2009 Napa Valley Cabernet: The Chronicle recommends

Napa Cabernet is typically our biggest and most pivotal tasting of the year. Our panel considered some 60 wines from the 2009 vintage in a range of prices.
We found wines that exemplified the power of Napa and the freshness and aging potential of great Cabernet. In particular, there was a surge of quality from some of the valley’s most established names. That includes wines like the Robert Mondavi Cabernet, which you might say started it all in Napa’s modern era, and the estate bottle from J. Davies, which is Schramsberg’s line of red wines.
Below are top choices from the panel and other recent tastings, representing a cross-section of Napa’s best from a memorable vintage.
2009 Corison Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($70, 13.6% alcohol): Here was just the sort of vintage to play to Cathy Corison’s strengths – a year where you could make a taut, ripe wine without a drop of fat. Corison handled it beautifully. Full of mineral power, with pencil lead and chicory, and a tobacco-leaf freshness. Plummy, tight and a bit dusky, a subtly shaded wine with nuance and refinement.
2009 Tor Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($75, 14.4%): Jeff Ames’ efforts for Tor Kenward’s label again dialed in a hearty but complex style, this time in a blend of its three key vineyard sources: Howell Mountain’s Cimarossa, Yountville’s Mast and Oakville’s To Kalon. Ripe and full of cinnamon spice (a signature of Cimarossa), but the fruit is tense and raspberry-edged, matched by savory sandalwood, mustard seed and currant. A lot in the mix here.
2009 Larkmead Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($70, 14.5% alcohol): While the estate Cabernet from this wonderfully revived Calistoga property is hardly shy, it’s also a standout example from the vintage. Fresh, mineral-driven and full of dusty plum and mint leaf, the 2009 is classic and surprisingly racy, with a ton of structure but enough graphite and earth that it never feels driven by fruit. A sign of how the older and new Napa styles are being bridged.
2009 J. Davies Estate Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon ($80, 14.5%): Schramsberg’s Hugh Davies has been working for years toward a red wine that matches the quality of his sparkling, and in 2009 his Calistoga property, which encompasses some of Napa’s earlier hillside vineyard sites, was fully dialed in. It needs cellar time to shine, but here’s the full power of his site on display – a tightly-wound and savory mouthful: sagebrush, tobacco, mint and black coffee, with dark fruit brooding and a spectacular expression of that loamy Diamond Mountain character.
2009 Round Pond Estate Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon ($50, 14.5%): The MacDonnell family’s site in the core of Rutherford again yielded a terrific value of a wine (also true of their $30 bottle aged in old wood and using some bought fruit). 2009 was a tighter, more focused effort for Round Pond, but winemaker Brian Brown dialed back the evidence of oak to let clean black cherry, chicory and dust notes shine. It’s still a notably ripe creation, but with great savory touches – dried herb, pencil shaving.
2009 Hess Collection Allomi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($28, 14.4%): Hess’ mainline Cabernet is somewhat off-message for Napa these days – sourced from its site near the south end of Howell Mountain, aged in mostly older American oak. And so it’s all the more impressive: Pretty and slightly floral, with a dusky violet side amid the black fruit, plus a welcome cinnamon-candy bite. Its sweetness feels appropriate and just right for the nuanced flavors.
2009 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($28, 14.5%): The current state of Mondavi finds its strength in the basics, including this found-everywhere bottle that, impressively, includes more than 30 percent fruit from Robert Mondavi’s beloved To Kalon vineyard. A classic, loam-tinged profile, with cassis and black tea and a robust, chewy presence. It’s very much a sum of its parts, but the bones are impressively solid for the price.
2009 Louis M. Martini Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($30, 14.5%): Full credit to Mike Martini, whose family’s winery now resides under the Gallo umbrella, for again delivering a classically styled, user-friendly Napa Cab at a level (65,200 cases) that leaves most counterparts foundering. It’s not purely classic – that 5 percent Petite Sirah nods at a different set of traditions – but it’s just rich enough, with sweet black cherry, plus espresso accents and a salty side, to show its roots without going to the jammy side.
2009 Napa Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($22, 14.1% alcohol): Score one for this long-established name, now part of the Trinchero family’s stable of properties. It’s evidence of how blending from a range of Napa sites can work at a reasonable price, without becoming generic. Full of fun and familiar Napa flavors: a smoky side, with a hint of dried red pepper, brambly fruit and a throat-lozenge glide to the texture.
2009 Terra Valentine Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon ($45, 14.9%): The Wurtele family’s Spring Mountain property certainly has shown its mettle in recent years, and in this vintage the dense mountain tannins are balanced with great mineral freshness and a warm kirsch-like side. Wonderful savory tones – a meatiness that should mellow with a couple years aging. Sam Baxter’s winemaking continues to frame the great potential of this site.
2009 Antica Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($55, 14%): Piero Antinori’s rebirth of his Atlas Peak project ( sfg.ly/Jy7278) is coming into its own with this classy, distinctive expression of 2009 that enjoyed an extra year bottle aging. A meaty, earthbound profile – wet clay, copper, cassis and rich raspberry, with clear mineral and tree-bark accents that certainly hint at a mind-set geared toward a more earth-driven style. Polished, but not at the cost of distinction.
2009 Stony Hill Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($60, 13.5%): An unexpected surprise from the McCrea family’s long-established winery, known far more for its white wines. You either take or leave the hard-edged style, with its exposed tannins, but its appealing floral side – sachet, raspberry, bright mineral – shows a different, and delicious, aspect of Napa.
2009 Buehler Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($36, 14.1%): The Buehler family, and winemaker David Cronin, again succeed in poking at Napa’s high-wire economics with wines that cost perhaps half the going rate, and in 2009 their estate effort, aged in more new French oak, marks a solid step up from the basic Napa bottle. It delivers a wallop of graphite and smoke – think dried cherry and a warm grass fire – and its meaty side is matched by a distinct freshness.
2009 Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($50, 14.5%): Craig has long been an expert in the Napa hillsides, but there’s something notably appealing about this blend (Petit Verdot and Merlot make cameos) from the foothills around Mount George in southeast Napa. An enthusiastic dose of oak can’t mask great dried-herb and graphite complexity, or its robust bramble fruit character. Big and dense, with a plushness and tea-like herbal side.
2009 Chappellet Pritchard Hill Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($135, 15.1%): Even in this cooler year, the Chappellets are unabashed in the style of their top wine. Once again the Pritchard Hill, perched above Lake Hennessey, is a grand snapshot of modern Napa at its best. Big, dense and polished – with a kirsch-like heat but also a lot of mineral power. Graphite, dried leaves, coriander and exotic spice amid deeply extracted black fruit. A classy expression of this site’s extraordinary potential, with a bit of Petit Verdot and Malbec in the mix.
2009 Cameron Hughes Lot 285 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon ($24, 14.5%): As always, Hughes’ efforts are catch as catch can, but this recent lot from Rutherford is both plentiful (10,400 cases) and reliable. A surprising lift to the flavors – more red fruit and cassis, with lower tones of ripe blackberry – is matched by a dusty presence and toasted coffee bean. Quintessential Rutherford.
2009 Tudal Estate St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon ($65, 14.5%): The Tudals’ small St. Helena vineyard yielded a mineral-edged, aromatic effort in this milder year, and winemaker Kirk Venge guided it to something that resembles the Napa Cabernets of 20 years ago, with focus and freshness even in its size. Full of dried thyme and bramble fruit, and densely knit darker flavors for balance.

