2009 Au Sommet Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Au Sommet (o-so-may)...To the top, the very highest point at which we excel at what we do!
We are pleased to offer the 2009 vintage of Au Sommet Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. We picked the Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot in two phases, October 5 and 22, and were able to achieve great farming continuity throughout the vineyard resulting in our best crop size to date (18 tons). We had extremely compact veraison which created very uniform ripening, small berries and large clusters. Mother Nature provided a long growing season which produced beautiful grapes for us to work with.
2009 was magnificient year working with this fruit. Dark, rich, concentrated flavors allowed us to achieve great structural depth and phenolic balance in the wine. Thte blend is 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot and very reminiscent of wines produced from 1997 and 2004 vintages. Bold purity of fruit in the nose, very soft and silky palate structure. expressive and perfectly delicious now, but will evolve into a spectacular wine in the years to come.
The 2009 Au Sommet Cabernet Sauvignon will ship in Fall 2012. Allocations will be strictly limited to one 3-pack per customer. You may contact the winery if you are interested in purchasing one of the few 1.5L magnums or 5L jerobaums, signed by Heidi.
ACCOLADES, 2008 vintage
97 points
"So good, so rich, so stunning, it's just a joy to drink even now in its youth. Defines the Heidi Barrett style of big, ripe, exuberant fruit and a classic structure, enhanced in this case by the firm tannins and fine acids of Atlas Peak. Explosive in blackberry and cherry pie filling and cassis flavors, with a distinct mineral tang that must come from the volcanic soils. Contains 2% Petit Verdot. Superbly enjoyable, but as a brand new wine, its future is only a guess. Drink now - 2014?"
- Wine Enthusiast, March 2011
94 points
"The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Atlas Peak appellation is a beautiful example of a high elevation, cool climate Cabernet Sauvignon. Attractive notes of creme de cassis, blackberries, loamy soil and spice box jump from the glass of this dense ruby/purple-tinged wine. Layered, rich, full-bodied and impressively endowed, it is a blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot that should age well for 15+ years."
- Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #192, December 2010