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Araujo 2009 barrel sampling visit with Iron Chevsky
Callistoga, CA
Tasted April 8, 2011 by danstrings with 544 views
Introduction
An amazing afternoon visiting Araujo and trying some jewels from individual vineyard lots. The lovely winemaker Francoise Peschon herself led Iron Chevsky and me thru the vineyards and wines, joined by marketeer extraordinaire Jimmy Hayes. They said '09 was a tricky year with some heat and cool spikes, but their biodynamic practices and relentless sorting and thinning helped save the day as usual.
Flight 1 (4 notes)
Pure cab flight --
Red
2009 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard
93 points
Barrel sample (Eisele Vineyard Block 2A, Eisele clone) -- Gorgeous soaring nose of crushed asphalt, rich heady chocolate, black olive and dust. Huge milk chocolate marshmallow palate, yet refreshing and balanced. Oak there but not out of balance, and fruit/chocolate leads. A teeny bit of a sweet note on the palate, but coulda been purely the unctuousness.
Red
2009 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard
91 points
Barrel sample (Eisele Vineyard Block 4, Eisele clone) -- A tad leaner than the Block 2A, but still loaded with lovely milk chocolatey licoricey goodness! A tad more of a clean cherry mineral element. Nice.
Red
2009 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard
95 points
Barrel sample (Eisele Vineyard Block 5A, Eisele clone) -- Francoise's favorite, a real beauty loaded with goodness. Inky dark, gorgeous nose of espresso meets mocha meets red rose. Almost Barolo-like heady nose. On the palate, chocolate covered cherries, nougat, chocolate marshmallow. Dessert in a glass, yet totally dry and refreshing.
Red
2009 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard
90 points
Barrel sample (Eisele Vineyard Block 5D, Spottswoode clone) -- Spottswoode clone seemed more subdued than the Eisele clone blocks, with tighter -- but still nice -- palate. Francoise gets Christmas baking spices, plum, etc. I agree. The chocolatey goodness is there but more restrained. Nice.
Flight 2 (2 notes)
Red blends flight --
Red
2009 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard
92 points
Barrel sample (Petit Verdot Eisele Vineyard Block 10D) -- fascinating, Araujo uses a teeny bit of this in the blend, from cooler located spots in Eisele. Inky inky dark, darkest on the table. Fascinating wine and more differentiated than the individual cabs and cab franc for sure. Silky, dark and satiny, densely packed crushed asphalt, black olive, dark chocolate.
Red
2009 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard
90 points
Barrel sample (Cabernet Franc Eisele Vineyard Block 10C) -- fascinating, Araujo uses a teeny bit of this in the blend, from cooler located spots in Eisele. Surprisingly un- cab franc like, with oodles of the chocolatey goodness in the straight cabs. More a chalky note tho, maybe more tannins? Also more exotic notes like crushed clove, soy, coffee grounds. Overall a more subdued red than the straight cabs, but lovely.
Flight 3 (3 notes)
Finished wines flight --
Red
2008 Araujo Estate Altagracia
91 points
Lovely chocolate meets lean spicy sinewy goodness. Great balance, more "simple" than the higher end cab but lovely.
Red
2007 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard
94 points
Seamless and silky, good plump tannins. Juicy and sexy. Wonderful herbal/lavender notes swirl in a bit, even a touch of honey. Backdrop is dark, inky, rich balanced cab fruit. Less flamboyant chocolate fruity notes vs. the '09 barrel samples of course. Nice.
White
2010 Araujo Estate Sauvignon Blanc Eisele Vineyard
91 points
Always love the Araujo SBs. Lovely zesty bright nose of lemon chiffon pie, candied lime and a touch of freshly cut green bell pepper. Refreshing palate with a good peppery herbal note, balanced by juicy candied lime fruit.
Closing
