Cellar Management

Pick My Next Bottle – 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The March Installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. As I mentioned in the first installment, the purpose of this series is to provide insight into specific wines or producers you may currently have in your cellar. The winning bottle will be opened this Saturday and a Bottle Note will be published next week.

2009 was an exceptional vintage in Napa Valley. The growing conditions were ideal and at 10 years of age there is no time like the present to check on some my favorite producers.

The Contenders:

  • 2009 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley – The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is a gorgeous, rich wine layered with mint, tobacco, spices, cedar and licorice. It shows gorgeous textural depth and tons of aromatic nuances. This is a fabulous wine loaded with class and personality. It isn’t the biggest wine here, but it is exceptionally polished. Wow! 94 points from the Wine Advocate.
  • 2009 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard – Saturated medium ruby. Knockout nose melds cassis, truffle, eucalyptus, minerals and an exhilarating hint of white flowers; liqueur-like but not from overripeness. Supple, rich and seamless, with terrific underlying minerality leavening the wine’s sweetness and giving it a rather classic mien. The very long finish features suave tannins that coat the teeth without showing any youthful roughness. A superb vintage for this wine, which has been consistently outstanding in recent years. 94 points from Vinous.
  • 2009  M. Étain Cabernet Sauvignon – The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon M. Etain is dark, rich, sumptuous and highly expressive. A totally voluptuous wine, the 2009 flows across the palate with layers of dark fruit. Stylistically, the M. Etain is very close to the Scarecrow Cabernet in this vintage, although it has less aromatic complexity and depth. Hints of smoke, tobacco, incense and licorice are layered into the juicy, mid-weight finish. 93 points from the Wine Advocate.

Which 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Should I Open?

  • 2009 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (43%, 12 Votes)
  • 2009 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard (29%, 8 Votes)
  • 2009 M. Étain Cabernet Sauvignon (29%, 8 Votes)

Total Voters: 28

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Thanks for voting! I’d love to see a comment below on why you picked one bottle over another. Also, let me know if you have any suggestions for the April installment of Pick My Next Bottle.

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