Meander Cellars

Amy Aiken followed then boyfriend Joel of Beaulieu Vineyards fame to Napa Valley with her masters in plant pathology from UC Santa Cruz. During her first wine country interview with Craig Williams at Joseph Phelps Vineyards she was given the brush off. When finally in exasperation she dropped Joel’s name she was hired on the spot.

Cutting her teeth on benchmark Cabernets “Backus”, “Eisele”, and “Insignia” during her tenure at Phelps, Amy now produces her own 100% Cabernet Sauvignon under the Meander label. The fruit comes from two family owned vineyards, the Morisoli and Lewelling Vineyards. Morisoli is 53 acres on the Rutherford Bench, while Lewelling Vineyards are in the western foothills in the St. Helena AVA. Both are highly regarded fruit sources and are sought after by some of the top names in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

This outstanding first release, of which only 200 cases were made, is opulently fruity with mint, hay, earth, boysenberry, framboise, currant, mission fig, clove, espresso, and red rose petal notes. Chewy fruit and slightly drying oak tannins serve to reign in the lavish fruit and provide structure. Decant for aeration before serving.

Reviewed December 28, 2006 by Catherine Fallis.