (release date 9/06) |
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94 points |
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2003 Lewelling Vineyards |
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Cabernet Sauvignon (release date 9/06) |
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91 points |
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At Lewelling, one of the brilliant, somewhat unheralded wineries in Napa, proprietor Dave Wight fashions gloriously pure, textured, highly nuanced Cabernet Sauvignons. His 2003s are worthy successors to his brilliant 2002s. The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon reveals a Pontet-Canet-like crème de cassis purity allied with notions of licorice, new wood, and impressive structure. Its purity, texture, aromatics, and overall equilibrium result in a gorgeous wine that should hit its prime in another 2-3 years, and last for 15 or more years. The brilliant 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard (which is not produced in every vintage) is denser, although the color is a similar opaque ruby/purple. The wine exhibits more licorice, smoke, and black currant notes interwoven with high quality, smoky, but subtle toasty oak. A wine of tremendous purity, full body, voluptuous texture, heady levels of glycerin, and a 40+ second finish, this beauty can be drunk early in life or cellared for 15 years. |
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2002 Lewelling Vineyards |
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Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard |
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93+ points |
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A blue chip effort in every vintage it is produced, the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard is a medium to full-bodied, elegantly-styled Cabernet revealing extraordinary purity of crème de cassis intermixed with smoke, licorice, and damp earth characteristics. Layered, opulent, and full-bodied with tremendous upside, it needs 2-3 years of cellaring, and should age well for 15-20 years. |
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2002 Lewelling Vineyards |
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Cabernet Sauvignon |
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88 points |
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An underrated source of top-flight Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, Lewelling's 2002s are a notch below their exquisite 2001s. More forward and less structured, but beautifully made, they offer additional proof that this winery merits more notice than it receives. The 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon offers a dark ruby/purple color, pure crème de cassis fruit, medium to full body, and excellent purity as well as suppleness. It should be consumed over the next decade. |
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2001 Lewelling Vineyards |
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Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard |
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95 points |
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Lewelling Vineyards, which remains an incredibly underrated source of top flight Cabernet Sauvignon, has produced fabulous 2001s. A historical estate, founded in 1864 in the western foothills of St. Helena, the vineyard (28 acres) is one of the oldest family run estates in Napa Valley. Great purity is a hallmark of this estate. Their 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard possesses exceptional stature, a seamless personality, and superbly rich, pristine black currant fruit that cascades over the palate in a beautifully textured, full-bodied style. The finish lasts for 45-50 seconds. The two 2002 wines' colors are similar, but the single vineyard offering has several more layers of richness and intensity. This great effort should hit its stride in 2-3 years, and last for 15-18. |
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2001 Lewelling Vineyards |
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Cabernet Sauvignon |
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93 points |
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The 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits extraordinary elegance and fragrance as well as that full-bodied ripeness and voluptuousness that California Cabernet can provide. Its inky/purple color is followed by a tremendous bouquet of smoke, licorice, roasted meats, new saddle leather, and gobs of black currant as well as blackberry fruit. It is a tremendously intense yet impeccably well-balanced Cabernet with a lushness and fragrance that suggest early drinkability. It should be accessible young yet keep and evolve for 15+ years. |
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2000 Lewelling Vineyards |
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Cabernet Sauvignon |
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90 points |
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No single vineyard cuvee was produced in 2000 by this excellent, underrated winery, but their deep ruby/purple-colored 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon is an impressive effort in this difficult vintage. It boasts a pure nose of creme de cassis, vanilla and spice as well as a lovely texture, and sweet, upfront fruit. It can be drunk now or cellared for 10-12 years. Kudos to the proprietors. |
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1999 Lewelling Vineyards |
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Cabernet Sauvignon |
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90 points |
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There is no single vineyard Wight Vineyard designation in 1999 as it was blended into this cuvee. Another brilliant effort (the 1998's were also top-notch for that maligned vintage), the 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon Lewelling Vineyard displays a deep purple color and s sweet nose of creme de cassis, minerals, earth, and vanilla in its structured, broodingly backward style. Black fruits galore hit the palate with sweet tannin, exceptional concentration, and admirable overall purity. This graceful, measured Cabernet builds significantly in the mouth as well as in the long finish. Anticipated maturity 2005-2018. |
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1998 Lewelling Vineyards |
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Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard |
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93 points |
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The 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard boasts a saturated opaque ruby/purple color as well as a gorgeous bouquet of cassis fruit intermixed with oak, tobacco, and licorice. A remarkable 1998, it possesses full body, terrific intensity, a velvety texture, and a long, concentrated finish. Although the tannin is substantial, it is sweet. This 1998 can be drunk now or cellared for 15 years. It is a sleeper of the vintage. This wine emerges from the lower slopes of Napa's Spring Mountain. |
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1998 Lewelling Vineyards |
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Cabernet Sauvignon |
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88 points |
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Lewelling's 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits a dark ruby/purple color, and a rich, layered, elegant personality revealing copious quantities of spice box, currant, and toasty aromas as well as flavors. It should drink well for 6-8 years. This wine emerges from the lower slopes of Napa's Spring Mountain. |
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1997 Lewelling Vineyards |
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Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard |
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93 points |
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The 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard is a notable wine. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by aromas of jammy blackberries, cassis and toasty oak. A wine of great intensity, this full-bodied, pure, concentrated effort possesses thick, opulently-textured fruit, soft tannin, and a 30+ second finish. Anticipated maturity: now-2015. |
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1997 Lewelling Vineyards |
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Cabernet Sauvignon |
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90 points |
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A new discovery, both of Lewelling's 1997 Cabernet Sauvignons acquitted themselves impressively. The opaque, ruby/purple-colored 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon displays a classic, pure bouquet of cassis, minerals, toasty oak, and spice box. Ripe, chewy, and thick, with soft tannin and a long, concentrated finish, it can be drunk now or cellared for 12-15 years. |
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Comments? email: lewvyds@napanet.net