Quick Sip: Noble Family Wines 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Today’s Quick Sip is the Noble Family Wines’ 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. I discovered this boutique producer through the good folks at Cellar Pass. Proprietor and vintner George Noble's foray into wine-making began with a move to the Napa Valley in 1999 and making Merlot with friends in a garage. By 2003, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon piqued his interest and Noble Family Wines was founded with consulting winemaker David Lattin of Kuleto Estate. In addition to the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon I’ve reviewed, I tasted the producer’s well-structured, dark fruit driven, and chocolate bark accented 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon and an assertive Petite Sirah that begged for grilled red meat.
Stylistically, all three wines were ripe, robust, and well-balanced. All of George’s wines are barrel aged for upwards of 33 months and based on what I tasted, the fruit can more than handle the oak regiment. One area that sets Noble Family Wines apart from many producers is how long their wines are held back before release. Typically, bottle aging is left up to the consumer. The 2007 vintage represents their latest release of Cabernet Sauvignon. Until George believes his wines are relatively well-integrated and ready to be enjoyed, they are reserved. The Noble Family Wines' 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is drinking nicely right now but will benefit from short-to-long term cellaring. For further information and where you can find this wine, please see my tasting notes below.
Noble Family Wines 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
Review: Noble Family Wines 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP $80): This wine is deeply colored with ripe and opulent layers of plum, crème de cassis, and licorice aromas and flavors that are nicely interwoven with pretty oak-driven mocha-vanilla tones and brown spice notes. The palate is concentrated and mouth-filling with a well-defined structure, rich mid-palate, and dusty tannins, ending in a generous and lasting finish. I suggest letting this wine breathe in a decanter for over an hour -- sniffing and sipping small amounts every 15 minutes or so. Over time, you will discover like I did, that the wine opens up quite nicely. Approximately 446 cases of this wine were produced. Region: Napa Valley, California. (Other info: ABV 14.8%, fruit source: 22% Pritchard Hill, 24% Rutherford, 54% St. Helena, 5% Petite Sirah added, barrel matured for 33 months, cork enclosure). 93 Points. Click here to find this wine.
