Araujo Estate Altagracia Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 - Bottle Shop of Spring Lake
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Araujo Estate Altagracia Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

  • js95
  • wa93
  • ws90
  • v87-89
Araujo Estate Altagracia Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

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js
95
wa
93
ws
90
v
87-89
This illustrious Napa Valley red is made from a famed vineyard site which was first planted in the 1880's, and the first Cabernet was planted in 1964.  Robert Parker elaborates on the Araujo/Altagracia story: 'I was among the first to review these wines when the vineyard was owned by the Eisele family, who sold grapes to Ridge in 1971 for the first single vineyard offering from this site, and subsequently to Conn Creek in 1974 and Joseph Phelps for nearly a decade. The 38-acre vineyard protected by the Palisades Mountains sits in the northeast quadrant of Napa Valley. It was planted on low-yielding, gravelly, cobbly soils in the 1880s to both Riesling and Zinfandel. The first Cabernet Sauvignon was planted in 1964 with the Olmo Clone (believed to have originated at the nearby Larkmead Vineyard on the valley floor). Araujo has turned out some fabulous wines in 2012 and 2013, all incredibly young and primary, but bursting with potential. In 2013, this historic estate was sold by the Araujos to the Groupe Artemis and François Pinault, the French entrepreneur who is best known in the wine world as the proprietor of Bordeaux’s Château Latour as well as several other French estates, most notably the tiny diamond with its own appellation, Château Grillet near Condrieu. Pinault also owns Domaine René Engel in Burgundy. This is my first look at the wines under the new ownership.' Robert Parker--Wine Advocate
Category Red Wine
Varietals
Region California, Napa Valley
Brand Araujo Estate
Alcohol/vol 14.8%
  • js95

James SucklingGlorious aromas, like walking into a flower shop, from roses to lilacs. Lots of dark fruit too. Then goes to slate and dark mushroom. Full body, super refined tannins and refresh and ultra-clean finish. A thoroughly balanced and refined wine.

  • wa93

Wine AdvocateAs for the 2013 Proprietary Red Altagracia, the blend is slightly different, at 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec. One of the finest Altagracias I've tasted to date, the color is saturated ruby/purple, much darker than the 2012 and the wine slightly less fragrant and more coiled tight. Yet, it is also more concentrated and promising. The wine is a heck of a second wine, but does require some patience. For now, deep, rich blackcurrant and blackberry fruit with floral notes (white flowers?), medium to full body and sweet tannin are all present in this relatively larger-scaled Altagracia than we've seen in the past (14.8% alcohol). The finish is long, still youthful and certainly approachable, but this wine will be better with 2-4 years bottle age and should keep for at least two decades.

Robert Parker, December 2015
  • ws90

Wine SpectatorCharmingly supple and complex, with layers of earth- and mineral-laced currant and wild berry flavors. Impressive for the tender tannins, finishing clean and pure, if short. Drink now. 2,400 cases made.

James Laube, November 30, 2016
  • v87-89

VinousDark cherries, plums, graphite, licorice, black cherries, smoke and incense emerge from the 2013 Altagracia. The 2013 is quite a bit darker and riper than the 2012, but also firmer in its tannins and overall sense of structure. Here, too, quality is good, but not great.

Antonio Galloni, December 2014