Araujo Eisele Vineyard Tasting

Bentley Hotel London
Tasted Wednesday, May 31, 2006 by Russell Faulkner with 1,327 views

Introduction

The 38 acre Eisele vineyard is widely recognised as one of California’s top
terroir sites – its well-draining alluvial soil, south-facing aspect, and
California sunshine tempered by cooling ocean breezes off the Russian River
Valley combine to produce truly remarkable cabernet sauvignon (and more recently
syrah) grapes.

The wines have received critical acclaim since Paul Draper (of Ridge) made the
first serious wines from Eisele grapes in 1971, but it is really since the
Araujo family took control in 1990 that the words “Californian Cult” have been
used in describing the wines.

All the wines had been bought by Charles Darnell who presented the tasting along with Linden Wilkie (whose notes I stole for the above).

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

  • 1994 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    93CS, 4CF, 3PV, 13.5% alc, 2406 cases.
    Young ruby, just a hint of lightening to rim. Nose is quite is quite intense, blackcurrent and toasty oak. Some very strong acidity on the midpalate, smooth seductive attack, damson, blackcurrent, very silky texture. Very long finish but the acid is a little too prominent on the finish, I found this just a little underwhelming compared with the other tasters, with time it showed slightly dried, evan a burnt note. However clearly a very classy wine.

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  • 1995 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard Flawed

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    94CS, 4CF, 2PV, 13.5% alc, 2500 cases.
    Showing much lighter, clear oxidation, sherry, dried fruit and chrsitmas pudding, still shows class though. Must have been a bad cork, storage impeccable. Not Rated.

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Flight 2 (2 Notes)

  • 1996 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    91CS, 6CF, 3PV, 13.5 alc, 2305 cases.
    Again a great silky attack, a grower, builds and gains weight in the mouth, lighter fruit profile, black cherry, oak is light but noticable in the background, medium weight, not overly extracted of concentrated but great balance, with time it grew more complex and showed an orange peel note. Super.

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  • 1997 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    93CS, 4CF, 3PV, 13.8% alc, 2710 cases
    Deeper hue, inky. More intensity to the nose, blackcurrent and sour cherry, even fresh garlic?. Sweeter style but still that lush smooth texture, tannins more noticable than other wines, but quite smooth and rounded, wood tannin? Lacks subtlety, more showy and flash, I am sure many will prefer this. Tannic finish.

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Flight 3 (2 Notes)

  • 1998 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    90CS, 3CF, 7PV, 13.8% alc, 2108 cases.
    Medium density ruby / purple, light rim. Interesting nose, herbal (not green) with some cinnamon and burnt spice. That great silky attack, medium sweet fruit, a lighter style with coarser tannin but a long sweet fruit finish, nice balance, not too sweet.

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  • 1999 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    84CS, 7CF, 6PV, 3M, 14.1% alc, 1745 cases (this was the first year a second label was made)
    Much deeper purple, a real style change. Quite dump nose (closed?) some rusty iron filings though. A punchy intense blackberry attack, but quite linear, doesn't open out much. Finish is more complex though, with subtle tannins and summer pudding. Noticable higher alcohol but not prominent.

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Flight 4 (1 Note)

Flight 5 (2 Notes)

  • 2001 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    96CS, 4CF, 14.4%alc, 1615 cases.
    Again slightly closed, younger but also much bigger structure with more solid tannins, very full fruity style, not overripe but complex with a touch of saline and spice (also a faint whiff of VA)

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  • 2002 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    96CS, 3CF, 1PV, 14.6% alc, 1630 Cases.
    Like the 2001 more solid tannins and bigger structure. Kirschy perhaps a little too full right now, some rusty savoury notes, still showins the same texture but higher tannins, soem leathery notes. This could get better, it might not though.

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Flight 6 (2 Notes)

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