Ramey Wine Cellars
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
This bottle was the first from a case that was purchased direct from the winery on release about ten years ago. The 2007 Napa Valley designation Cabernet Sauvignon received over a third of its fruit from the Larkmead Vineyard and the quality shows. The color was a deep, dark, glass staining garnet with no obvious signs of age. On the nose, this was a powerful tobacco bomb with other delightful secondary characteristics such as earth and olives peaking through the curtain of opulent fruit. The palate was treated to all of the lushness and ripeness I have come to expect from the 2007 vintage in Napa valley; a velvet glove of sweet red and black fruits, leather and baking spices. Tannins are well integrated at this point and this is firing on all cylinders. Anyone with well stored examples of these will be well rewarded on the pop and pour. Drink now and over the next few years.
This bottle was the first from a case that was purchased direct from the winery on release about ten years ago. The 2007 Napa Valley designation Cabernet Sauvignon received over a third of its fruit from the Larkmead Vineyard and the quality shows. The color was a deep, dark, glass staining garnet with no obvious signs of age. On the nose, this was a powerful tobacco bomb with other delightful secondary characteristics such as earth and olives peaking through the curtain of opulent fruit. The palate was treated to all of the lushness and ripeness I have come to expect from the 2007 vintage in Napa valley; a velvet glove of sweet red and black fruits, leather and baking spices. Tannins are well integrated at this point and this is firing on all cylinders. Anyone with well stored examples of these will be well rewarded on the pop and pour. Drink now and over the next few years.
Apr 1st, 2020
Transitioning in the Lounge. Night is a little better than day. Love the glow.
This 07 has been hanging out in my secondary storage (temp & humidity controlled but, not EuroCave) for 12 years. Time to drink up, right? Nope. The cork was super pliable with nearly no seepage. This wine has another 10-15 years of good drinking ahead with proper storage.
The nose reveals fruits that are steeped in style. Although, ripe, ruby and quite floral. Dark currants, blackberries, blackberries, black cherries, poached strawberries, black plum, touch of pomegranate, sweet tarry notes, dark chocolate, malt in malt balls, haunting caramel, whiff of black pepper, mix of Asian & Indian dark spices, incense, limestone, volcanic minerals, dry crushed rocks, leather, dry brush, liqueur, liquid fruit chocolate truffles, oak shavings, leather, some graphite, anise to black licorice with dazzling; dark, blue, red, fresh & withering florals and violets for days.
The palate would fool a lot of wine lovers/professionals. There is an earthiness about it that might take you to a warm vintage Bordeaux or a Rhône blend of mostly Grenache and Syrah.
Ripe and lush, dark currants, blackberries, blackberries, black cherries, poached strawberries, black plum, touch of pomegranate, sweet tarry notes, dark chocolate, malt in malt balls, warm caramel, some black pepper, mix of Asian & Indian dark spices, dry Provenance herbs, black offering palate heat, incense, thick layered baking spices; clove, cinnamon & nutmeg with a mini splash of vanilla, limestone, gripping volcanic minerals, dry top soil & clay, dry crushed rocks, dark, rich, turned black earth, leather, dry brush, dry river stone, liqueur, oak shavings, leather, some graphite, anise to black licorice with dazzling; dark, blue, red, fresh & withering florals and singing violets for days. The acidity is round and good but, short of the vintage. The structure, tension, length and balance are approaching their peak. The long, big finish is; ripe, lush, ruby, show the quality of the vintage, well balanced and persists until you put something else on the palate.
P.S. It just gets better & better as you slow sip it. Now, 9.3.
Photos of; kicking nighttime in the D&S Lounge.
Transitioning in the Lounge. Night is a little better than day. Love the glow.
This 07 has been hanging out in my secondary storage (temp & humidity controlled but, not EuroCave) for 12 years. Time to drink up, right? Nope. The cork was super pliable with nearly no seepage. This wine has another 10-15 years of good drinking ahead with proper storage.
The nose reveals fruits that are steeped in style. Although, ripe, ruby and quite floral. Dark currants, blackberries, blackberries, black cherries, poached strawberries, black plum, touch of pomegranate, sweet tarry notes, dark chocolate, malt in malt balls, haunting caramel, whiff of black pepper, mix of Asian & Indian dark spices, incense, limestone, volcanic minerals, dry crushed rocks, leather, dry brush, liqueur, liquid fruit chocolate truffles, oak shavings, leather, some graphite, anise to black licorice with dazzling; dark, blue, red, fresh & withering florals and violets for days.
The palate would fool a lot of wine lovers/professionals. There is an earthiness about it that might take you to a warm vintage Bordeaux or a Rhône blend of mostly Grenache and Syrah.
Ripe and lush, dark currants, blackberries, blackberries, black cherries, poached strawberries, black plum, touch of pomegranate, sweet tarry notes, dark chocolate, malt in malt balls, warm caramel, some black pepper, mix of Asian & Indian dark spices, dry Provenance herbs, black offering palate heat, incense, thick layered baking spices; clove, cinnamon & nutmeg with a mini splash of vanilla, limestone, gripping volcanic minerals, dry top soil & clay, dry crushed rocks, dark, rich, turned black earth, leather, dry brush, dry river stone, liqueur, oak shavings, leather, some graphite, anise to black licorice with dazzling; dark, blue, red, fresh & withering florals and singing violets for days. The acidity is round and good but, short of the vintage. The structure, tension, length and balance are approaching their peak. The long, big finish is; ripe, lush, ruby, show the quality of the vintage, well balanced and persists until you put something else on the palate.
P.S. It just gets better & better as you slow sip it. Now, 9.3.
Photos of; kicking nighttime in the D&S Lounge.
This wine is damn near perfect. So many layers of spice, florals, herbs, soil, dark fruit, red fruit-- so soft and truly velvety on the palate, it's actually soothing to drink. Bravo.
This wine is damn near perfect. So many layers of spice, florals, herbs, soil, dark fruit, red fruit-- so soft and truly velvety on the palate, it's actually soothing to drink. Bravo.
1 person found it helpfulJun 21st, 2015
To be fair, Ramey followed Oreno, which is like following A-Rod in the Yankee line up. It held its own, but the grapes just were not up to the challenge.
To be fair, Ramey followed Oreno, which is like following A-Rod in the Yankee line up. It held its own, but the grapes just were not up to the challenge.
May 25th, 2015
Absolutely loved it. 2007 doesn't ever suck and this held true. Great bottle and still at a good price.
Absolutely loved it. 2007 doesn't ever suck and this held true. Great bottle and still at a good price.
Aug 18th, 2014
Decanted 3 hours. Very good expression of Oakville. The '07 Napa cabs are evolving rapidly. Drink now.
Decanted 3 hours. Very good expression of Oakville. The '07 Napa cabs are evolving rapidly. Drink now.
Jan 13th, 2014
Nice napa cab. The 2007s are aging welk.
Nice napa cab. The 2007s are aging welk.
Oct 20th, 2017