2001 Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard

Richer, softer and sexier, the youthful 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota reveals more boysenberry and briery mountain fruit interwoven with crushed rock, graphite, espresso and white chocolate characteristics. More stunningly perfumed than its sibling, it, too, is an infant in terms of its development. Cellar it for another 4-5 years and drink it over the following 25+. Verite’s French winemaker, Pierre Seillan, makes these wines. When I tasted these cuvees right after bottling, they were so massive and enormous, it was hard to discern their full personalities, so it was a pleasure to taste them at age ten, even though they are still infants in terms of development, and reveal only a small fraction of their ultimate potential. Both are 100% Cabernet Sauvignons aged 14 months in 100% new French oak prior to bottling. Tel. (707) 431-3921

Full ruby-red. Reticent nose hints at blueberry, blackberry, espresso and game. Lush and rich but quite dry, and less forthcoming than the Helena Montana. Quite closed today, with the tannins coming across as a bit youthfully tough.

(the Helena Montana is on the Peter Michael side of Knights Valley while this is on the Calistoga side, where the clay soil does not warm up as quickly and a cool wind frequently blows) Medium ruby-red. Bright, floral aromas of black fruits, violet, licorice, black pepper, anise and fresh herbs. Densely packed and intense, with penetrating, juicy, cool flavors of minerals, black cherry, bitter chocolate and fresh herbs. This rather elegantly styled wine offers lovely flavor development. Finishes with suave, fine tannins that coat the entire palate. I suspect this site needs a vintage like 2001 to reach thorough ripeness.