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Wine Recommendation
Robert Craig Wine Cellars
2002 Cabernet Sauvignon , Affinity(Napa Valley)
This is the newest labeled wine from wonderful vintner Robert Craig. The Affinity Cabernet from the vineyard of the same name, comes from what may become the Napa Valley’s 16th appellation – Tulocay.
Located in the eastern foothills in the Coombsville area overlooking the city of Napa, Affinity has sparse, rocky soils that are ideal for slowly ripening Cabernet Sauvignon fruit. The vineyard, overlooking Mount George to the east, was selected by Craig in 1995 to be the heart of his Bordeaux-style Cabernet Blend. At the time, the grapes were being used in another winery’s Cab blend.
The wine, comprised of 77 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 percent Merlot, 2 Cabernet Franc, and 1 Petit Verdot, is silky and mouthfilling with blueberry notes. It’s approachable now, but because of its substantial backbone of tannins, this wine will age for at least 15 years.
The wine spent 19 months in French oak, the listed alcohol is 14.2 percent, there were 3,543 cases produced, and the price is good at $40
Reviewed February 14, 2006 by Alan Goldfarb.
The Wine
Winery: Robert Craig Wine Cellars |
The Reviewer
Alan Goldfarb
Alan Goldfarb has been writing about and reviewing wine for 17 years. His reviews have been published in the St. Helena Star, San Jose Mercury, San Francisco Examiner, Decanter, and Wine Enthusiast, among others. Not once has he used a point system, star system, or an iconic symbol to quantify a wine. What counts in Mr. Goldfarb’s criteria when judging a wine is: how it tastes in the glass; is it well-constructed; its food compatibility; and presence of redeeming regional attributes. |