Winery - Guardian Cellars
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A picture-perfect mix of fruit, acid, stone and tannin. The fruit is sweet and ripe, the acid provides a natural underpinning, the tannins are polished and there are hints of minerality, along with tobacco, licorice and chocolate. Nicely done; this is a new winery to watch.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This Bordeaux blend is 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 9% Cab Franc. It’s a well-crafted mix of cassis and blue fruits, with well-managed, polished tannins. There are traces of leaf and stem, highlights rather than failings, and the wine holds together as a polished and seamless work.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc is from Klipsun vineyard. There is a clean and lightly grassy nose, with added highlights of citrus, lime rind, lemon drop, honeysuckle and light toast.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Chalk Line, a blend of 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Syrah, 19% Merlot and 16% Cabernet Franc, is a nice bottle, but hasn’t quite knit together. Cranberry and wild cherry, chalk and earth, hints of stem and some rugged tannins all suggest that it needs additional bottle age to reach its peak.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This Bordeaux blend almost touches 15% alcohol, yet the fruit flavors remain lightly candied, like a cherry Lifesaver. Hints of fresh tobacco leaf and toasted cracker creep in as it breathes, along with some high-toned volatile aromas.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The fruit is ripe and the tannins firm; winemaker Jerry Reiner is able to craft very ripe fruit while keeping the varietal character of the Cabs—earth and herb, with a touch of stem. Deep and substantial, this should age well for a decade or more.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Strong, full-bodied, tannic and muscular, this 50-50 blend of Cab Sauvignon and Cab Franc seduces you with sweet berry fruit, backed with stiff tannins and well-modulated streaks of iron and earth. For Cab freaks this is a gold mine of flavor, but it will need decanting or cellaring. It should keep for a decade or more.
Tags:
Guardian Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon-Cabernet Franc - 2007
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Barrel fermented in new French oak, then pulled out and put into neutral oak. So the acids are softened, the wine gains some flesh, and there are nuances of toast and butter without overwhelming the fruit.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
All the fruit is from Wahluke Slope vineyard, with 2% Viognier. Aged for 17 months in French oak, this is a big step up from the 2005. The fruit scents are bold and pure, showing lush berry notes and leading gracefully into a darker mix of smoke, coffee grounds, tobacco and licorice. There is a lot of barrel influence, but the fruit is so good that it can take it. This is a wine to drink young and savor.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Though crafted in 100% new French oak, this retains its strong varietal character, but some of the acidic sharpness is softened by the barrel fermentation. Fresh and clean, it brings sweet grain and herb flavors to a mix of pineapple and green apple fruit. Nice, snappy, tart finish.
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