2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
Taste: 2006 will go down in history as a spotty vintage: Some guys made OK wine, some made great wine, mostly related to picking decisions. If you waited out the rains in late September, you had gorgeous weather to follow and it allowed for the hangtime Cabernet needed that year to fully ripen. Picked after the September rains, the 2006 Hughes Wellman Cabernet Sauvignon is textbook power and grace, showing deep, dark, rich mid-palate blackberry and cassis fruit with exceptionally integrated tannins and great overall structure. We used a different vineyard source for the 2006, which adds to the elegance of this outstanding wine.The Nell-MacVeagh Vineyard is an exceptional site located on the lower slopes of Howell Mountain, east of Saint Helena. The property comprises several large alluvial deposits and an array of weathered soils that have eroded from atop Howell Mountain. Located upslope of Conn Creek, the soils are mostly gravels that provide excellent drainage and exposure. The vines naturally yield 2½ – 3 tons per acre, offering fruit with concentration and excellent structure.
The grapes were de-stemmed and sorted into open-top fermenters. They were then cold-macerated for 4 days and punched down three times daily during fermentation. The wine was aged for 22 months in a balance of 70% new and 30% neutral French oak, from Tonnelleries Taransaud, Remond, and Ermitage.
This is a flawless example of Napa Valley Cabernet; it has a density and texture that highlights the rarity of this particular animal. Light on its feet with fine tannins and an opaque purple color along with a gorgeous perfume of cedar shavings, graphite, sour cherry, Italian plum, India ink, grilled meat, and espresso roast. Cocoa and mocha envelope the pure fruit essence, making for a seamlessly integrated mouthfeel. With lovely balance and depth its multidimensional personality shines through. The wine has unbelievable length and an impeccable integration of its components. This stunning Cabernet lasts and lasts, with a riveting finish approaching 45 seconds. Give this elegant wine 1 to 2 years of cellaring, and enjoy it over the following 15 to 20 years.
