Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Dry Creek Vineyard 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma


In California, a mile or two can make all the difference in the cost and prestige of a wine. While the prices of Napa continue to rocket heavenward, some incredibly rich Cabs are being produced in Sonoma for a fraction of the cost.

The 2009 Dry Creek Valley Cabernet from Dry Creek Vineyard is such an example. At $25 this is a wine that rivals a Napa Cab costing three times as much.

This wine was “batting cleanup” during a recent tasting at the home of tasting team members Sax Man and Wine Chick. Sadly they have moved to another part of town, so we can’t pass glasses of wine over the backyard fence like we used to. Their new home, however, provides plenty of elbow room for a nice evening of wine tasting.

The 2009 vintage was one of the best in the last decade, and this bottle shows it with elegance and structure. There is ripe cherry and raspberry front and center in the glass edged with some dust and herbal notes.

It’s a very smooth wine with tannins that provide firmness, but never bite. The finish is long and relaxing.

This is 86% Cab, 4% Merlot, 4% Cab Franc, 3% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot. The DCV Cab is aged for 20 months in French, American and Hungarian oak. The alcohol level is 13.5%.

This baby has beauty and depth at a price that’s hard to beat.

Rating: 4 of 5  Value: 4.5 of 5

Full Disclosure: We received this wine as a marketing sample.
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