Eisele Vineyard

Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

California

Napa Valley

Mørk og besnærende nese, solbær, mørk bitter sjokolade, lakris og et kjølig og inviterende urtepreg – nesten mentol. Modne tanniner som nærmest kysser munnhulen, silkemyke, men i høyeste grad til stede.
Forfriskende syre og stor intensitet, flott nerve og intens ettersmak. Henrik Dahl Jahnsen SN

Sommelier

Opaque inky-purple colored, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, tasted as a barrel sample, needs a little patient swirling. After a minute or two, vibrant notes of blueberry preserves, boysenberries, and fresh blackcurrants awaken in the glass, followed by hints of violets, licorice, crushed rocks, and garrigue with a cheeky red berry lift. The medium to full-bodied palate is very tightly wound with exquisite, finely grained tannins and seamless freshness supporting the mineral and floral-laced black fruit flavors, finishing long and provocatively chalky. Intense, energetic, and built like a brick house, this should develop incredibly over the next 20-30 years!

by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon requires a little shaking to wake up notes of warm cassis, plum preserves, and blackberry pie, leading to hints of dusty soil, forest floor, and garrigue with a touch of black pepper. The full-bodied palate delivers a solid line of grainy tannins and impressive tension to frame the rich, savory accented black fruit layers, finishing on a lingering ferrous note.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon needs a bit of swirling to coax out wonderfully pure, well-defined notes of crushed blackcurrants, juicy black plums, and fresh Bing cherries giving way to an undercurrent of lilacs, star anise, and tar with a waft of fertile loam. The full-bodied palate is laden with tightly wound black berry and floral layers, framed by super-firm, super-fine-grained tannins and beautiful tension, finishing with epic length. Wow!

The 2020 Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple in color. It slowly emerges from the glass with notes of black raspberries, kirsch, and blackcurrant jelly, followed by suggestions of powdered cinnamon, dried roses, Chinese five spice, and fragrant soil. The full-bodied palate is so fragrant and juicy with vibrant red berry and floral sparks, supported by plush tannins and compelling freshness, with a long, perfumed finish with beautiful purity.

The 2019 Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep garnet-purple color. It is a little closed and broody to start, giving notes of tar, black olives, charcuterie, and iron ore, before opening out to a gorgeous core of crème de cassis, blueberry preserves, and fresh black plums, plus touches of anise, violets, and underbrush. Full-bodied, the palate is so, so graceful with an intense level of black and blue fruit layers, supported by firm, very fine-grained tannins and alluring freshness, finishing long and perfumed.

The 2018 Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep garnet-purple color. It is shut tight to begin, needing a lot of swirling to coax out fragrant notes of black cherries, freshly crushed blackcurrants, and mulberries, giving way to notes of iris bulb, black soil, molten licorice, and crushed rocks. The full-bodied palate is very taut, tightly wound, and muscular with firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and earthy.

The 2017 Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple in color.  It waltzes out with carefree notes of lavender, chocolate-covered cherries, black raspberries, and cassis, with underlying hints of clove oil, allspice, and wild sage. The full-bodied palate is plush and expressive, with opulent exotic spice nuances to complement the black and red fruit layers, finishing with great poise.

The 2016 Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep garnet-purple color. It needs a lot of swirling to uncover the myriad of black and blue fruit layers - youthful, juicy blackberries, black currants, and plums - followed by suggestions of candied violets, dark chocolate, tilled soil, forest floor, and tapenade. The full-bodied palate is jam-packed with black berry flavors and an incredible array of earth, spice, and floral nuances, supported by very firm, grainy tannins and lovely tension, finishing long, long, long. Wow!

The 2015 Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet in color, with a lingering touch of purple. It prances out of the glass with showy notes of warm cassis, boysenberry preserves, and kirsch, opening out to nuances of rose oil, Indian spices, fragrant soils, and licorice. The full-bodied palate is a real head-turner, with flamboyant layers of black and red berry preserves with accents of exotic spices, framed by very fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and layered.

The 2014 Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet in color. It is a little closed on the nose to begin, needing some coaxing to bring out evocative scents of dusty soil, iron ore, and mossy tree bark, leading to a core of wild blueberries and blackcurrant pastilles, plus touches of clove oil and lilacs. The full-bodied palate delivers incredible tension with very firm, densely pixilated tannins supporting the tightly wound fruit, finishing long and minerally.

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon reveals an opaque garnet-black color, offering evocative notes of warm cassis, blackberry pie, and licorice, leading to nuances of garrigue, moss-coated tree bark, crushed rocks, and black truffles, plus a touch of fallen leaves. The densely laden, full-bodied palate is jam-packed with rich black fruit layers, supported by a rock-solid structure of grainy tannins and well-knit freshness, finishing long and earthy.

Deep garnet colored with a touch of brick, the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon spills from the glass with notes of black tea, violets, black currant pastilles, and dried blueberries, followed by suggestions of cigar box, prunes, and menthol. The full-bodied palate is rich and velvety with just enough freshness to lift the opulent black fruit preserves flavors, finishing long and spicy. This bottle came directly from Eisele Vineyard’s cellar.

Medium to deep garnet-brick in color, the 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon is showing its age on the nose, featuring notes of leather, tobacco, and incense, before revealing a clinging core of dried figs, roasted nuts, and balsamic. The medium-bodied palate is defined by chewy tannins and crisp acidity with little remaining fruit. It was likely pleasant in its day but has mostly faded now and needs drinking up. This bottle came directly from Eisele Vineyard’s cellar.

Sporting a deep brick color, the 1991 Cabernet Sauvignon is wonderfully perfumed with scents of dried roses, licorice, prunes, and dried cranberries, plus wafts of tar, Sichuan pepper, unsmoked cigars, and iron ore. The medium-bodied palate is soft-textured and full of bright, remarkably youthful fruit with a refreshing backbone and fragrant finish. This bottle came directly from Eisele Vineyard’s cellar.