2009 Maroon Wines Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Mission Codename: Et tu, Maroon
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: For our special Elite Operative Saturday, infiltrate Maroon wines, in the Napa Valley. Extract their Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – a true Napa Valley gem – and make it available at a Top Secret price.
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Maroon wines
Wine Subject: 2009 Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – Maroon Vineyard
Winemaker:
Backgrounder: Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon continues to dominate as the leader in California red wine. For good reason, too, as Napa produces some of the richest and most delicious examples on the planet. Today’s wine is a delicious treat from the Coombsville region of the Napa Valley. This region is best-known for producing extraordinary Cabernet Sauvignon.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Darkest burgundy, with magenta hues at the edge and when swirled. When the wine settles, tall, skinny, widely-spaced legs descend from high up on the glass wall.
Smell – A heady rush of ripe blackberry, blueberry preserves and stewed plum leap from the glass. These gorgeous aromas are underpinned by candied cherry, Bing cherry, spice, fresh red flowers and subtle leather – with a very subtle hint of eucalyptus.
Feel – Soft and silky on the attack. Then, the wine digs in at the tip of the tongue, spreading a softly peppery and mineral-rich dryness throughout the palate. Plush tannins gradually give the wine a very plush feel, while balanced acids propel the fruit long into the lingering finish.
Taste – Juicy and ripe, with generous mixed berry fruit, plum and black currant in the lead. Flavors then turn to braised black fig, subtle mushroom, leather, flower petals, minerals, pepper and softest spice.
Finish – Juicy and delicious at first, with red and black berry lingering long into the slightly dry, slightly mineral-pepper conclusion.
Conclusion – The Maroon Wines Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a delicious, vivacious, approachable and balanced drinking experience. Layers of aromas and flavors are exuded from the wine and the more you swirl, the more you are rewarded with the fullness that this wine has to offer. This wine is clean and elegant, but also complex enough to be very interesting. Pair this elegant, juicy, flavor-filled wine as you would with a less robust California red. Enjoy now, but cellar a few bottles for the next decade and beyond.
Mission Report:
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the Maroon Wines own Maroon vineyard can be seen in this satellite photo.