Dominari

This wine from the little known property of Jurgen and Marie Schutz is going to go a long way to prove that Atlas Peak is best suited to Cabernet Sauvignon; and not to Sangiovese, a notion with which the region has been saddled for almost two decades.

The Schutz’ 2002 Cabernet is from their Guadeamus Vineyard at the 1,700-foot level. This is the ninth leaf (year) for the Schutz’ vines, planted to Clone 6 – one of the majestic Cab clones. While top-heavy with those flavors you’ve come to expect in a $75 Napa Valley Cab – sweet vanilla and oak, chocolate, jamminess – the terroir of the region does shine through.

I recommend decanting to get to the bottom of this, so to speak. With time exposed to aeration, all that’s in the carafe will meld into one delicious, well-made, and well-grown wine. If you’re lucky to own a few more bottles, hold onto it for a bit and then drink it over the ensuing 20 years.

The wine was aged in half new and half 2-year-old French barrels. The listed alcohol is 14.5 percent and there were but 350 cases produced.

This Cabernet was also selected as an Appellation Signature Wine by a panel of Atlas Peak winemakers in an Appellation Discovery tasting in May, 2006.

Reviewed September 12, 2006 by Alan Goldfarb.

Other Awards & Accolades

AppellationAmerica - "Appellation Signature" selection

Bright, dark, deep color. Rich, sweet, oak-vanilla, chocolate, jammy berry notes, with slight celery in the nose. Berry with hints of vanilla flavors and mint-y eucalyptus, blackberry, dark cherry, cedar, brown sugar, and cocoa. Big, tannic structure with modest acidity finishing second. Velvet-y. Balance?...Wow! Although this wine has big tannins, it finishes creamy with nice acidity, lingering but needs time. Best tannins of all the Atlas Peak Cabs tasted; too much at first, but upon allowing it to sit in the glass, it’s well-integrated.
(Atlas Peak Discovery Tasting: April 29, 2006)