In my last blog I commented on the Napa Premier and the wines from various appellations we were able to sample. The Spring Mountain District is probably best known for the Cain Winery and their 'Cain Five' Bordeaux style blend. And while Cain makes a nice wine, as do many other Spring Mountain wineries, in our last trip we discovered a few from this area we felt were outstanding.
One bold Cabernet Sauvignon we really enjoyed is a yet-to-be-released 2008 from Barnett Vineyards. Barnett is located near the top of Spring Mountain. Fiona and Hal Barnett started the winery in 1983 and today they produce about 5,000 cases per year.
How does the 2008 cab taste? Great. The nose is full of fruit - blackberries are prominent. With the first sip you notice a big, bold mouth feel. As I enjoyed this first sip, I noticed no overpowering tannins or earthiness. My wife lovingly describes many wines as 'dirty' - meaning an overpowering chalky taste, reflective of the terroir, or earth, where the grapes are grown and produced. But the 2008 Barnett has none of this. A smooth, big finish, this well-balanced wine is great with or without food.
Don Steiner and I tasted close to 50 wines at the Spring Mountain District tasting. Yes, I know. Brutal work! Someone has to do it! But when we were done, we found a few gems, like the 2008 Barnett cab, we hope you really enjoy.
Terry Liebman
