Wine Advisor
Araujo, Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1995
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the renowned Eisele Vineyard, which has a long history of producing stunning wines (the Ridge 1971 Eisele Vineyard, the Conn Creek 1974, the Phelps 1976 Insignia, and the 1975 and 1978 Eisele Vineyard Cabernets). At present, the Araujos limit production of their estate Cabernet Sauvignon to approximately 2,500 cases. It is a wine that combines the extraordinary power and richness of this hot area of Napa, with stunning purity and delineation. The 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard appears to be the finest Cabernet made by the Araujos since they purchased this vineyard in 1990. A stunning wine, this full-bodied, graceful beauty boasts an opaque purple color, followed by a fragrant nose of black currants, minerals, smoke, and Asian spices that is remarkably well-formed despite the wine's recent bottling. This wine has a multi-dimensional, powerfully rich yet strikingly refined personality. With sweet fruit and tannin, the wine's aftertaste lasts nearly 40 seconds. This is a wine of exceptional intensity, purity, and complexity that manages to avoid any notion of heaviness. Already approachable, it promises to evolve for 20-25 years. As is evident after tasting the wines from Araujo Estate in Napa Valley, this is a formidably run winery dedicated to producing exceptionally high quality wines. Readers should try and get on the mailing list, or at least on the waiting list for the mailing list! Release date 9/98 Tel. (707) 942-6061; Fax (707) 942-6471
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Araujo's Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard has become a benchmark. I believe the 1995 is the finest produced under the Araujo regime. It is close to perfection. The wine combines extraordinary power and richness with remarkable complexity and finesse. The saturated purple/black color is followed by aromas of sweet vanillin intermixed with riveting scents of black currants, minerals, exotic spices, coffee, and toast. There is nothing garish about this subtle yet powerful giant of a wine. A Napa Valley classic, it is full-bodied and extremely rich, yet retains its sense of balance and symmetry. This fabulous Cabernet Sauvignon should age effortlessly for 30 or more years. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2030. Tel. (707) 942-6061; Fax (707) 942-6471
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Is it possible that the 1995 Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon might even out-score the 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994? The wine was outrageously rich and fabulous when I tasted it in late October. Nearly black in color, bursting with smoky cassis fruit, Asian spices, and sweet vanillin scents, the 1995 might just possess more layers and greater length than its impressive predecessors. Readers will discover that there are 1995 Cabernet Sauvignons that rival and in some cases eclipse the greatest 1994s, 1993s, 1992s, 1991s, and 1990s - a testament to the extraordinary good fortune that Mother Nature has bestowed on California. The Eisele Vineyard has always produced concentrated Cabernet Sauvignons with blackcurrant/cassis personalities intermixed with a mineral component. What the Araujos have been able to achieve is to intensify the fruit character, as well as the wine's purity and definition. That, plus high quality French oak barrels and a natural approach to winemaking has resulted in a succession of extraordinary Cabernets that began in 1991, and shows no signs of abating. Tel. (707) 942-6471; Fax (707) 942-6471
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Is it possible that the 1995 Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon might even out-score the 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994? The wine was outrageously rich and fabulous when I tasted it. Nearly black in color, bursting with smoky cassis fruit, Asian spices, and sweet vanillin scents, the 1995 might just possess more layers and greater length than its impressive predecessors. Readers will discover that there are 1995 Cabernet Sauvignons that rival and in some cases eclipse the greatest 1994s, 1993s, 1992s, 1991s, and 1990s - a testament to the extraordinary good fortune that Mother Nature has bestowed on California. (Tasted in barrel.) Tel. (707) 942-6061
About the Producer
Araujo produces four wines regularly: the Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon; the Altagracia Bordeaux blend that also contains fruit from other Napa Valley vineyards: as well as small volumes of Eisele Vineyard Syrah; as well as a Sauvignon Blanc. In some years, Araujo also produces an Eisele Vineyard Viognier.
