Sep

17

Seavey Cabernet

Filed Under Reds 

Seavey 2000 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon


The 2000, Seavey Vineyard’s eleventh estate produced Cabernet is a blend of 87% Cabernet, 10% Petit Verdot and 3% Merlot grapes harvested during the month of October from several different locations of the south-facing hillside vineyard. In its most recent review, the Seavey 2000 Cabernet is ranked as one of Napa’s top 2000’s. “Complex nose melds black raspberry, dark chocolate, licorice, roasted meat, and sexy oak notes. Fat and sweet in the middle, with warm flavors of plum…suggests almost roasted ripeness, yet shows very good flavor definition. Finishes with horizontal, fine tannins and lovely persistence. A very successful 2000 from an area (Conn Valley) in which the fruit obviously ripened well.”‘ Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar,’ May/June 2003.

Harvested at 24.5 degrees brix, the yields were 2 tons/acre, up from 1.5 tons the previous year, but still quite low. Winemaking style followed classic Bordeaux methods. The juice remained in contact with the skins for an average of 21 days, and, following malolactic fermentation, was aged in French oak barrels (60% new oak) until bottling on May 23-24, 2002.

The wine drinks beautifully now and should age well for 12 to 20 years.

Phillipe Melka is the winemaker for this bottling, the winemaker who put Opus One on the map – probably one of the most sought after (and highest priced) winemaking consultants in the Napa Valley.

The 2000 vintage was heavily panned by the critics, there was late rain and many producers were afraid of losing their entire yeild. As I understand it, Phillipe told them to take the gamble and hold steady, and they were clearly rewarded for their patience. Parker called this wine a super star, and so do we. In my personal opinion, if you were to drink this wine over the next two or three years, you’ll be impressed every time. But remember – once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Contact Jonathan Keller to acquire Seavey wines.


"Jonathan, the Dujac Echezeaux was everything a great wine should be. Wonderful flavor, just a bit of a sweet undertone, and great power."

~ Peter B. New York



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