2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Aida Estate
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Tasting notes
(blended with 5% petit verdot): Deep ruby-red. Pungent aromas of blueberry, cassis, minerals, tar, herbs and mint. A bit less nuanced in the mouth than the nose suggests, showing a slightly green quality but a suave texture to the flavors of black fruits, warm bricks, spices and dried herbs. A smaller-scaled wine by the standards of this bottling, but with a serious spine of tannins and acids.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Aida Estate is beautifully nuanced in this vintage. Espresso, rosemary, earthiness and tobacco all add considerable nuance to the dark fruit. This is an expressive, mineral-drenched vintage for the Aida, with great flavor intensity, fabulous inner perfume and compelling balance. In 2011, the Aida is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot.
From a vineyard made famous by Larry Turley when he was buying Zinfandel off this vineyard (which looks a lot like the stone-strewn vineyards of Chateauneuf du Pape), the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Aida Estate (95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot) is a rarity... an outstanding valley floor offering in 2011. Roasted herbs, Provencal garrigue, sweet black currants and cherries as well as plenty of peppery spice are all present in this medium-bodied, lush, sensual Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink it over the next 8-10 years. The two estate vineyards of Vineyard 29, the 29 Estate and further north the Aida, are owned by Chuck and Anne McMinn. It’s a shame they don’t make more than 100-160 or so cases of their 100% Sauvignon Blanc fermented in 100% new French oak because it is so delicious. Vineyard 29 also produces a reasonably priced Napa Valley cuvee that showcases the valley’s ripe, rich Cabernet Sauvignon fruit, but does not require a line of credit to purchase. Tel. (707) 963-9292
(includes 4% petit verdot): Good ruby-red. Complex, lively aromas of cassis, herbs, pepper and graphite, complicated by bitter chocolate and mocha nuances. Juicy, peppery and slightly tart-edged, showing less mid-palate stuffing to balance its firm tannic backbone than the 2010. This distinctly claret-like wine is smaller-scaled than the 2010 and needs more time in barrel to expand.