Happy Saturday! And of course, since this is the first Saturday of a new month, that make this Cellar Saturday, that magical time when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making. Tonight, I've selected a wine that has only been in my cellar for a few weeks, but it's been in someone's cellar since 2011 before I bought this bottle from Wines Till Sold Out. The 2011 Notre Vin Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvée L'Étrier is a Classic Napa Valley Cabernet blended with a bit of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. So, let's see how this wine is tasting!
.jpg "2011 Notre Vin Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvée L'Étrier")
The wine is an inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a big, bold Napa Cabernet. Take a whiff and you are greeted with plum, graphite, aged leather and a touch of fig for good measure. The first sip is a rush of black cherry that is at first sweet, then tart, then back to sweet, before easing into some earthy notes of dusty limestone and peat midpalate. The tannins are still fairly robust, providing a pivotal backdrop for the long, smooth and very dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.
Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a classic big, bold Napa Valley Cabernet that fans will appreciate. This wine would pair well with a wide range of dishes, but like most big Cabs, this one practically begs to be paired with a big, juicy steak. And we're in luck! I am enjoying this wine tonight with a rare grilled T-bone along with grilled hatch chiles, blistered cherry tomatoes and corn on the cob. Cheers!
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