2005 Artesa Vineyards and Winery Napa / Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon
Mission Codename: Best of Both Worlds
Operative: Agent White
Objective: Acquire a special allocation of Artesa’s Napa / Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Artesa Vineyards and Winery
Wine Subject: 2005 Napa / Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaker: Mark Beringer
Backgrounder:
The fruit for this delicious wine was sourced from Napa Valley, Alexander Valley and Knights Valley. Napa Valley is, of course, well known for its expectational quality Cabernet Sauvignon.
Alexander Valley in northeast Sonoma County is located on the western side of the Mayacamas range and extends westward to the edge of the Russian River Valley. This appellation was formerly considered a part of Dry Creek Valley but became its own appellation in November 1984. The region is best known for exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot but recently people are starting to discover its Sangiovese, Nebbiolo and Chardonnay as well.
Knights Valley AVA, along highway 128 is located in Sonoma County at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains and next to Napa County. It is a small 55 square miles with about 1000 acres under vine. The gravel and rock soil and higher relative altitude is most influential to the exceptional Cabernet that grows there. The rustic and rural region is well known for its traditional northern California style.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Beautiful dark garnet and ruby with deep ruby-red reflections through its bright clear core. Along the edges the color lightens slight to ruby red and when swirled fat legs ‘appear’ on the side of the glass.
Smell – Medium bold in intensity with balanced aromas of ripe and tart black cherry and other black and red fruit, oak, and baking spices. A touch of smoke and dark mocha emerges along with subtle kernel notes.
Feel – This dry full-bodied wine is smooth and rich with finely-textured medium-firm tannins that are balanced over a kick of soft spice and bright acidity that lingers long into the finish.
Taste – Ripe and focused, great flavors of black and red cherry, are layered over sentimental baking spice and oak notes. A touch of smoke and dark mocha and vanilla adds a very approachable complexity to this wine.
Finish – Focused and clean, with lingering dark fruit, brown spice and smokey oak that makes the mouth water for another sip.
Conclusion – The 2005 Artesa Vineyards and Winery Napa / Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon is a delicious and shows its focused fruit extremely well. Layered into the ripe and rich fruit are brown baking spice, oak, smoke and mocha makes this wine super easy to enjoy. A lovely textured full-bodied structure stands up to food and will allow this wine to cellar for several years to come.
Mission Report:
What follows, for your enjoyment, is a recap of Agent White’s original mission to Artesa, back in early 2009:
Finally, I was able to wrangle a choice assignment away from Agent Red! And, while he did all of the leg work for today’s mission, I get the glory.
Red had Artesa under surveillance for a long time, probably too long. I all fairness, he did gather a great deal on intel on the winery and that set the stage for my quick infiltration. If any mission goes on for too long, I am usually the one that is called on to complete the mission – and get the wine.
Read Agent Red’s mission updates in the W.I.N.E. (Wine Internet Nexus Engine for our newest Operatives) archives. For my part, I’ll just tell you that a couple of calls to senior management at Artesa was all it took to secure today’s wine.
Rather than bore you with those details, I do want to point out a few things about Artesa and their world-class team.
If you ever find yourself in Napa, a visit to Artesa is not just recommended, it is essential. The winery grounds, sculpture gardens, architecture, and winery are magnificent. One has the feeling of visiting a world-class art museum, a winery and even a place of worship when spending time at Artesa.
In my case, the winery was the place of worship! For all of Artesa’s ambiance and style, the winery is really the divine place where their great wines are born. A few afternoon hours with the great counter staff – spent tasting through their wines – was such a delightful treat. The people, like the wines, were great fun.
Artesa in the U.S. is the extension of a Spanish winemaking family that dates back to the year 1551, when the Codorníu family first made wine at Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, in the Penedès region of Spain, just west of Barcelona.
The family continues making wines for centuries and in 1872, becomes the first in the world to make sparkling wines outside of Champagne in the méthode champenoise. This revolutionizes Spain’s wine industry.
In 1897, Codorníu is declared the exclisive supplier of wine to the king of Spain, King Alfonso XIII.
In 1915, the Codorníu winery build the world’s largest wine cellars, with five subterranean levels extending 16 miles.
The winery continues to grow and gain in prestige and honor for the next several decades. In 1989, they break ground on a revolutionary new winery in the Napa Valley. In 1991, Codorníu Napa opens as a méthode champenoise facility in the Carneros region of the Napa Valley. Those of you that know our tastes, know that The Wine Spies are enamored with the Carneros region.
In 1999, the winery is renamed Artesa Winery and releases its inaugural wines – two Chardonnays, three Pinot Noirs, and a Sauvignon Blanc – to critical acclaim.
Earlier this year, the winery is joined by one of America’s only multi-generational winemakers, Mark Beringer. In the United States, ‘multi-generational’ in winemaking usually means two or three generations have been involved in the craft. Mark, whose great, great grandfather was winemaking pioneer, Jacob Beringer, is a fifth generation winemaker and head of winemaking for Artesa today.
Throughout his career, Mark has been recognized as a leader and a pioneer in the field of winemaking. He has received numerous kudos and awards, including Winemaker of the Year by The San Francisco Chronicle.
If you can’t make it out to Artesa, at least you’ll be able to get a taste of the place by picking up a few bottles of today’s great Atresa wine.
As for Agent Red, don’t feel too bad for him. He was pretty bummed out that I was able to close the deal with Artesa, but that case of Artesa Cab I secured for him is keeping him plenty happy. For the moment!
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the Artesa Vineyards and Winery can be seen in this satellite photo.
