1999 Araujo - Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - USA - California - Napa - Napa Valley - Red

Great wine, needed 1/2 hour -45 minutes decanting. Full of dark chocalate and pencil.

The irresistible sexpot of the Cabernet tasting was precocious from the get go, exposing its ripe underbelly of black currant, blackberry, spice box, mocha and flint flavors in spectacular fashion. The ripest of the bunch was juicy, supple and full of richly layered dark fruit in the palate that were buttressed by a wondrously plush texture, pumping out the flavors effortlessly to a lengthy conclusion. At the top of its game last night and should drink well for another ten years easily

Araujo really came through and saved its reputation as an authentic California Cult in 1999. After a relatively poor '97, the '99 breaks through and is closer in quality to the Araujo wines of the early and mid nineties. Black opaque colored wine with thick legs. An immature nose of toasty oak, black cherry, and plum with slight leather and spice. Classic cabernet flavors are coupled with substantial yet supple tannins. The wine has a very long finish with persistent flavors of spice and oak. The oak is already well integrated but time will only improve the melding of flavors.