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
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.
95 Points
Lofty aromas of dark cherries, blackberries, and plum mingle with hints of baking spices and a touch of violet. The palate reveals luscious flavors of ripe berries, complemented by notes of black pepper and a subtle earthiness. With well-integrated tannins and a long lingering finish.
Exceptional!
Reddish-purple in color with aromas of blackberry, plum, pomegranate, herbs de Provence, and licorice. The palate is full, structured and balanced with blackberry, currant, black cherry, cassis, and licorice that carries through, with notes of black pepper, mocha and chocolate. Very long, spicy, with a fruit-driven finish. Great aging potential.
92 Points
Inviting aromas of ripe cherry, strawberry, and pomegranate. The palate unfolds with layered flavors of black cherry, raspberry cordial, vanilla bean and spice, where focused tannins envelop, leading to a rich red fruit finish with blue fruit undertones.
90 Points
Rich and voluptuous with ripe raspberry, cherry, and plum, layered with hints of lavender, fig compote, and exotic spice. Concentrated and complex, the palate is a balanced interplay cocoa, and a hint of espresso, creating both richness and intrigue. Vibrant acidity and silky tannins that contribute heft and length that coat the palate with luscious ripeness that keeps on giving.
97 Points
Rich dark fruit flavors of blackberry and cherry with notes of baking spices, licorice, coffee, and chocolate that interlace seamlessly with complexity, creating a wine that is both structured and delightfully supple, achieving an ideal balance of tension and grace. Artfully composed of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon with 17% Cabernet Franc, resulting in harmonious depth and freshness.
Gold Medal
Light pink in color with aromas of watermelon, cranberry, orange rind, and fresh spring flowers that leap from the glass. The palate offers more peach, strawberry, and melon, with an intriguing note of rose and hibiscus. It's crisp with just the perfect hint of red fruit, and delicate whisper of strawberry that gives goosebumps.
94 Points
Deep garnet in color from the ripe 2018 vintage, with open aromas of lush fruit – plum, blackberry, and cherry, and notes of cedar, vanilla, and white pepper. Across the palate it's quite seamless and silky, rich and concentrated. The fruit flavors are bold and vibrant. Mouth-filling with smooth tannins, great texture and a long delicious finish.
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.
94 Points
Rich and generous, with a deep purple hue. Aromas of crushed violets, ripe berries, blueberry pop-tarts, black currant, licorice, chocolate-coated espresso beans, allspice, and cedar box. Full-bodied with a plush, velvety texture.
94 Points
A classic expression of coastal influenced Chardonnay with aromas of honey, apple chutney, lime blossom, and gentle Indian spice box undertones. A big juicy entry on the palate, showing a silky texture with excellent tension and structure, ending with a complex, layered finish.
94 Points
Juice explodes right out of the glass with its dark purple in color and bursting aromas of black cherry jam, boysenberry, raspberry and wild cherry interlaced with hints of baking spice, espresso bean, and toasted nut. The palate is ripe and juicy with flavors of dark cherry, huckleberry and raspberry perfectly integrated with notes of spice, dark chocolate, and a kiss of toasty oak.