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Some of the good resorts in Pampanga offer clean and safe outdoor facilities for Manila families to bring their children along for a nice picnic ideal as a form of family bonding. Clearwater is one of the best hotels in Clark Pampanga that offer outdoor picnic spots and facilities that are suitable for teambuilding and other corporate and social events near Manila. This is also one of the best resorts in Pampanga for family bonding, anniversaries and other celebrations. This hotel in Clark is also one of the best resorts near Manila for families to relax, unwind and enjoy the outdoor facilities of this popular resort in Clark Philippines. Clearwater appears frequently on the top of a list of the best hotels in Pampanga. Wedding pictures can be taken in one of the beautiful resorts near Manila for a wedding album. This hotel in Clark is also a favorite holiday destination near Manila during Holy Week, Easter, Christmas and New Year holidays.

This Pampanga resort hotel is different from other hotels in Clark Philippines or hotel in Angeles City. This Clark Hotel has large outdoor space for children to play and adults to enjoy some peace and quiet in the picnic grounds near the lake. Guests like the Hotel’s café breakfast garden which serves the best breakfast in Pampanga. Clearwater Resort has nice ambience and wide space, much better than the other hotels in Angeles City and Manila Philippines.

Many guests like staying at Clearwater Family Inn Hotel Room in the picnic grounds of this resort in Clark Pampanga. Some like the trees in the resort camping grounds of this place of leisure. One can stay in other hotels in Angeles City but it is not often one finds amenities and ambience like Clark, not like Clearwater Resort in Angeles City Philippines.

Clearwater can best be characterized as a spacious outdoor resort centered around a large fresh-water lake, several large picnic grounds, a campsite, a white-sand beach, some swim spots and some 20-30 cabins and cottages scattered throughout the property. This resort in Pampanga is the kind of hotel that appeals to those who need to get away from the stress of living the city, to relax and unwind in a peaceful and clean environment.

One thing going for Clearwater is its location – Clark, Pampanga – which is not only very conveniently accessible from Manila (just 70 minutes of easy highway driving) but probably the safest destination in all of the Philippines. Yes, Clark has the lowest crime rate of any city in the Philippines. Experienced travelers who frequent the Philippines for business, holidays or vacations know exactly how important safety and security is when selecting a vacation destination in Philippines. The last thing that anyone on a vacation needs to do is to worry about safety.

Those who are lucky enough to get a room at this lake resort in Clark Philippines will be able to enjoy the magical sunrise across the lake of Clearwater Resort at dawn. This is the only hotel in Clark Pampanga that guests can really enjoy viewing sunrise.

Clearwater Resort in Clark Philippines is well regarded by event organizers and travel agencies as a beautiful place to visit in Pampanga. Family travelers laud the swim spots in this exclusive resort in Clark Pampanga as a good place to swim outside of Manila. No wonder this hotel in Clark is such a popular holiday destinations during the summer months in Philippines.

For inquiries and bookings, Please click here to contact Clearwater Resort for inquiries and reservations now

Clearwater Resort and Country Club, Clark Pampanga
Creekside Road near Centennial Expo,
Clark Freeport, Pampanga Philippines 2023
(045) 889-5151 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177
Joanne or Jeremy or Loydha

Getting to this lake and beach resort in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Philippines

After entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway MA Roxas, passing the stand-along wine shop called Clark Wine Center on the right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, one will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on the right just 200m down.

Family Bonding by the famous lake of Clark Pampanga

http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

Email: Inquiry@ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Please click here to contact Clearwater Resort to reserve a venue for your upcoming event now

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

For jobs and business investment opportunities in the Philippines please visit http://www.yilp.com

Hot Line for what’s happening in Clark: 045 889-5151 or 0927-940-2669 ask for Loydha

0915-542-6250 (Jeramie)