Hot Off The Vine -- Duke of Bourbon Vine News
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Tuesday, 09 February 2010
All of the wineries presented in "Hot Off the Vine" are featured at the Duke of Bourbon.

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Wine Spectator's

by James Laube

A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO THE WINERIES,
WINES, VINTAGES AND VINEYARDS OF AMERICA'S
PREMIER WINEGROWING STATE


ARAUJO ESTATE WINES
Calistoga, Napa Valley
F: 1990. 0: Bart & Daphne Araujo. W: Tony Soter. S: None.
OVERALL$40*****
WINE RATINGS
Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Eisele Vineyard*****
WINERY DATA
C: 4,500. V: 36 acres in Napa Valley. G: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot, Sauvignon Musque, Viognier (Napa Valley). P: None.
Since the 1970s, Eisele Vineyard has proven to be one of California's greatest vineyards. Cabernet lovers have come to expect grand wines from this famous property at the foot of the Palisades mountain southeast of Calistoga. Through the years this vineyard has been the source of many stunning wines, primarily from the Joseph Phelps Vineyards. Along with the likes of Caymus Vineyard, Martha's Vineyard and Diamond Creek's three vineyards, Eisele Vineyard has a distinguished track record for consistently excellent, distinctive and ageworthy wines. In years such as 1974 (under the Conn Creek label), 1975, 1978, 1979, and 1985, these wines show uncommon richness, with thick, chewy, earthy tannins and a complex core of currant, berry and mineral flavors. They are also amazingly ageworthy, keeping their youthful, vibrant personalities for up to two decades.

In 1989, founders Milt and Barbara Eisele sold the vineyard to financier William Farley at a time when the vineyard needed replanting. In 1990, Farley decided not to pursue wine, and sold it to Bart and Daphne Araujo. Bart Araujo, a former home builder, intends to build on the vineyard's ability to produce deeply concentrated and enormously complex wines. Upon acquiring the vineyard, the Araujos began a major overhaul of the vineyard, replanting many vines, adding new grape varieties ( Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot, Syrah, Sauvignon Musque and Viognier), building a handsome new winery and hiring well respected winemaking consultant Tony Soter to oversee the wine. The first vintage under the Araujo Estate label, the 1991 showed more finesse and polish than the 1991 Phelps Eisele (the winery's last bottling), but also the signature dark color, wonderful perfumed aromas and layers of currant, mineral and earthy nuances. Through several tastings, from barrel to bottle, it continues to show more depth and complexity. Plans are to build production to 4,500 cases and may include a proprietary white wine as well as other varietals such as Syrah.

TASTING NOTES

CABERNET SAUVIGNON NAPA VALLEY EISELE VINEYARD (*****):

Magnificent debut, with dark, rich, complex fruit and supple, polished tannins, marked by the characteristic mineral edge.

1991: A rich, concentrated, deeply perfumed wine, packed with currant and mineral flavors and framed by light oak notes. Finishes with a long, full, broad aftertaste and its color is very dark. Best from 1997 to 2004. 93

5 STAR ***** Araujo Estate Wines

Eisele Vineyard
Napa Valley, 2155 Pickett Road • Calistoga, CA 94515
Phone: (707) 942-6061 • FAX: (707) 942-6471
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