External search
Google (images)
Wine Advocate
Wine Spectator
Burghound
Wine-Searcher
Vintages
2012
2009
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
From this producer
Show all wines
All tasting notes
|
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2006 and 2014 (based on 11 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 90.3 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 109 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by rjquillin on 11/9/2021: Still tasty, but really need to step up consumption on these. (1200 views) | | | Tasted by nathanbsmith on 10/20/2019: This was my last bottle of of the 97 vintage. The cork was fully intact and like all previous bottles, there was significant sediment bottle which was quickly cleaned up after passing it through a filter. Initial PNP, was pretty closed on the nose but had a musty, earthy component. Beautiful deep brick color and an smooth earthy flavor (tobacco and leather). (1388 views) | | | Tasted by ken@ampy.com on 11/5/2018 & rated 92 points: Aging very well, no hint of going over the hill, very smooth and layered.
Drinking well right now and will probably hold for another 5 years. Enjoyed with a roast loin of Pork and grilled asparagus, great accompaniment. I wish I had more but, alas, all good things must end. (1453 views) | | | Tasted by nfurlong on 7/2/2018 & rated 90 points: My go-to wine for a special occasion. Pulled from a 55 degree cellar; and poured through a Vacuvin. Pristine cork, no visible signs of bricking. Sediment in the neck and shoulder of the bottle. Medium body. Beautifully aromatic and intoxicating nose. Spicy red currant, tobacco, leather, and red flowers. Palate dominated by earth tones, but there's still enough red fruit, tannic structure and acidity to support enjoying this with a chargrilled ribeye steak. Long, persistent finish. Thumbs up purchase and kudos to the producer! (1626 views) | | | Tasted by scott w on 1/21/2018: Nice nose of aged cab, on the palate this bottle was fading and hanging on or dear life. Fruit fading and becoming shrill and acidic, also a lot of green. I like lean cabs but this one was too far gone,wife hated it. (1843 views) | | | Tasted by joesi16 on 1/12/2018: Not much has changed since last bottle. Holding up well but i'd rather drink it a little early than a second late. (1196 views) | | | Tasted by Rich S on 10/12/2017 & rated 90 points: Popped and poured but should have decanted for sediment. Nose of black cherry, black currant, slightly vegetal and earthy with some cedar cigar box and tobacco notes. Similar flavors on the palate with medium to medium+ acid. Tannins fully integrated, medium body. I would probably drink up if holding any while there is still some fruit left. (1567 views) | | | Tasted by wmccone54 on 9/24/2016 & rated 92 points: I was somewhat expecting this to be well into decline; there's been some slight bottle variation in the prior bottles over the last three years. Much to my pleasant surprise, this is still going strong!
Pulled from a 55 degree cellar; and decanted. Pristine cork, no visible signs of bricking. Sediment in the neck and shoulder of the bottle. Medium body. Beautifully aromatic and intoxicating nose. Spicy red currant, tobacco, leather, and red flowers. Palate dominated by earth tones, but there's still enough red fruit, tannic structure and acidity to support enjoying this with a chargrilled ribeye steak. Long, persistent finish. Thumbs up purchase and kudos to the producer! �� (1706 views) | | | Tasted by jdhart306 on 4/4/2015: Very similar to last time I had this around two years ago. Decanted for about an hour. Great nose of cherries and cassis. On the palate, cassis again with a little pepper leading to a long finish. However, this wine started to fall apart after an hour in the glass and became only a shell of what it once was. Nose was still great, but the profile was quite diminished on the palate. Drink up. (2791 views) | | | Tasted by nathanbsmith on 1/10/2015 & rated 92 points: Still amazing!! (3170 views) | | | Tasted by nlassow on 1/5/2015: This bottle was easily the best of 4 consumed over the last 2 years. We were smitten with it. Perfect cork, not much sediment, mild/moderate bricking, less herb on the nose and more developed dark berry fruit. If only they all could have been close to this good. Still lots of earth and paired well with mushroom mac n cheese with a thick colorado lamb loin chop. Makes me wonder if this wine was in a dumb phase and is peaking now? (3118 views) | | | Tasted by nathanbsmith on 5/17/2014 & rated 92 points: Fantastic cab!! (4057 views) | | | Tasted by Furry Goat on 5/14/2014 & rated 92 points: Drinking so well right now. 1 hr decant. Nose is full of every note I've ever taken. It has a nice sage component right now that I've never noticed. Palate is great with highlites of cola and chocolate cherries with a long long finish. Dee-lish. (3003 views) | | | Tasted by Furry Goat on 4/2/2014 & rated 91 points: Really enjoying this bottle. Reminiscent of previous notes, but I'll jot a few current notes down. 45 min decant. Nose is chocolate and cherries and tobacco and sweetness. Slight floral perfume also. Cherries on the palate, veggie component, mineral/chalkyness (slight), chocolate, dirt, slight spice. Smooth, light-medium bodied, long finish.
It seems every bottle of this stuff is a gamble for me, but I have one left and I hope it's as great as this one. (2798 views) | | | Tasted by wmccone54 on 3/2/2014 & rated 90 points: A mature Cabernet showing some slight bricking. Spicy red currant, savory plums, wet pine needles, and lots of earthy tobacco. Structure is holding this together. Very nice, but fruit has really started to fade over the last year. Given the $25 price point this was a great opportunity to checkout an aged and mature Napa Cabernet. (2595 views) | | | Tasted by Furry Goat on 12/27/2013 & rated 91 points: Out of the nine bottles I got last time, 5 were dropping an overwhelming amount of sediment and made the experience less than pleasurable. This is the second bottle that is spot on delicious. The difference is in the accumulation on the neck and shoulder of the bottle. If it is solid, then almost nothing has broken off and will throw almost no sediment. If it is spotty and lacking in uniformity, there are tons of chunks floating around in there and it will fill each glass with grit.
