2004 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon

Mission Codename: Generation Now!

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Infiltrate Raymond Vineyards and acquire their exceptional Saint Helena Cab.

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Raymond Vineyards & Cellars

Wine Subject: 2004 Saint Helena Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker: Walter Raymond

Backgrounder:

Saint Helena is one of the more recent distinct AVAs or districts in Napa Valley, having been formally designated in 1995. Just north of the famous Rutherford AVA, St. Helena is distinct from its neighbors in climate, aspect and soil. Being between the mountainous districts (Spring Mountain and Howell Mountain) to the north and the valley floor to the south (Rutherford) this region is uniquely ’up-valley’. This AVA covers about 9000 acres with the well known Charles Krug being among the first to grow grapes here dating back to the 1870s.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Deep and dark purple with a dark and almost black but clear core. Dark garnet and deep purple edges along with clusters of slow thin legs that ring the glass.

Smell – Juicy with vivid fruit components of blackberry, black cherry and other black-fruit layered over complex notes of earth and floral violets, exotic spice and hints of wild fennel and black pepper.

Feel – The attack on this full-bodied wine is clearly masculine (but not overly aggressive) with a spicy and tangy feel that follows through to the finish. Firm, but fine tannins and balanced acidity frame the complex fruit and spice.

Taste – Bold, juicy and tangy ripe blackberry and black cherry fruit along with balanced and extremely well integrated flavors of spice, oak and earthy notes.

Finish – This wine finishes as it starts with bold fruit, spice and a touch of minerality that just keeps going and going.

Conclusion – The 2004 Saint Helena Cabernet Sauvignon is truly an exceptional wine that pulls no punches, and while it is masculine in profile, it is also quite elegant, in a way that only a wine fit for a ’wine spy’ can. Big and bold, luscious fruit, complex spice and earthy notes, great structure; this is a wine that is drinking great now and is truly worthy of your cellar collection. Be sure to decant this wine for at least an hour and you will be handsomely rewarded.

Mission Report:

Agent Red had been raving about the great the wines from Raymond Vineyard and Cellar. I reviewed the dossier and was most impressed by Raymond’s five generations of winemakers. After infiltrating the winery I was able to secure a TOP SECRET library raid of their exceptional 2004 Saint Helena Cabernet Sauvignon.

Here is a transcript of Agent Red’s original conversation with Krisi Raymond:

I caught up with Krisi Raymond recently, to talk with her about today’s wine. The was no easy feat, mind you. With harvest in full swing, the life of a winemaker is in full-on frenzy mode.

What follows is the transcription of our conversation:

the phone rings

AGENT RED: Go for Red

KRISI RAYMOND: Hi Red, its Krisi Raymond.

RED: Krisi! Hi! Thanks for calling me! I know how busy you must be.

KRISI: I found a free moment so I thought I’d call. I know that I could get called away so…

RED: I appreciate that. What’s happening in your world right now?

KRISI: Well, we’re about half way through the harvest. We’re still waiting for Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Sirah, but nearly everything else is off the vine.

RED: How were the yields this year?

KRISI: We got lucky and had no damage in our estate vineyards. Some of our growers and friends from other wineries got hit hard. Some lost up to 75% of their crop!

RED: Ouch. Did your location protect you from the frost, or was it the timing?

KRISI: Both actually. We saw little frost, and bloom was also late this year. If the frost had hit during bloom, it would have been more bleak.

RED: Well, that’s good news for you. Listen, I know we don’t have much time, but tell me about your Small Lot Red Wine. We love it, by the way.

KRISI: Thanks! I’m happy to hear that. And, we are happy to let The Wine Spies have the exclusive on the wine. I am sure that your Operatives will love it, too.

RED: I’m sure they will, and thanks so much for allowing us to sell the wine. Its not available anywhere else, except the winery, so we are very proud to be showing it!

KRISI: This is our first release of this wine and it was a real labor of love for us. Each component wine was placed in separate barrels, where they sat for 17 months. Blending was done by the entire winemaking team, each of us tinkering and contributing.

RED: The backbone of the wine is Cabernet Sauvignon, which is what Raymond is best known for, right?

KRISI: Exactly. It makes good sense that we would include our Estate Cabernet fruit in this blend.

RED: But the other varietals give the wine a brightness and slight spice that make it come alive…

KRISI: Yes, the Merlot and Cabernet Franc were blended with Petite Sirah for richness and body along with Zinfandel for that slight spicy zing.

RED: A great effort, Krisi. Our Operatives are big red blend fiends so I’m sure they’ll be taking advantage.

a series of tones sound

KRISI: That’s my pager! The vineyards call!!

RED: Thanks, Krisi! I appreciate your time. Let’s catch up again soon to discuss showing another of your great wines!

KRISI: Will do, Red. Agent Raymond – OUT!

end

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Raymond Vineyards and Cellars can be seen in this satellite photo.