2009 Napa Valley Cabernet: The Chronicle recommends

Napa Cabernet is typically our biggest and most pivotal tasting of the year. Our panel considered some 60 wines from the 2009 vintage in a range of prices.
We found wines that exemplified the power of Napa and the freshness and aging potential of great Cabernet. In particular, there was a surge of quality from some of the valley’s most established names. That includes wines like the Robert Mondavi Cabernet, which you might say started it all in Napa’s modern era, and the estate bottle from J. Davies, which is Schramsberg’s line of red wines.
Below are top choices from the panel and other recent tastings, representing a cross-section of Napa’s best from a memorable vintage.
2009 Corison Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($70, 13.6% alcohol): Here was just the sort of vintage to play to Cathy Corison’s strengths – a year where you could make a taut, ripe wine without a drop of fat. Corison handled it beautifully. Full of mineral power, with pencil lead and chicory, and a tobacco-leaf freshness. Plummy, tight and a bit dusky, a subtly shaded wine with nuance and refinement.
2009 Tor Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($75, 14.4%): Jeff Ames’ efforts for Tor Kenward’s label again dialed in a hearty but complex style, this time in a blend of its three key vineyard sources: Howell Mountain’s Cimarossa, Yountville’s Mast and Oakville’s To Kalon. Ripe and full of cinnamon spice (a signature of Cimarossa), but the fruit is tense and raspberry-edged, matched by savory sandalwood, mustard seed and currant. A lot in the mix here.
2009 Larkmead Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($70, 14.5% alcohol): While the estate Cabernet from this wonderfully revived Calistoga property is hardly shy, it’s also a standout example from the vintage. Fresh, mineral-driven and full of dusty plum and mint leaf, the 2009 is classic and surprisingly racy, with a ton of structure but enough graphite and earth that it never feels driven by fruit. A sign of how the older and new Napa styles are being bridged.
2009 J. Davies Estate Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon ($80, 14.5%): Schramsberg’s Hugh Davies has been working for years toward a red wine that matches the quality of his sparkling, and in 2009 his Calistoga property, which encompasses some of Napa’s earlier hillside vineyard sites, was fully dialed in. It needs cellar time to shine, but here’s the full power of his site on display – a tightly-wound and savory mouthful: sagebrush, tobacco, mint and black coffee, with dark fruit brooding and a spectacular expression of that loamy Diamond Mountain character.
2009 Round Pond Estate Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon ($50, 14.5%): The MacDonnell family’s site in the core of Rutherford again yielded a terrific value of a wine (also true of their $30 bottle aged in old wood and using some bought fruit). 2009 was a tighter, more focused effort for Round Pond, but winemaker Brian Brown dialed back the evidence of oak to let clean black cherry, chicory and dust notes shine. It’s still a notably ripe creation, but with great savory touches – dried herb, pencil shaving.
2009 Hess Collection Allomi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($28, 14.4%): Hess’ mainline Cabernet is somewhat off-message for Napa these days – sourced from its site near the south end of Howell Mountain, aged in mostly older American oak. And so it’s all the more impressive: Pretty and slightly floral, with a dusky violet side amid the black fruit, plus a welcome cinnamon-candy bite. Its sweetness feels appropriate and just right for the nuanced flavors.
2009 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($28, 14.5%): The current state of Mondavi finds its strength in the basics, including this found-everywhere bottle that, impressively, includes more than 30 percent fruit from Robert Mondavi’s beloved To Kalon vineyard. A classic, loam-tinged profile, with cassis and black tea and a robust, chewy presence. It’s very much a sum of its parts, but the bones are impressively solid for the price.
2009 Louis M. Martini Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($30, 14.5%): Full credit to Mike Martini, whose family’s winery now resides under the Gallo umbrella, for again delivering a classically styled, user-friendly Napa Cab at a level (65,200 cases) that leaves most counterparts foundering. It’s not purely classic – that 5 percent Petite Sirah nods at a different set of traditions – but it’s just rich enough, with sweet black cherry, plus espresso accents and a salty side, to show its roots without going to the jammy side.
2009 Napa Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($22, 14.1% alcohol): Score one for this long-established name, now part of the Trinchero family’s stable of properties. It’s evidence of how blending from a range of Napa sites can work at a reasonable price, without becoming generic. Full of fun and familiar Napa flavors: a smoky side, with a hint of dried red pepper, brambly fruit and a throat-lozenge glide to the texture.
2009 Terra Valentine Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon ($45, 14.9%): The Wurtele family’s Spring Mountain property certainly has shown its mettle in recent years, and in this vintage the dense mountain tannins are balanced with great mineral freshness and a warm kirsch-like side. Wonderful savory tones – a meatiness that should mellow with a couple years aging. Sam Baxter’s winemaking continues to frame the great potential of this site.
2009 Antica Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($55, 14%): Piero Antinori’s rebirth of his Atlas Peak project ( sfg.ly/Jy7278) is coming into its own with this classy, distinctive expression of 2009 that enjoyed an extra year bottle aging. A meaty, earthbound profile – wet clay, copper, cassis and rich raspberry, with clear mineral and tree-bark accents that certainly hint at a mind-set geared toward a more earth-driven style. Polished, but not at the cost of distinction.
2009 Stony Hill Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($60, 13.5%): An unexpected surprise from the McCrea family’s long-established winery, known far more for its white wines. You either take or leave the hard-edged style, with its exposed tannins, but its appealing floral side – sachet, raspberry, bright mineral – shows a different, and delicious, aspect of Napa.
2009 Buehler Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($36, 14.1%): The Buehler family, and winemaker David Cronin, again succeed in poking at Napa’s high-wire economics with wines that cost perhaps half the going rate, and in 2009 their estate effort, aged in more new French oak, marks a solid step up from the basic Napa bottle. It delivers a wallop of graphite and smoke – think dried cherry and a warm grass fire – and its meaty side is matched by a distinct freshness.
2009 Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($50, 14.5%): Craig has long been an expert in the Napa hillsides, but there’s something notably appealing about this blend (Petit Verdot and Merlot make cameos) from the foothills around Mount George in southeast Napa. An enthusiastic dose of oak can’t mask great dried-herb and graphite complexity, or its robust bramble fruit character. Big and dense, with a plushness and tea-like herbal side.
2009 Chappellet Pritchard Hill Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($135, 15.1%): Even in this cooler year, the Chappellets are unabashed in the style of their top wine. Once again the Pritchard Hill, perched above Lake Hennessey, is a grand snapshot of modern Napa at its best. Big, dense and polished – with a kirsch-like heat but also a lot of mineral power. Graphite, dried leaves, coriander and exotic spice amid deeply extracted black fruit. A classy expression of this site’s extraordinary potential, with a bit of Petit Verdot and Malbec in the mix.
2009 Cameron Hughes Lot 285 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon ($24, 14.5%): As always, Hughes’ efforts are catch as catch can, but this recent lot from Rutherford is both plentiful (10,400 cases) and reliable. A surprising lift to the flavors – more red fruit and cassis, with lower tones of ripe blackberry – is matched by a dusty presence and toasted coffee bean. Quintessential Rutherford.
2009 Tudal Estate St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon ($65, 14.5%): The Tudals’ small St. Helena vineyard yielded a mineral-edged, aromatic effort in this milder year, and winemaker Kirk Venge guided it to something that resembles the Napa Cabernets of 20 years ago, with focus and freshness even in its size. Full of dried thyme and bramble fruit, and densely knit darker flavors for balance.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/20/FD311OI9AC.DTL