Nose is outstanding. Campfire, black licorice, currant, chocolate, cherries, funk, and much more. Palate is cherries galore. Some cola, mint, touch of espresso, slight spice, old wood. Silky smooth, this bottle is disappearing. This is why I bought this stuff. 8+ second finish. (3040 views) | | | Tasted by Furry Goat on 12/12/2013 & rated 89 points: This bottle is the first of this batch that didn't throw a ton of sediment. Delicious. (2012 views) | | | Tasted by Charlie Pendejo on 12/3/2013: Delightful - this is holding up just fine, at least lying down at 58F. Plenty of sediment. Presented pretty much the same as several other bottles I've enjoyed the last 12 months: aged notes like leather plus just enough red and darker fruit, in very nice balance and with the complexity you want in a cab with some age. With both tannins and fruit pretty well mellowed, this is so much more versatile with food than a typical young cab - went great with a variety of dinners over three days. Held up nicely over that span; if other bottles are seriously downhill, there must be variation either from the source or in storage. Last of my '97s but I'm happy to have some '96s on the way now. (2034 views) | | | Tasted by Furry Goat on 11/20/2013 & rated 87 points: I think my best bottles of this are behind me. This one hasn't thrown any sediment. Brilliant nose, palate falls flat with some cardboard and metallic finish. (2009 views) | | | Tasted by Furry Goat on 11/5/2013 & rated 89 points: Throwing a lot of sediment. Great nose, palate has lost a step. (2106 views) | | | Tasted by Bill1100 on 10/29/2013 & rated 82 points: My last bottle of this wine. The first two were excellent - I rated both at 90. In the seven months since drinking the last bottle, this has really gone downhill. Even more sediment, it clogged my filter. Not pleasant on the nose, and leaves an aftertaste that I'm not sure how to describe. Threw away 2/3 of the bottle. (1779 views) | | | Tasted by Rich S on 10/9/2013 & rated 92 points: Dark crimson color. Some currant and dark red fruit notes on the nose along with some earthy, barnyard notes, a bit of green veggies, tobacco and cedar. Really nice mature cab nose. Similar flavors on the palate with a really nice mix of cassis and tomato sort of going on with a bit of oak on the back end. Fine, sweet tannins and medium acidity. Finished smooth as well. Really impressive showing from this wine and it is unbelievable that the wine is 16 years old. It drinks like it is half that old. (1942 views) | | | Tasted by nathanbsmith on 9/28/2013 & rated 91 points: Tasting 9/28/13: Color: brown/red or brackish with a lot of sediment. Orange was also used to describe the color.
Nose: sweet, deep woody, tobacco, blueberry, raspberry, leather, cedar
Palate: very smooth, strawberry, mildly fruity (1996 views) | | | Tasted by joesi16 on 9/27/2013 & rated 89 points: Real smooth,leather and spice some light fruit. Last glass on day 2 held up well. Heavy side and neck sediment, filter and/or decant. (1928 views) | | | Tasted by Furry Goat on 9/19/2013 & rated 89 points: Cherries and pungent tobacco on the nose with some slight barnyard and dried leaves. Not quite as exciting of a nose as I remember. Palate is very nice with some menthol, cola, cherry, chocolate, licorice, and probably more. Nice complexity in the palate.
Wine seems to be showing a little thinner mouthfeel than usual. (2027 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Ardente Estate Winery Producer website1997 Ardente Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Espressione1997 Ardente Espressione Cabernet Sauvignon, Atlas Peak Napa Valley 750ml
Dark, ruby red wine of extraordinary complexity. The uniqueness of this wine can be attributed to the conditions found only on Atlas Peak, including the rich volcanic soil indigenous to this part of the Napa Valley and a distinctive microclimate located at an altitude of 1500 Feet. The result is a wine with an intense yet delicate nose, rich, satisfying mouth feel, a pleasant finish with just the right amount of tannin, and the promise of a long aging.
Awarded Silver Medal by The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Wine Maker: Philippe Melka
Varietal Composition: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Harvest dates: October 8 - October 30
Age of Vines: 11
Fermentation: 12 to 30 days
Alcohol Level: 13%
pH Level: 3.69
Residual Sugar Level: Dry
Acid Level: 0.58 grams/100 mls
Aging Process: 18 months in small French oak barrels
Barrels: 100% new French oakCabernet SauvignonCabernet Sauvignon is probably the most famous red wine grape variety on Earth. It is rivaled in this regard only by its Bordeaux stablemate Merlot, and its opposite number in Burgundy, Pinot Noir. From its origins in Bordeaux, Cabernet has successfully spread to almost every winegrowing country in the world. It is now the key grape variety in many first-rate New World wine regions, most notably Napa Valley, Coonawarra and Maipo Valley. Wherever they come from, Cabernet Sauvignon wines always seem to demonstrate a handful of common character traits: deep color, good tannin structure, moderate acidity and aromas of blackcurrant, tomato leaf, dark spices and cedarwood.
Used as frequently in blends as in varietal wines, Cabernet Sauvignon has a large number of common blending partners. Apart from the obvious Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the most prevalent of these are Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere (the ingredients of a classic Bordeaux Blend), Shiraz (in Australia's favorite blend) and in Spain and South America, a Cabernet – Tempranillo blend is now commonplace. Even the bold Tannat-based wines of Madiran are now generally softened with Cabernet SauvignonUSAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Napa Valley Napa Valley Wineries and Wine (Napa Valley Vintners)Atlas Peak Atlas Peak Appellation Association |
|
