1997 Araujo - Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - USA - California - Napa - Napa Valley - Red

excellent napa cab rich ,dirt, mod tannins was great until we opened the Lokoya

i had the pleasure of drinking this wine with several industry icons including this gracious proprietor of this wine. bar none it is the best domestic cabernet i have ever had and should be the standard bearer for what cabernet should be in america. true to the land and with a sense of place this cabernet may be what saves Napa Valley from itself from the spat of highly rated undrinkable fruit bombs that are made gratitiously to stand out in a tasting of 100 wines at a time by a boob such as laube. again, a tour de force, clearly a 100 point wine

Inky purple with dark berry and casis on the nose and palate. Medium bodied and soft on the mid palate with slightly tannic finish. Needs 1 1/2 hours of air. This wine has plenty of life left.

Starting to fade at this point. The tannins remain fresh, but the length is diminishing. Good notes of mushrooms and balanced midpalate, but somewhat disappointing.

Decanted 4 hours. Ruby red color, with a sauvage, meaty nose. Soft, but rich body. Plum, cassis, red fruits on palate. Long aftertaste. Glad I decanted; wonder if I opened too soon. If had to give points--93-94.

dark ruby, plenty of fruit even a bit youthful, moderate tannin structure and finish. Elegant wine, made for food.

Nice plum color. Nose of blueberry, chocolate and plum with still a whiff of ethanol. Soft and full bodies, really widening in the mouth. Hints of spices. Very astringent and acidic finish. Hints of oak, and a little off balance. Pure napa cab in it's hedonistic fruit upfront but the finish was short and thin.

Tobacco and lead pencil on the nose. Very balanced and drinking well now, although not flamboyant (however, Kathleen was quite impressed with it). Seems like it is about in the middle of its drinking window.

The '97 Eisele has always been a relative disappointment in the context of the vintage. Dark red color with lots of thin clear legs. Surprisingly forward and accessible ? this is definitely not a closed '97. Lacks the concentration and depth of fruit one expects from a '97. Open nose of toast, cherry, slight smoke, and some minerals. Easy flavors of slightly acidic toast, black cherry, mint, and menthol. Reasonably plush and drinking well now ? there just isn'tenough there.