2007 Mounts Family Winery Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Mission Codename: Power and Glory in the DCV
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: Infiltrate the Mounts Family winery, and procure their newest estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon for our demanding Operatives
Mission Status: Accomplished
Current Winery: Mounts Family Vineyards
Wine Subject: 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaker: David Mounts
Backgrounder:
Today’s Cabernet Sauvignon comes to us from one of Sonoma County’s most experienced winemaking families. Grown in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley, today’s wine is a delicious and complex Cabernet Sauvignon. Read Agent Red’s tasting notes and mission report, below, for the the complete details on today’s wine
Today’s Cabernet Sauvignon hails from the Mounts Vineyard is Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley. The Dry Creek Valley across the Russian River from Alexander Valley has a generally cooler and wetter climate which makes the growing season longer and more flexible than neighboring appellations.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Gorgeous Burgundy in color, with perfect clarity through its darkening core. When swirled, the wine appears soft and bouncy. When it settles, it leaves behind skinny, wine-hued legs that move slowly down the glass.
Smell – Bold intensity, complex with big berry flavors of blackberry, blueberry and dark raspberry. These are accompanied by earthy mixed blackfruit jam, candied red cherry, soft black spices, dark minerals and a hint of black pepper.
Feel – Soft and clean on entry, very light-weight. After a moment in the mouth, the wine becomes increasingly softly grippy. Eventually, plus tannins provide a lush overall feel, adding dryness into the long finish.
Taste – Very flavorful and very delicious, with ripe berry and stonefruit flavors from the nose. Add to these (mentioned, above, in ’Smell’), flavors of soft sweetwoods, plum compote, braised black figs, black pepper and a flinty mineral component.
Finish – Ultra long and very flavor-filled, with lingering berry, plum, soft anise, a hint of black pepper and flint.
Conclusion – This wine is fantastic, and it shows so much promise for aging, as well. We’ll be enjoying a few bottles this year, but also saving a few bottles for the next several years. We are always impressed with Mounts’ wines, and this wine delivers everything we have come to expect from our friends, David and Lana Mounts, whose family has been farming in the Dry Creek Valley almost longer than any other. We are not the only ones that are crazy about their farming prowess; Numerous other prominent wineries source their fruit from the family’s vineyards. Today’s wine is a deep and delicious wine that is packed full of flavor and deep aromatics, delivering an exceptional experience for the senses. Pair this flexible wine with heartier fare, like items from your late summer BBQ. Just be sure to save a few bottles for the Holiday’s – and beyond – as this wine has real aging potential.
Mission Report:
What follows is a recap of our initial mission to Mounts Family Winery, wherein we refer to a Mounts Zinfandel, featured last year. While that was an excellent wine, we like today’s 91-point Cabernet Sauvignon even better
It was a warm and beautiful morning. The temperature was close to 70 degrees and the sky was a perfect clear blue. It was a typical spring morning in the Dry Creek Valley. If only it was Spring! It was, in fact, the beginning of January where, even here in California, we should be experiencing cooler temps – and our share of vine-sustaining rains!
Agent Syrah was with me on another training mission. For this one, he led the mission to Mounts Family Winery. I had given Agent Syrah the directive of locating a superb California Zinfandel. I gave him free reign, allowing him to choose the region and winery.
Almost immediately, he came up with a winery.
“What do you have,” I asked.
“Mounts. 06. Estate Zin. DCV. Intel suggests a classic DCV, ripe, lush, balanced. 400 cases.”
“Very good. Next steps?”
“I would suggest a direct infiltration. No extended surveillance. Proceed immediately.”
With that, we made our way to mounts.
After a drive through the beautiful Dry Creek Valley, we found ourselves at the bottom of a long uphill driveway. the drive led through pristine hillside vineyards, eventually leading us to the winery at the crest of the hill.
As we parked, a woman approached. Agent Syrah said, “Lana Mounts. General Manager and wife of David Mounts, the winemaker.”
If I was not already impressed, I was now. Agent Syrah was shaping up to be a fine Wine Spy.
Agent Syrah took command, introducing Lana to me as though he already knew her, and I was someone she needed to know. He cut right to the chase, explaining that we had been investigating her winery – and that we were here to evaluate and – if we loved their wines – appropriate Mounts Family wines for our Operatives.
Lana took us to here wine cave and we were soon joined by her husband, David Mounts. We tasted through their wines and we were very impressed. I gave Agent Syrah the signal and he quickly negotiated for a quantity of today’s excellent Mounts Family Estate Zinfandel.
If you ever find yourself in the Dry Creek Valley, stop in to Mounts for a tasting. The vineyards are beautiful, the people a pleasure to hang out with – and the wines are really wonderful.
Finally, be sure to keep an eye out for Agent Syrah’s future missions. I have a feeling that this young spy is destined for greatness.
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the Mounts Vineyard in Dry Creek Valley can be seen in this satellite photo.
