Wine Advisor
Araujo, Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Both 2013s are clearly the finest Eisele wines made under the administration of François Pinault and his top lieutenant, Frédéric Engerer, who also runs the show at Château Latour. The utterly compelling 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon in this vintage and 1,800 cases were made. The wine is off-the-charts great, with an opaque bluish/purple color to the rim, an aroma of pen ink, graphite, blackberry and blueberry fruit, a hint of licorice, camphor and incense. The wine is full-bodied, with extraordinary concentration, remarkable equilibrium and noticeable, but sweet, well-integrated tannin. This is a large-scaled Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, but flawless and with no edges. It is an amazing effort and a great achievement from this incredible terroir. Drink it over the next 30-40 years.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard reveals the same weight and density of the 2012, but it possesses an extra dimension of purity as well as surreal elegance and finesse that are difficult to marry to a wine this concentrated. The tannins are super well-integrated and silky, but are clearly present in this full-bodied, multidimensional 2013. It exhibits Eisele’s hallmark character of extraordinary floral notes intermixed with forest floor, blueberries, black raspberries and blackcurrants. This beautifully crafted Cabernet builds incrementally to a fabulously long finish that equals that of the 2012. Both these vintages are so spectacular that it will be hard to choose a favorite whether the wines are 2-years-old, 5-years-old, 15-years-old or 25-years-old. This beauty should last 25-35 years.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard, which is also 100% of this varietal, behaves similarly to how the 2013 Altagracia did compared to its older sibling. Inky, bluish purple with a beautifully pure nose of blueberries, blackberries and cassis with background floral notes, this full-bodied wine (14.8% alcohol) tastes a lot younger and less evolved than its 2012 counterpart. I’d think this was a barrel sample, then again, it’s only been in bottle for three months. Beautiful layers of fruit, velvety more noticeable tannin, exquisite purity and an almost endless finish make for a remarkable effort that needs another 5-6 years of cellaring and should keep 30 to 40+ years, particularly in view of how Eiseles from the early 1970s have lasted.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard is dark, intense and jammy, with good up-front richness and mid-palate depth. Today, the oak is a bit prominent, which is unusual for this wine. Araujo's 2013 Eisele is solid, but doesn’t quite hit the high notes that are so typical of the year.
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.
