This week we taste with Sean Capiaux, who makes delicious Pinot Noir under his own label, Capiaux Cellars, as well as estate Cabernet Cabernet and Merlot for O’Shaughnessy Winery on Howell Mountain. While I have been a fan of Sean’s Pinots for many years (they’ll be on Web Tasting Room very soon) I hadn’t had a chance to try the O’Shaughnessy wines before, and I was really impressed. My suggestion - taste both of these blind at your next dinner party and see if your guests can figure out which wine got 90-93 points from Robert Parker and which got a whopping 94 points.
This offer is no longer available; thanks to all who ordered. Visit O’Shaugnessy’s website for ordering information.
More information on these wines:
“2004 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Deep, dark ruby red color with a vibrant purple hue and an almost opaque core. Complex aromas of black cherry, black currant, tobacco, sandalwood, leather, smoked meats and chocolate. This wine has a purity of place and minerality with black pepper, orange rind and soy sauce qualities. Mixed red berry flavors and sweet vanilla cream with an excellent acid, tannin balance that lingers on the palate. An elegant yet extracted wine that is impressive upon release but will continue to improve with cellaring.”
“2004 Merlot Howell Mountain Our 2004 Merlot has a saturated ruby color with a deep red hue. The wine delivers ripe, dense aromas of plum, black cherry, currant, cinnamon and brown sugar. The flavors of sweet black fruit and vanilla bean are lush and full with a long persistent finish. A big Howell Mountain Merlot with ample tannins, the wine is approachable now, but has the characteristics to develop and improve for decades.”
This week we taste the 2000 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2004 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Corison Winery in St. Helena. It’s a wonderful pairing because Cathy Corison’s style featuring both elegance and power results in wines that are both ageworthy and delicious upon release.
Web Tasting Room “Shipping Included” Package Price $95.00
Price includes ground shipping to the states listed below.
More information about the wines.
2004 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2004 growing season started very early in the Spring and included a cool, steady ripening period in the Fall. It ended with a very early harvest of extremely low yields resulting in exceptional concentration of the fruit. Pandemonium reigned for a brief time as Rose and Grace returned to school as the first grapes were picked.
This lovely wine is dark crimson in color with enticing aromas of dusty plums, wild cherries and candied violets. Its flavors are rich with red currants and cherries, hints of cassis, cocoa and nutmeg. Soft, supple tannins and a luscious mouth-feel complement its firm structure and moderate alcohol. With both power and elegance, it promises many years of enjoyment.
2000 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon
Delicious and approachable already. Supple and harmonious, with a sense of understatement. Spicy currant, black cherry and plummy notes, that are well-balanced and rich. Fine-grained tannins make it easy to enjoy now. Drink now through 2010.
(tasting note summer 2004)
This offer is no longer available; thanks and congrats to everybody who took advantage of it.
Folks, first of all, thanks very much for your support. Thanks for visiting the site, and special thanks to all of you who have taken advantage of the offer from Selene Wines.
We’re still shaking out some issues that have delayed the release of our second offering and video. But we will be online with a new episode featuring a great winemaker on Tuesday, March 11th, and we have a bunch of wonderful people lined up for offers after that. So join the list, or subscribe to the feed, and stay tuned.
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About Us
In the Web Tasting Room we taste wonderful small production wines with the folks who make them - California's leading winemakers and vintners, who invite you to enjoy these same wines with special, shipping-included pricing.
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More About Modus Operandi
"Modus Operandi Cellars is a wine producer that can be considered the boutique of boutique wines producing only 200 cases of beautiful Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
"My goal is to create a style of Cabernet Sauvignon exuding big, ripe, extracted fruit with a luscious texture, inviting aromatics, integrated oak, and a long - lingering finish. I love powerful wine, so I want to make a wine that demands your attention, pleases your palate, increases the enjoyment of your dining experience, and sometimes, makes you want to enjoy it all-by-itself.
"The small size of my production coupled with the enormous size of my passion allows me the pleasure of giving my wines the most intimate care possible."
