2002 Archipel Red
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Tasting notes
(20% of the fruit is from Mt. Veeder; a blend of 65% cabernet sauvignon, 20%-25% merlot and the rest cabernet franc) Good ruby-red. Aromas of black raspberry, licorice, game, smoke and mocha. Fat, broad and grapey, with bitter chocolate and floral notes. Not especially sweet. Finishes with somewhat dry-edged, rustic tannins and a pronounced menthol note.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2002 Archipel is fashioned from 100% estate fruit grown in both Napa and Sonoma counties. A blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 18% Cabernet Franc, it is a fruit-forward, elegant offering (a small amount of American oak is used in its upbringing) revealing pretty, chocolate, smoky, black cherry, currant, and plum characteristics. Heady and succulent, it is ideal for drinking over the next 7-8 years. (Release date 9/05) Tel. (800) 296-1952; Fax (707) 431-1261
(14.4% alcohol) Good medium ruby. Blackberry, violet and bitter chocolate on the nose. Tightly wound and solidly structured, with ripe flavors of juicy mountain berries, leather and menthol. Finishes with a boatload of toothcoating tannins, but here, too, the tannins avoid hardness. In fact, although Jackson Family Farms works with a lot of Mayacamas range vineyards under the Anakota and Archipel labels, the objective is to craft fruit-forward reds that permit earlier drinkability.
About the producer
The winery was the dream of Jess Jackson, the man who founded the incredibly successful Jackson Family Wines. He, however, wanted to produce truly fine wine in Sonoma County.