TasteLive: Tedeschi Family 05 Cabernet Sauvignon
During a recent and very enjoyable virtual wine blogger tasting for the three-day Napa Valley Film Festival, I had an opportunity to uncork the Tedeschi Family Winery 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine received good reviews from my fellow wine bloggers, with many referring to it as “Old-school” and “Bordeaux-like.” The tasting featured a winemaker interview with owner Emil Tedeschi via [Ustream] live streaming video. The Tedeschi family has been in Calistoga, located in the northern part of Napa Valley, for several generations. Emil’s father, Eugene, first planted wine grapes on the family’s Calistoga property in the 1960’s. These grapes were used to produce small batches of wine for family and friends. Today, Emil and his two sons concentrate their efforts on crafting small-lot, single-vineyard wines from estate plantings. Their diminutive production, approximately 300 cases, allows them to be very hands-on in the winemaking process from ground to glass.
Tedeschi Family Winery 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
Stylistically, Emil prefers and crafts the type of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that aspired to emulate the great Cabernet-dominated red wines of Bordeaux. These were the Napa Cabs of the 1970’s and 80’s that had relatively low alcohol, more restrained flavors, and good food-friendly acidity with minimal barrel influence. By the 1990’s, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon had come into its own and developed its own unique style, which ironically, others try to emulate today. Emil holds his wines back until he feels they are ready to drink. The 2005, released January 2011, is the current Cabernet Sauvignon release. (Click here if the page has difficulties loading the video clip below).
Napa Fest Winemaker Interview: Emil Tedeschi
Let’s uncork this Cabernet, pour a glass, and give it a swirl, sniff, and sip. In the glass the wine displays a vibrant ruby color. It’s approachable and savory with dark cherry and black berry aromas that comingle with earth tones, dried herbs, and subtle leather-based scents. On the sip, the wine delivers balance and finesse with an Old World accent in the structure and good food-friendly acidity and a medium-length pleasing finish. This wine clocks in at a very moderate 13.5% ABV and retails for $58. Due to Tedeschi's limited production levels, the best way to purchase their wine and check on availability is via their website (see link below). Cheers!
Click Here to visit the Tedeschi Family Winery website.
Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.
Live, Love, Laugh, Tweet, Sip, Enjoy!
- Please Click Here to vote Dezel's My Vine Spot as your favorite wine blog - You can vote 1x per day!
- Click Here to follow me on Twitter.
- Friend me up on Face-Book here.
Happy Sipping Friends - Tell your friends about the blog and thanks for your support and kind emails !
Dezel's My Vine Spot © 2006-2011. All rights reserved.
