2008 State Lane Vineyard Grand Vin Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
Bright medium ruby. Alluring aromas of dark berries, licorice, lavender and violet. Wonderfully dense, spicy wine with an exhilarating sugar/acid balance giving definition to its dark berry, mineral and floral flavors. Offers outstanding thickness and depth of texture without any undue weight. Really echoes and rises on the long back end, with the noble tannins thoroughly integrated with the wine's fruit. This makes the Roberta's seem a bit ungiving, but I suspect that that wine will yet gain in pliancy. One of the handful of superstars of its vintage, from fruit picked between October 14 and 17, or almost a full month later than the Roberta's Merlot (September 18). (14.5% alcohol; 98% new French and 2% new Hungarian oak)
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Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(14.5% alcohol; 3.7 pH, vs. 3.57 for the Merlot): Deep ruby-red. Blacker on the nose than the Roberta's Reserve, offering aromas of cassis, blackberry, plum jam, licorice, bitter chocolate and graphite minerality. Much more clenched too and developing at a snail's pace, displaying outstanding depth and a restrained opulence to its flavors of dark fruits, licorice and minerals. The serious tannins arrive late, then build steadily and gain in sweetness. This wine, too, was made from seven-year-old vines.
Notes of blueberry and cassis on the nose and palate. This is chewy and rich with a full body that gives hints of minerals, mint, and spices. Don\'t touch this for five or six years. 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petite Verdot. 430 cases.
(87% cabernet sauvignon, 5% each merlot and cabernet franc, and 3% petit verdot): Bright medium ruby. Crushed cassis, blackberry, bitter chocolate and menthol on the nose, along with a pronounced rocky minerality. Densely packed and energetic, with powerful dark berry, crushed stone and saline flavors enlivened by a lavender element. Finishes very long and firm. This uncompromisingly dry wine shut down in the glass and gives every sign of needing a good eight to ten years of cellaring.