Monday, May 6, 2013

Patel 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley


I hope the photo does this elegant wine justice. Like the spring flowers from our garden lifting our spirits after a much-too-long winter, this bottle has the power to elevate the wine drinker.

I received a duo of this wine with no accompanying card. I didn’t think much of it  thinking it was an unsolicited sample until I was preparing to stick it on the shelf and noticed in Cellar Tracker this is a top-of-the-line small production Napa Cabernet.

It finally clicked that this was a gift from a thoughtful friend and colleague for our work together during the previous year. It could only come from someone with such style and class!

Lately I’ve been enjoying the concept of buying wines in pairs, which allows you to sock one away while enjoying one in the here and now. I allowed one of the Patel Cabs to age for several months, but after dinner with our good friends at Flame Asian Tapas restaurant, we decanted and enjoyed this divine wine.

The Patel Cab is Napa at its finest, blending fruit from Coombsville and Atlas Peak. The grapes come from cooler mountain climes, so while the fruit is there, it is far from jammy. It has more subtle layers blackberry and currant knit together with tannins enhanced through aging in French oak.

It has power that belies its soft texture. Elegant from beginning to end, it has a lush finish. A blend of 77% Cab, 12% Malbec and 11% Merlot, it retails for $110. There were a mere 198 cases produced.

Thanks, Adrienne! This is one spectacular wine.

Rating: 5 of 5  Value: 3.5 of 5
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