Elegant and refined, the Cabernet Sauvignon opens with aromas of rich black fruit laced with hints of dried herbs. The wine’s deep connection to the soil is reflected in flavors of cassis, plum and black berries which are complemented by the essence of truffle, cedar and tobacco. Soft tannins and well integrated oak are balanced with a fine acidity to create a finish that will linger well after the last course has been cleared.
"John Williams consistently grows one of the most compelling Cabernets on the Napa Valley floor--without ever irrigating his organically farmed vines. His 2008 is elegant and refined, a Cabernet that's not afraid to show some varietal notes of tobacco and herb, along with black cherry and cranberry flavors. It's complex and youthfully tannic, all woven into a seamless finish.
Best Buy"
-92 pts Wine & Spirits
"A very good Cabernet, dry balanced and complex. But it's also very tannic, and is not a wine you want to drink anytime soon. With a solid core of blackberries, herbs and cocoa, it should come into its own after 2014 or so."
-91 pts Wine Enthusiast
The classic Rutherford characters of earth and dust are present in this 2008 Frogs' Leap Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of cassis and currant combine with a mineral tone and a touch of warm spices. Across the palate rich black cherry flavors are enhanced with notes of pomegranate, spice, cedar and green olive. Elegant and soft, this wine's plush texture is balanced by firm yet yielding tannins and a bright acidity.
| Wine maker notes |
A BRIEF HISTORY
Starting a winery in the Napa Valley meant that Frog's Leap would almost have
to make a Cabernet Sauvignon at some point. It took us only one year to
realize this very simple truth - Napa is perfectly suited to grow great Cabernet.
The rocky, fast draining soils of the Rutherford Bench, the misty, late morning
fog rolling in from the San Pablo Bay and that ever-present California sun.
But what kind of Cabernet to make? There were the closed, tight fisted,
cough-and-hack Cabs of the late 70's or the now popular pick-late, sweet
fruit, high alcohol wines of the early 21st century. Instead of chasing fads we
simply learned from the past, favoring the lessons passed on by generations
of Bordeaux winemakers and carried forward by Tchelistcheff, Daniel and de
Latour. Our attempt is not to emulate anyone, but rather to avoid sacrificing
the balance between Cabernet's ripe fruit character and its lean herbaceous
side at the altar of over-extraction and manipulation.
For 20 years now we have stuck by our principals and the resulting style of
wine. A Cabernet Sauvignon that is beautifully balanced and drinkable when
young, just as it is beautifully balanced and drinkable when old. We believe,
and hopefully you will see, that wines that are built to impress rather than
satisfy typically do neither. |
| Technical notes |
THE BLEND
88% Cabernet Sauvignon
10% Cabernet franc
2% Merlot
PRODUCTION
14,800 cases
RELEASE DATE
November 2009 |
