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Band of Vintners, Consortium, Cabernet Sauvignon

California, United States 2015 (750mL)
$35.00
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Fruit
Earth
Body
Tannin
Acid
Alcohol

Band of Vintners, Consortium, Cabernet Sauvignon

Out here in wine’s Wild West, where cult wines run for hundreds, even thousands, of dollars; where there are waitlists for waitlists to join ultra-swanky wine clubs; and where an acre on the Napa valley floor fetches more than $300,000, it is so very welcoming to experience a dynamite Cabernet that comes in at such an affordable price.
This label—and winemaking team—is a band of vintners, and what a band indeed. The gang of seven are wine gurus of different capacities (including one Master Sommelier) who combined their powers to create a rich and luxurious Napa Cabernet that doesn’t require emptying your wallet. Some of you may remember my excitement when I offered their inaugural vintage last year. Well, their second release surpasses it in quality. It would be a disservice to the “band”, our subscribers, and anyone who has searched for genuine value if I didn’t offer this wine. I taste a lot of Napa Valley Cabernet—I live here now, after all—and this is a monumental success from every angle: price, enjoyment, pure class, you name it. For that reason, I’ve secured enough for you to stock up to your heart’s content. Do not pass up on this opportunity. This is a sure bet.
This band of seven vintners have a mind-boggling amount of experience throughout the entirety of the wine pipeline. One reason for keeping “Consortium” at an affordable price is the strategy to purchase fruit throughout Napa. Although the vineyard sites aren’t revealed, it should be noted that several members have connections that run deep with DANA, Harlan Estate, Promontory, Spottswoode and Young Inglewood. And if that’s not already an impressive enough list, other members are also making wine at Cardinale, Lokoya, Hyde de Villaine and Larkmead, so it’s safe to say the provenance here is surely of the highest degree. Throw in a couple of wine entrepreneurs along with Master Sommelier (and dear friend) Jason Heller, and you have yourself a supergroup that is bound to impress for years to come. 

The 2015 Band of Vintners “Consortium” is a seamless blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, rounded out by 4% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. As above-mentioned, the fruit has been sourced throughout the valley and was aged 15 months in once-used French oak after fermentation. I think the amount of oak and length of aging has been perfectly implemented here, lending perfect density and richness. 

In the glass, the 2015 Band of Vintners Cabernet shows a core of dark crimson red bordering deep purple, with vibrant magenta hues at the rim. The wine’s immense concentration is immediately apparent. Thick tears cling to the sides. Classic Napa is presented on the nose: black currant, black cherry, blackberry, black plum, licorice, cacao nibs, wet leather, red tobacco leaf, damp violet and earth. On first taste, this wine is very open, very generous. It’s ready to go. It’s full-bodied and rich in fruit while retaining freshness, thanks in large part to the ripeness of the black fruits, which are succeeded by secondary notes of wildflowers, toasted coffee, savory tobacco, cedar, earth, and delicate oak spice. When tasting this my mind immediately goes to the top wineries of St. Helena, Rutherford and Oakville, but it echoes old classics with its soft, smooth personality. The ’15 “Consortium” was bottled earlier this year, but it is already firing on all cylinders. Decant for a minimum of 30 minutes and serve at 60-65 degrees in large Bordeaux stems. Don’t overthink the pairing. It deserves a huge cowboy rib-eye with some grilled veggies and whipped potatoes on the side. Cheers!

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Country
United States
Region
California
Sub-Region
United StatesNapa Valley
Soil
Mixed
Farming
Sustainable
Blend
93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc
Alcohol
14.0
OAK
Used French
TEMP.
60-65
Glassware
Bordeaux Stems
Drinking
Now-2020
Decanting
30 Minutes
Pairing
Cowboy Ribeye

United States

Washington

Columbia Valley

Like many Washington wines, the “Columbia Valley” indication only tells part of the story: Columbia Valley covers a huge swath of Central
Washington, within which are a wide array of smaller AVAs (appellations).

Oregon

Willamette Valley

Oregon’s Willamette Valley has become an elite winegrowing zone in record time. Pioneering vintner David Lett, of The Eyrie Vineyard, planted the first Pinot Noir in the region in 1965, soon to be followed by a cadre of forward-thinking growers who (correctly) saw their wines as America’s answer to French
Burgundies. Today, the Willamette
Valley is indeed compared favorably to Burgundy, Pinot Noir’s spiritual home. And while Pinot Noir accounts for 64% of Oregon’s vineyard plantings, there are cool-climate whites that must not be missed.

California

Santa Barbara

Among the unique features of Santa Barbara County appellations like Ballard Canyon (a sub-zone of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA), is that it has a cool, Pacific-influenced climate juxtaposed with the intense luminosity of a southerly
latitude (the 34th parallel). Ballard Canyon has a more north-south orientation compared to most Santa Barbara AVAs, with soils of sandy
clay/loam and limestone.

California

Paso Robles

Situated at an elevation of 1,600 feet, it is rooted in soils of sandy loam and falls within the Highlands District of the Paso Robles AVA.

New York

North Fork

Wine growers and producers on Long Island’s North Fork have traditionally compared their terroir to that of Bordeaux and have focused on French varieties such as Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

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