External search
Google (images)
Wine Advocate
Wine Spectator
Burghound
Wine-Searcher
Vintages
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
Show more
From this producer
Show all wines
All tasting notes
|
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 95 pts. and median of 95 pts. in 101 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by bonedoc on 1/7/2024 & rated 91 points: Decanted and drank over an hour at Ruth Chris. Good, not great. Mature, fading fruit, minimal secondary flavors. (689 views) | | | Tasted by bordeaux4wino on 12/11/2023 & rated 100 points: It is not often I would give a 100 point rating to a wine, but this wine was absolutely stellar and flawless. I brought it to s restaurant for dinner and the server broke the cork, so it was not a propitious start, but he was able to get the rest out clean with a durand. We did not decant, but poured out glasses and ordered a white wine to start while the Eisele had a little time to open up. It was like velvet in the mouth. The tannins were silky and the alcohols quite moderate from this vintage. The tannin integration is superb and the wine is displaying great complexity and length on the palate. Again, we thoroughly enjoyed this and I am certainly happy I have another bottle. (598 views) | | | Tasted by Topper on 8/27/2023 & rated 97 points: This was an exceptional bottle of this vintage Eisele. Paired perfectly by George with A5 Wagyu, it absolutely dominated the 89 Lafite in the next glass. Gorgeous fruit, harmonious tannins and power held in balance. This vineyard epitomizes what Cal cab can be when at its best. (1020 views) | | | Tasted by Wineson on 8/11/2023 & rated 96 points: Excellent balance of smooth and tasty. (834 views) | | | Tasted by kzkpt on 6/18/2023 & rated 90 points: Agree with all prior comments, and having the first glass Coravin'd. Far less rich than the almost erotic '05, but a nice zip of acid and verve that the '05 had matured away from. A delicious and very much alive and just-at-the-edge acidity of a lovely wine singing before going muted into maturity. The dark fruits in the nose and the long finish with the acid zip makes this wine juicy and delicious. Don't wait. (1037 views) | | | Tasted by joshabramson on 11/12/2022 & rated 96 points: Exceptional aromatics! Fruit is deep and rich, with nice structure and balance. Very good. (2207 views) | | | Tasted by sfwinelover1 on 8/24/2022: One off ($131 for a .375) from a pre-birthday mixed case from large Napa cellarage operation #1. Briefer note here than usual for reasons that will be clear below. On the nose and palate, nice medium notes of crème de cassis, black cherry, blackberry, leather, anise and tobacco. Medium+ bodied, medium- silky tannins, no present acidity. VG+ complexity, good persistence, medium intensity. Completely integrated with a lovely creamy texture, solid fruit and some interesting secondary notes on the pour, this wine was already far more mature than I’d have had any reason to expect—all the more so in light of the decade older, and generally less expensive wines I drank the prior Friday—so I kept it corked as I drank it. While the first glass didn’t have the structure I’d have expected for a wine of this reputation, age and price point, it was a really good drink (low to mid 90s), but after the bottle had been opened (albeit resealed) for 30-45 minutes, absolutely all of the life drained out of it, such that, as I described it, it tasted like a $5-10 Lodi blend of CS, Zin and Petite Sirah you might find at Trader Joe’s. Not horribly unpleasant, but zero interest, zero varietal typicity, something, even at my relatively low level of the ether compared to my CT friends, more suitable for cooking, if that, than drinking, a mid 80s wine at best. Since I’d not saved the remainder, the vendor was initially reluctant to refund my purchase price—just the second time in my life I’d requested a refund for a purchase—but after a couple of calls, graciously did so, so I look forward to giving them much more business, with what I’m sure what will be mutually better results, in the future.
It’s hard to know what to do with this bottle from a CT category standpoint. I did like the first glass, which showed some, but I suspect not nearly all, of what this vintage of this bottling had at an earlier age, but by the end of the split, I’d have gone in exactly the opposite direction. Likewise on scoring, while some of my bottles have lost some steam, particularly over the course of several nights (and others, conversely, have been tough on the pour but have improved noticeably thereafter), the disparity here seems too great to put a numeric score on this. This is my first Araujo cabernet in 20+ years (I’ve had a few vintages of the Syrah in the interim), and I’d really looked forward to it; in fact, the case just arrived yesterday, and this was the first bottle I popped. I did see a couple of other notes, most notably CT friend srh’s from a couple of years ago, talking about how advanced this wine seemed vs. his expectations, so I’m wondering if there might be an issue, as 16 years for this bottling doesn’t seem like it should take it to this point, all the more so considering the relatively youthfulness of the decade older wines I drank last Friday. Anyway, this producer remains on my radar, all the more so in light of recommendations from trusted CT friends, although I’ll likely be wary of this vintage, particularly in this format. (2748 views) | | | Tasted by Tridaddy on 4/4/2022 & rated 94 points: No notes, my last bottle, just enjoyed the help out of it, what a good wine. (1980 views) | | | Tasted by buckeye76 on 2/28/2022 & rated 94 points: Deep color and lots of deep fruit in the nose and flavor. Not a big wine but very well balanced and an incredibly smooth medium to long finish. Does not have the same level of complexity as experienced in some other vintages, but still a very enjoyable food wine. (1857 views) | | | Tasted by winejnky on 11/14/2021 & rated 95 points: A couple of dings for a slight green edge, but overall this is pretty great! Very smooth with great depth, nice velvety oak in the background. (2231 views) | | | Tasted by Asull2k on 8/21/2021 & rated 97 points: Pencil shavings, cedar, bacon?! slight red fruit, and elegance on the palate. Much closer to a bordeaux and aged merlot than a cab. This was WOTN at a 2000-2010 wine party. Really unexpected and pretty unique (1128 views) | | | Tasted by starkravingmad on 11/26/2020 & rated 96 points: Fullsome - fruits - berries on the nose, palette.
well textured
highly enjoybale (3015 views) | | | Tasted by srh on 6/27/2020: Winebar [3 Whites, 8 Reds, & 6 *shared* bottles] from 06/26/20 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): A heartfelt TY to all who made tasting this possible!
Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
[From a bottle opened ≈24 hrs prior]
N: Earth, pyrazines, ripe berries, with undertones of smoke?
P: Med, poss LM, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a bit of astringent pucker which stays in contact with the init frt as it fairly seamlessly evolves into a LONG, balanced finish with a pleasant tangy/SWTNESS to the few, quite innocuous, dusty tannins. Ignoring the possible effects of how long it had been opened, for NOW & through '22, poss '23, in a TOTALLY mature style. 14.8% ABV; My EXC (92, 93/100 using that metric), though poss "but" EXC- *if* QPR is considered? [As of late Jun '20, wine-searcher still shows 7 sources from $195-$350]. (3603 views) | | | Tasted by PDavisMarble on 5/30/2020 & rated 94 points: A touch of bricking. cedar, tobacco, mint, chocolate, and some rich berries on the nose. Initially blackberries and plums, with currants and moist earth. Forest floor and cedar, with tobacco and some toast. Rich mouthfeel and silky tannins. This wine is in a great place and should be for another 7-10 years. (2716 views) | | | Tasted by buckeye76 on 1/14/2020 & rated 94 points: Drank from half bottle. Elegant full bodied wine with lots of dark fruits in the nose and flavor. Black cherries, blackberries, plums, and currants with chocolate, licorice, coffee, and earthy notes. Well balanced, nice complexity and a long finish. (3478 views) | | | Tasted by Red Sox Fan on 9/2/2019 & rated 98 points: It’s not rock and roll, it’s precise and elegant piano jazz, but I like it (a lot). Dark red fruit with eucalyptus, allspice, and maybe a little chocolate. Rich, soft texture, with structure but no tannic bite. For a musical tasting note, try Night and the City by Kenny Barron and Charlie Haden. This is one of the best wines I’ve ever enjoyed, and the Barron/Haden recording is the same kind of lifetime favorite. (3478 views) | | | Tasted by pakabear on 2/28/2019 & rated 96 points: Dark red and black fruits, sour cherry, licorice, vanilla, tobacco leaf, great profile, I liked it about the same as the '05 but for different reasons, wasn't as much as a power house but had better complexity. (3229 views) | | | Tasted by dcwino on 2/28/2019 & rated 95 points: Mostly Napa Cabernet Dinner (Eddie V's - Tysons Corner, VA): Expressive nose displaying crème de cassis, crushed blackberry, a hint of plum, lavender, lead pencil, cedar and limestone dust. Beautifully integrated youthful palate, slightly lean pure black fruit, silky and polished, slightly lean, bright acidity, strong mineral presence, silky tannins and a long clean finish with lead pencil and lavender at the end. A nice contrast to the 05 as this is a classic Napa cab. (3134 views) | | | Tasted by RonniePiemonte on 2/14/2019 & rated 95 points: From a 375. Lovely nose of fruit with some menthol, black cherry palate with eucalyptus following. Clean finish.
