Eisele Vineyard "Altagracia" Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
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95
Wine Advocate
Very deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Altagracia springs from the glass with vibrant scents of crushed black cherries, ripe, juicy blackcurrants and blackberry coulis, plus hints of cardamom, cumin seed, tree bark and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of expressive black fruits with firm and fine-grained tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing long and spicy.
There’s purity and focus to this wine with blackberry, blackcurrant and spices, such as nutmeg. Ink pot, bark and asphalt, too. So long and polished. Chewy tannins. Hints of stone and ash. 88% cabernet sauvignon. 7% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot. Give it time to soften, but already a beauty. Drink after 2026.
Vineyard estate, an area of the property outside the alluvial fan, that is instead a heterogenous collection of more volcanic colluvial parent material and clay. Prior to 2013, Altagracia was made from the next-best blend from the entire estate (as a second wine) rather than as a bottling dedicated to a specific portion of the vineyard. Certified organic by CCOF and biodynamic by Demeter. Aromas of red and dark fruits, warm earth, and resinous forest notes carry into the palate on a fine, textural weave of tannin, and mouth-watering, lengthy acidity. Flavours of fresh berries and plum emerge, with hints of bay leaf. There is a lovely purity to this wine, an overall presentation that is elegant while textural, very persistent, and will do well with food. The tannins are well managed, the wine approachable enough to open now though it will gain in generosity and complexity with more time in bottle.
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Eisele Vineyard "Altagracia" Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
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92-94
Wine Advocate
The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Altagracia was tasted as a finished blend barrel sample. Deep purple-black in color, it has a fragrant nose of potpourri and Indian spices over a core of kirsch, warm cassis and plum preserves, plus a waft of camphor. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is wonderfully juicy and perfumed, with alluring elegance and freshness, finishing long.
Made from the eastern blocks of the Eisele Vineyard estate, an area of the property outside the alluvial fan, that is instead a heterogenous collection of more volcanic colluvial parent material and clay. Prior to 2013, Altagracia was made from the next-best blend from the entire estate (as a second wine) rather than as a bottling dedicated to a specific portion of the vineyard. Certified organic by CCOF and biodynamic by Demeter. Will be released in February 2023.
Savoury, earthy aromas of crushed rocks and gunmetal with a backdrop of dark fruits and floral accents, followed by flavours of violet, black fruits and graphite. The overall character is both darker and more floral than the 2019. Palate-cleansing tannins are very fine grained, with the wine offering a greater focus on acidity compared with the very even balance of the 2019 vintage. Tactile and satisfying. The fruit presence will likely gain with more time in bottle but, even so, this is also a more mineral-focused, slightly leaner vintage.
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Eisele Vineyard "Altagracia" Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
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96
James Suckling
A solid Altagracia with currants, blueberries and pine and bark aromas and some sweet tobacco. Aromas that follow through on the palate to a full body with a well-framed tannin profile. Crunchy at the end. Juicy too. Needs as couple of years to come together. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Best after 2027.
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