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: 2011 Araujo "Altagracia" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend

2011 Araujo "Altagracia" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend

SKU #1160101 92 points Vinous

Outer quote mark The 2011 Altagracia is round, sexy, supple and beautiful, especially within the context of the year. Sweet red berries, mint, tobacco, savory herbs and anise meld together in a distinctive wine long on personality. With time in the glass the wine fleshes out nicely, as the flavors become darker, richer and layered. Altagracia is a blend of mostly Eisele fruit, plus a bit of Vine Hill Ranch, a well-draining site in Oakville that is among Napa Valley's very best. The blend is 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec. (AG) Inner quote mark (11/2013)

91 points James Suckling

Outer quote mark A wine with more focus and refinement than the 2010 with blueberry, mineral and slate character. Juicy and savory. Extremely well done for the second wine of Araujo. Iodine and stone. Inner quote mark (5/2014)

91 points Int'l Wine Cellar

Outer quote mark Bright red-ruby. Deep aromas of dark berries, violet and caraway seed lifted by an impression of peppery acidity. Fresh and penetrating, showing good energy to the slightly medicinal flavors of kirsch, crushed berries and violet. Juicy but not green, finishing with dusty tannins and good length. This is very successful for a second wine from a tricky year. (ST) Inner quote mark (6/2014)

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2011 Araujo "Altagracia" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend

Price: $74.99

Quantity:

VN: 92

JS: 91

ST: 91

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Product Reviews:

By: Ivan Diaz | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 3/5/2015 | Send Email

Velvety and rich, the 2011 Altagracia is surprisingly approachable. Though it packs plenty of muscle, the edges are refined and the texture is creamy with sweet tannins, for an extremely satisfying drink. Loads of red and dark berries greet the nose up front, wrapped in vanilla and mocha, finishing with some baking spice and comfortable acidity. While it's expressing itself very nicely right now, this is also a great candidate for your cellar, 10-15 years.

Additional Information:

Varietal:

Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends

- Cabernet Sauvignon has come a long way from its role as a blending varietal, however dominant, in the wines of Bordeaux. Today it is the most planted red varietal in the world. Identified as a descendent of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon needs to be planted in warmer climates to fully ripen. Its small berries can easily be identified for their distinctive blue color, thick skins and high tannins. And while the varietal has its own definitive characteristics: green pepper-like aromas and black currant flavors among them, it is perhaps most prized for its ability to convey terroir, vintage and winemaking. A relatively new varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon started making inroads into the wines of the Médoc and Graves in the late-18th century. Today it is also dominant in the up-and-coming Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux and can also be found in Southwest France. It is the companion varietal to Sangiovese in Italy's Super Tuscans and is planted all over Europe, stretching to lesser-known winegrowing regions like Russia and Lebanon. In the Americas Cabernet Sauvignon has found champions in every nook and cranny of California and among winemakers in Washington, where it complements plantings of Merlot. In South America, Cab thrives in Chile, but can also be found in smaller amounts in Argentina and even in Mexico.

Country:

United States

- When people consider domestic wine, they normally think about the state of California. The fine viticultural Region within California, including the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Cruz Mountains, Mendocino and Santa Barbara, are capable of growing grapes of world-class quality. But there's plenty of fabulous wine coming from other states, too. Oregon, Washington and New York are also causing eyebrows (and glassware) to be raised around the world.

Sub-Region:

California

- With the explosive growth that California's wine industry has seen the past several years, it's easy to view winemaking and grape growing in the Golden State as a recent phenomenon. And while it's true that California's viticultural history is brief compared to several European countries, this state's roots date back well over 200 years. Due to the enormous response to California wine within the United States and worldwide, there are thousands of excellent and diverse wines being produced within the state each year.

Specific Appellation:

Napa Valley

- America's most famous wine region, which encompasses a varied geographical territory running about 20 miles long from the San Francisco Bay northward to the foot of Mount St. Helena. Napa's great diversity, both in terms of climate and terroir, has led to the creation of a number of smaller AVAs like Stags Leap District, Rutherford, Howell Mountain, Oakville and Mount Veeder, among others. Cabernet and chardonnay still reign supreme, but just about everything under the sun is grown in Napa Valley, in quality levels ranging from $2 jug wine to $500 a bottle California cab.

Alcohol Content (%):

14.8

Organic: