2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Saturated red-ruby color. Superripe, liqueur-like aromas of candied berries, iron, fennel and black licorice. Sweet, thick flavors of currant, blackberry and licorice. A big, rich, youthfully aggressive wine that needs a year or two to harmonize. Finishes with ripe, dusty, very broad tannins that coat the palate. From a vineyard just off the valley floor, planted on fractured shale over bedrock.

The 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate has aged well, all things considered. Inky dark fruit, lavender, spice and espresso are front and center. The 2002 is an interesting wine to revisit, as it reveals quite a bit of the style favored by Hourglass and winemaker Bob Foley at the time. Although notably jammy at first, there is also an element of under-ripeness that lurks beneath the fruit. I find today's wines more compelling.