Sunday, March 7, 2021

2016 Raymond Vineyards Atlas Peak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy day of volunteer work and chores for me.  It started early as this month I've volunteers to provide refreshments for the green room at church, so I got to make a breakfast casserole for the worship band and singers to enjoy.  Then this afternoon I went over to a local food rescue called Cultivate Culinary (please support their great work if you can: https://cultivateculinary.com/), and helped pack meals for food insecure students in a three county area.  Then it was back home to finish laundry and now have a glass of wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of the next vintage of the Raymond District Series, the 2016 Raymond Vineyards Atlas Peak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon which I bought from Wines Till Sold Out (you can see my review of the 2015 Vintage here).  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

2016 Raymond Vineyards Atlas Peak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The wine is an inky black at the center, with deep garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from a nice, big Napa Caberent.  A quick whiff and your senses are immersed in a basket of earthy aromas, bright fruit and spice, leather, black currant and cassis, amid dried Moroccan spice.  The first sip reveals a rush of black currant, cassis and plum that transitions effortlessly to some notes of cardamom and smoke midpalate.  The tannins are intimately structured, providing for a wonderfully long, dry finish with enough acidity to keep your interest and ease you into your next sip.

Rare grilled porterhouse with bacon roasted Brussels sprouts

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's another great example of the wonderful quality Cabernets that Raymond produces, at a price point that doesn't leave you depressed.  This wine practically begs to be paired with a big steak, but it would also find a nice home with lamb, smoked beef brisket or even a rustic pasta.  Tonight I am taking the easy way out, and enjoying this wine with a big, rare grilled porterhouse with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and a baked Yukon gold potato.  Cheers!

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