Elegant, balanced. Has many years ahead to become even more complex. Would have guessed Dunn HM if tasted blind.
Next day rounder, chewier, softer. Seems to have gained a lingering finish. (2442 views) | | | Tasted by Rezy13 on 1/1/2019: 2019 New Years Day Tasting (Milton, GA): Brighter reddish violet, semi-translucent; sweet herbs and cassis, blueberry, oak still fairly strong, tart berry, ripe and concentrated without being overly extracted; very good with long life ahead. (2879 views) | | | Tasted by T.E.D. on 1/1/2019 & rated 93 points: Agree with other commenters. This wine is very smooth and silky, with dusty berry fruit, red flowers on the nose. Palate is smooth, perhaps lacking some back bone. More velvety violet fruits, some cola element and stewed fruit as well. Lighter on its feet than one would expect. Not sure this indices with age. (1902 views) | | | Tasted by ageverett on 11/12/2018 & rated 96 points: Stood up for 45 minutes. Into duck decanter for about 30 minutes before I dove in.
No sediment in bottle/wine whatsoever.
Silky smooth and supple. Mostly black fruit. Some eucalyptus. Smooth, medium finish that was mostly the eucalyptus and even green tea tones.
A very pretty wine that is in peak drinking window for me. Had some left over for Day 2 and it was certainly still holding on. But the secondary tones are here in full effect and I think giving a great look at what this vineyard is all about. (2455 views) | | | Tasted by winejnky on 11/11/2018: This is a great wine, but it didn’t blow me away for the price. (1591 views) | | | Tasted by bexleytaylor on 11/2/2018: Aging beautifully. Tried quickly after it was opened and the fruit was closed down. But the wine was singing after a 2 hour decant. Dark fruits with hints of spice, leather, and graphite. This is in a great place and looks to be there for a while. (1739 views) | | | Tasted by floridawinedrkr on 7/24/2018 & rated 98 points: Absolutely awesome! sexy and classy. lots going on and great depth without being overly extracted. see previous notes (2372 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2008, IWC Issue #138
(Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard Napa Valley) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous. (manage subscription channels) |
| Araujo Estate Producer website2006 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard“88.5% C.S., 6% C.F., 4% P.V., & 1.5% Merlot; The fruit was hand-picked under lights in the cold night hours, hand sorted, fermented, macerated in small tanks, & then aged in FR oak barrels for 24 mos. 14.8% ABV, 0.59 g/100ml T.A., & 3.77 pH; 1,600 cases bottled Nov ’08 & released 10/1/09.”
96 pts Suckling,
95 ea Vinous (Tanzer, 5-6/’09) & Jeannie Cho Lee (9/’15),
92 WA, &
90 WS (Laube, 12/’15)
Cabernet 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 SauvignonEisele Vineyard On weinlagen-infoUSAAmerican 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)Napa ValleySt. Helena |
|
