2009 Notre Vin Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

Layers of fruit caress the palate as the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon opens up in the glass. This is a vintage that stands out for its textural depth and volume. Absolutely nothing is out of place. The 2009 is a broad, rich wine endowed with tons of depth and pure resonance. One of the most finessed wines I tasted from Notre Vin, the 2009 comes across as a slightly smaller scaled version of the 2007. Layers of fruit caress the palate on the enveloping finish.

Layers of fruit caress the palate as the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon opens up in the glass. This is a vintage that stands out for its textural depth and volume. Absolutely nothing is out of place. The 2009 is a broad, rich wine endowed with tons of depth and pure resonance. One of the most finessed wines I tasted from Notre Vin, the 2009 comes across as a slightly smaller scaled version of the 2007. Layers of fruit caress the palate on the enveloping finish. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. Denis Malbec and his wife May-Britt are probably best known to readers for the wines they work on in their consulting practice – most notably Blankiet and Kapcsandy – but they also make a number of wines under their own labels. Notre Vin is their Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon project. The wines typically take a few years to blossom, but when they do they are often striking. The Malbecs exude a combination of passion, enthusiasm, humility and the desire to constantly keep learning that is rare in the wine world. Although these wines are beautiful, readers are best off cellaring them for at least a few years. Tel. (707) 295-0038

Bright red-ruby. Musky aromas of crushed blackberry, menthol and licorice. Smooth and vibrant, with medicinal black fruit and licorice flavors that reminded me of a Medoc wine. Finishes with serious, dusty, building tannins and lingering notes of black cherry, herbs and spices. Nicely fine-grained wine but the 2010 may ultimately be even suaver.