Wine Recommendation
 Welcome | My Account | Sign Out
Subscribe to our newsletter
Bookmark and Share  
print this review     

Wine Recommendation

Lynch Vineyards

2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
(Spring Mountain District ~ Napa Valley)



Dan Lynch is one of the characters of the Napa Valley and this wine of his is full of character. Right now, it’s very young with hints of milk chocolate and sweet malted milk flavors from the oak. But I’m reasonably sure that will integrate with time.

In the meanwhile, it’s very dark in color and is soft on the palate with warm black fruit flavors. The wine is unctuous and elegant, with a satin-like body with loads of that heretofore mentioned sweet dark fruit and chocolate. However, there’s an underlayment of gritty tannins to ensure some of that character and a bit of longevity. Hold on to it for a year or so and then drink it over the next eight years.

The grapes come from the estate’s Lynch Knoll vineyard on lower Spring Mountain. It is the fourth vintage from this parcel; and it was made by longtime Napa Valley winemaker Gary Galleron. The varietal composition is 94.95 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.8 Merlot, 0.2 Syrah. The listed alcohol percentage is a welcomed 13.9 percent. The suggested retail price is $60. There were only 142 cases made.

Reviewed January 9, 2006 by Alan Goldfarb.

 

The Wine

Winery: Lynch Vineyards
Vintage: 2002
Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Spring Mountain District ~ Napa Valley
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon (95%), Merlot (4%), Syrah / Shiraz (1%)

Review Date: 1/9/2006

The Reviewer

Alan Goldfarb

Alan Goldfarb has been writing about and reviewing wine for 17 years. His reviews have been published in the St. Helena Star, San Jose Mercury, San Francisco Examiner, Decanter, and Wine Enthusiast, among others. Not once has he used a point system, star system, or an iconic symbol to quantify a wine. What counts in Mr. Goldfarb’s criteria when judging a wine is: how it tastes in the glass; is it well-constructed; its food compatibility; and presence of redeeming regional attributes.