Wine Review and Rating
On a fluke, I decided to stop by a local wine shop on my way home from work and was thrilled to find the one and only bottle of Vineyard 7 & 8 2001 “7” Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. This was the result of challenging the shop employee, whom I hadn’t met before, to “show me something from Napa I haven’t tried.” (Thanks, Darren!) This wine caught my attention because A) I love a good Spring Mountain Cabernet, B) Vineyard 7 & 8 is one of the few Spring Mountain wineries I have yet to visit/taste, C) I’ve never actually had the pleasure of having a wine produced by 7 & 8 and D) Who doesn’t want to grab the last of anything? Thus, I was willing to swallow the $80 price tag.
Vineyard 7 & 8 produces Estate Cabernets and Chardonnays, as well as what they call their “growers” wines, like the “7” Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from Spring Mountain fruit grown by others and the “8” Chardonnay from Russian River Valley grapes. I recently wrote about two mountain wines, so you know how much their intensity excites me. Not surprisingly, this bottle of 2001 “7” lasted all of about 20 minutes in my possession before I opened it. Given the tight timing, I used a Nuance Wine Finer aerator to help give it some air as I poured it into my glass. (I actually use this tool quite frequently.)
Vineyard 7 & 8 2001 “7” Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
I’ve noted that I rate wines on a cumulative five point scale based on six criteria. Given my focus on this wine this week, and my happiness about finding it, I decided to break down each element for you:
- Aroma: With each swirl of my glass, I observed at least one new note, which really fascinated me. Even in the short time I had it open, it blossomed tremendously. Due to its age, some of the initial notes could be expected: plum, raisin, strawberry jam. Then, it grew to
include tobacco, cassis, fennel, spice and even soy sauce. Rating: 4.25 - Taste: Similarly, flavors on the palate evolved over time and initially focused on the slightly aged nutty elements. From there, earth and leather became more prominent. It seemed like most of its primary fruit has begun to subside. Rating: 4.5
- Mouthfeel: Because it’s a mountain wine, it’s not surprising it was still swarming with tannins. It retained plenty of structure, even with 11 years behind it. Though with its medium body, it did not have the level of opulence I prize. Rating: 3.75
- Balance: This wine contains 13.8% alcohol, which could be considered average to low. Nothing really seemed off with this – nice balance of acid, tannins, and alcohol. Rating: 4.25
- Finish: Tannins accumulated on the finish, giving it a good 5+ seconds on the tongue. Some slight phenolic notes presented toward the tail end. Rating: 4.75
- Value: I consider a wine’s value against others in its peer group at the same price. So, in this case, is this wine comparable to other $80 Napa Cabs I’ve consumed? Rating: 4.25
Overall rating: 4.29/5.0 points. I would definitely drink this again, even though I’m guessing it will be difficult to find!
Vineyard 7 & 8 is on the top of my list next time we taste on Spring Mountain in Napa. I’m eager to try their Estate wines, as well as the “8” Chardonnay.
I always debate about whether or not to post about wines that aren’t so easy to find. I operate under the assumption that some of my readers may have these unique bottles in their cellar and wonder how they’re drinking. I also think that writing about such finds attests to the overall quality of a winery year after year. And, who knows, you may spot this locally or online and want to give it a try. Cheers!
Header image courtesy of Vineyard 7 & 8.
You may need to try that store again!