2005 Spring Mountain Vineyard "Estate Bottled"
Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

This week’s heist features an interesting Cabernet from Napa’s Spring Mountain Vineyards.  While we are often pushing mountain Cabernet for its elegance here at WineHeist, here is our chance to show that for every rule, there is an exception.  While many of the mountains surrounding Napa Valley (and throughout California) are known for lighter, more European-style wines, Spring Mountain is actually known for producing intense, rich wines.  Whether this is due to the soil, the climate, or a combination of the two we don’t know, but the result is ripe, intense Cabernet that still possesses the balance, if not the finesse, of its mountain heritage.

Spring Mountain’s 2005 Estate Cabernet is sourced from a variety of vineyard blocks on Spring Mountain, allowing the winemaker to select the perfect blend.  Dark red, nearly purple color in the glass foreshadows the big, dark, ripe flavors to follow.  Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, and dark chocolate spring from the glass, with undercurrents of leather and cedar. The palate echoes the black cherry, with notes of violets and a finish that coats the mouth like rich chocolate truffle.   A dose of mountain acidity keeps these ripe, rich flavors balanced, evoking a hint of sweet red fruit to lighten the mood.  Wonderfully smooth and silky, this has Napa Cabernet written all over it.

We are excited to have found another excellent Napa Cabernet that we can offer at a significant discount and bring to you at just over $40.  This Spring Mountain Cab is sure to be a hit at any dinner party, and is the perfect choice when you want a wine sure to make an impression.  Serve it on its own, or with full flavored meat.  Stunning wine, from a stunning property!

About The Winery...

The new Spring Mountain Vineyard was once three separate properties each with its own vineyard and winery: Spring Mountain Vineyards (Miravalle) 257 acres, Chateau Chevalier (Chevalier) 120 acres, and Draper Vineyards (La Perla) 435 acres.

The upper most property on the estate, La Perla, was founded in 1873 by Charles Lemme and expanded by the Schilling Spice family.  Originally 285 acres it had the first Cabernet Sauvignon planted on Spring Mountain. The old winery remains today along with much of its original equipment and horse drawn carriages and wagons. Immediately below La Perla, and eventually added to it was the first vineyard planted by Fredrick and Jacob Beringer in 1882. These terraced hillsides were planted in a wide assortment of grape varieties to support the Beringer brothers’ fledgling winery.

Adjoining to the north of the Beringer vineyard was a Frenchman, Fortune Chevalier, whose stone winery, Chateau Chevalier, was making wine in 1891. And finally, next door to Chevalier was Tiburcio Parrott who grew olives, citrus and grapes. Parrott built a grand home on the estate which he named Miravalle.

Learn more at www.springmtn.com.

<< previous  |  next >>