Atlas Peak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – The Pinnacle of Cheeseburger Wines?

82.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.5% Cabernet Franc, 5.5% Merlot, 2.5% Malbec and 5.8% Petit Verdotfrom Napa Valley, California (65% Atlas Peak, 11% Howell Mountain, 22% Napa Valley and 2% Spring Mountain District).

SRP of $38 and available for as low as $19.99. 8,523 cases produced.

From the bottle:

“Adversity builds character. Vines on steep slopes have to struggle in thin soil to store nutrients, seek out water and survive. Those that do reward us by producing grapes with deep flavor concentration due to the relative grape size to juice ratio. Our Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon is a perfect example of this. Drawing from several vineyards in Napa Valley, this wine has boysenberry, mocha, currant and black plum flavors. A touch of cigar box with vanilla on the nose from oak aging complements the long finish.

14.9% Alcohol”

Napa Valley Cabernet is a tough nut to crack under $20, but today’s wine comes in just under our limit and compares very favorably to a couple of recent Napa Valley Cabs that we reviewed as Saturday Splurges, the Robert Mondavi Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and the Mount Veeder Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. In other words, you need to check this one out.

The 2008 Atlas Peak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon begins with really powerful and enticing aroma full of succulent dark fruit (black cherry, blackberry and plum) that is tinged with beautiful vanilla and oak. Tasting the wine reveals more of the same and that’s a really good thing. Rich and juicy dark fruit, sweet oak, good acidity and slightly chewy tannins round out this nicely balanced Cabernet. It ends dry with good length and features a little tobacco and chocolate under the rich fruit. 18 months in 100% French oak (50% new) was put to fabulous use in this wine with the oak never overpowering but instead adding depth and complexity. This would make a fabulous cheeseburger wine.

Buy this wine online from our featured sponsor Marketview Liquor or see a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

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