Gold Medal - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Gold Medal - 2008 West Coast Wine Competition
Canihan Wines is based in the southern end of the Sonma Valley, where their estate vineyards have a climate much more similar to Carneros than to the rest of the Valley to the north. This makes it ideally suited for cooler climate varieties like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In exceptional vintages, Canihan will select a small number of barrels to go into their Exuberance line of reserve wines, which represent the finest that this organically farmed vineyard has to offer. With plenty of structure and intensity, these wines are perfectly suited to cellaring, and we were fortunate enough to pick up the last few cases of their 2005 Exuberance Pinot Noir, which is aging beautifully.
The 2005 Exuberance Pinot Noir Alexandra's Reserve is pale garnet in color, with just a touch of bricking at the rim, which is appropriate for a wine of this age. The nose offers intense aromas of dark berries, spice, earth, and dried flowers. The palate has beautifully integrated with age, showing cherry, berry, vanilla, mint, baking spice, and a touch of toasty oak, finishing with smooth tannin. After 7 years of aging it has integrated and softened, resulting in a lovely wine sure to delight Pinot Noir fans. And best of all, we are able to offer it at an incredible 33% off. This wine doesn't need any more cellaring, and once you have tasted it, you won't want to wait to open your next bottle anyway.
100% Estate Grown
100% Dijon Clones 115, 667 & 777
Harvested on September 28, 2005
Aged 12 months in 100% French Oak
13.7% Alcohol
Total Acid: 0.54g/100ml
3.87 pH
Bottled on September 19, 2006
200 Cases Produced
96 Points
Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, huckleberry, floral violet and savory spice. The palate is full and layered, with robust, age-worthy tannins and gorgeous flavors of dark berries, mocha and chocolate-covered cherries mingling with hints of graphite, fig and fine leather. Smooth tannins, firm structure and silky texture coat the palate on route to a long, generous finish.
97 Points
Aromas of blackberries, graphite, and crushed rock, along with cedar, tobacco leaf, cassis, and a medley of dry herbs and spice.
A substantial mouthfeel, full-bodied structure, firm tannins gracefully interweave, establishing a flawless equilibrium of acidity and pleasing fruit. Well-balanced acidity collaborate harmoniously to accentuate the intricate flavors of berry compote, spices, and oak nuances reminiscent of mocha.
95 Points
This stellar Napa Valley Red Blend marries lush plum and cherry with Malbec's dark berry depth and Petit Verdot's structure and spice. Layered with notes of blackberry, violet, and cocoa, this silky wine finishes with smooth tannins and a whisper of toasted oak. Robust and mouth-filling, with spicy nuances, smooth tannins, firm structure, and a long lingering finish.
97 Points
Lush and fleshy, with cassis, boysenberry, and blackberry notes guided by hints of alder and mesquite. Stays open but defined through the finish, with a buried hint of sweet tobacco. A rich, layered beast, this has a nose rife with currants, blackberries, vanilla, and light toast with flavors of mocha, plum, and Bing cherry that mingle harmoniously on the tongue.
Gold Medal
Generously packed with black cherry, cola, cassis, and plum that all intermingle together in a creamy, velvety texture with great layering, finishing with delightful notes of oak and spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
98 Points
Deep purple hue and an alluring aromatic profile of fresh blue fruits and delicate violets. On the palate, it delivers a seamless and layered texture, framed by supple, polished tannins and a refined sense of balance. Elegantly structured, it offers remarkable purity and finesse, finishing with graceful length and poise.
