Winery - Crane Brothers
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Napa Cab doesn’t get riper or plusher than this. Floods the mouth with black currants, anise, cedar and something so pastry-rich, it’s almost like chocolate cheesecake. Yet the wine is completely dry, and the alcohol is modest. As a result, it’s balanced and elegant. Drink soon.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A Bordeaux blend with a little Syrah, this red wine is dry and rich in currant and cedar flavors. But it’s a little sharp and green in tannins, with a tart mouthfeel. A good steak will help, but it’s not really an ager, so drink up.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A little sharp and green in tannins, but otherwise a very nice wine. It’s dry and rich in blackberries and black currants, with a fine coating of smoky oak. Give it a good decant and drink now and through 2012.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Rich in berry, cherry, cola, pepper and sandalwood flavors, but a bit off in texture. Feels jagged and angular, with some green tannins. Ready now.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Does a good job of balancing ripe, forward cherry-berry fruit with a nice application of oak and gritty tannins. Drink now and for the next year or two before it loses freshness.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
What’s so nice about this Cab is that it’s the opposite of today’s cult Cab style, which is soft and gooey. Instead, it’s tannic and acidic and not ashamed of presenting these food-worthy aspects of its personality. Tastes like a young, ageable Third or Fourth Growth Bordeaux, with a good core of black currants and cedar. Put it in the cellar until 2009 or so, and it should hold and improve for another five years.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is quite a good Syrah from a small vineyard in the Oak Knoll area of the southern valley. Alcohol is very high (15.5%) but the wine wears it well due to the size of its fruit. Dried blackberries and pomegranates, sweet leather, violets and toasty new oak flavors comprise the flavors, and the finish is tannic and distinguished. This elegant wine is one to watch.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Another winery owns the rights to the word Bodacious, so this Bordeaux-Syrah blend adds an “r” to the proprietary name. It’s on the rustic side, but elegantly so, with ragged tannins framing savory flavors of ripe cherry juice, black currants and Chinese green tea.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A big, vigorous and assertive Syrah. When the vintage is right, this bottling from Crane rocks, and 2007 of course was a great, ripe vintage. Accessible now in plump blackberries, cassis, pepper steak and cedar, it has the tannic structure to age for 5–6 years.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This Syrah has a lovely mouthfeel, with soft, plush tannins, clean acids and a dry, balanced finish. The flavors are of black currants, roasted meat, violets, anise and crushed black pepper. Has some green notes, but it’s a nice glass of wine.
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