Best place to unwind in Angeles City Pampanga Philippines is to do a little wine shopping at the Clark Wine Center which is also considered as the best place in Clark for private wine tasting, small parties and social functions outside of Manila. Guests of this wine shop in Clark enjoy the cozy ambience as well as the privacy and exclusivity of the roof deck lawn. Some guests that wine and dine at the famous restaurants near Angeles City Pampanga often drop by this wine shop to pick up a few good bottles for diner. Residents and guests staying in Pampanga Angeles City and Subic frequently visit this wine shop in Clark to buy some bottles from its fine selection of vintage wines that are offered at attractive prices. Some guests, business executives especially, select this wine shop in Clark for their business entertainment outside of Manila.

This wine shop in Manila Philippines makes wine shopping a really rewarding and exciting exercise. Wine shops in Pampanga should always have an element of surprise so that customers and wine lovers can enjoy a little bit of thrill when they go to a wine shop in Manila to look for a good bottle of wine in Clark Pampanga. Clark Wine Center is lauded by wine and food lovers from Manila and tourists from abroad as the best place to buy wine in Pampanga.

Chateau Lafite-Rothschild is the most revered wine in China and many other parts of Asia. The best wine shop in Asia to buy older vintages of Chateau Lafite is Yats Wine Cellars located in Clark Philippines. Aside from Lafite, visitors can buy other fine wines at this wine shop in Clark Pampanga such as Latour, Mouton-Rothschild, Haut-Brion and Margaux. Excellent Burgundy wines like Chambertin, Vougeot, Musigny, Bonnes Mares, Pommard, Meursault, Chambertin, Vosne Romanee, Romanee Conti, La Tache and Romanee St. Vivant can be found here.

Things to do in Clark Philippines and Pampanga: do a little wine shopping at the famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. Residents and visitors staying in Angeles City Pampanga have discovered that one of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. To those on vacation or holidays, the Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

Family outings, picnics, company outings and other events for up to 300 can be held in the picnic grounds of this wine shop. Events that have been successfully organized here include family fun days and BBQ picnics. These are some of the things that visitors to Clark Philippines particular look forward. Residents and tourists in Angeles City and Subic also come to Clark Freeport to partake in the fun at this Clark wine shop.

This wine shop’s vast selection of vintage wines makes it possible for Yats Wine Cellars to offer a unique line-up of wines for every private wine party, wine tasting or wine dinners. Guests of these private wine parties are treated to a rare experience of vintage wine not seen in wine shops in major cities in Philippines or even in Asia.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Yats Leisure Philippines

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Log on to this web site for more information about Yats Wine Cellars as the leading wine importer and wine supplier in the Philippines:

ats Wine Cellars Leading Wine Supplier in Philippines

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Buy wine in Pampanga, Philippines at good wine shops and boutique wine stores that offer good selection of good vintage wines at all price points.
Good white wines that available at the wine shops in Manila and Pampanga include Puligny Montrachet, Chassagne Montrachet, Pouilly Fuisse, Corton Charlemagne, Montrachet, Batard Montrachet and Beaune. This makes it easy and convenient for wine lovers to buy wine in Manila. They are also great wines to include in wine gift baskets for delivery in the Philippines.
Manila wine and food lovers looking for things to do in Pampanga and Manila can consider attending one of these wine events. The best way to learn more about wine in the Philippines is to attend public wine tasting events that have no sponsors. These wine tasting events held by Yats are non-commercial. Yats Wine Cellars does not promote a specific winery, producer or a brand. These wine tastings and wine dinners held in Manila and Pampanga are all designed to let wine lovers explore more interesting aspects of wine.