Mile High's Wine of the Week: September 2nd
Schweiger Vineyards 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $24.99
Sale End: 9/5/2010
This week we have a real treat for you! Schweiger Vineyards is a 35 acre family run estate in Napa’s Spring Mountain District. Their 2004 Cabernet is a brilliant example of the power and style that makes the small wineries of Napa so special. It spent 32 months aging in French oak and has spent the last 3 years resting peacefully in bottles waiting for you to break out your trusty corkscrew and decanter. We bought the entire remaining 2004 inventory, only 12 cases, at a deep discount and now we’re passing the savings on to you. It’s delicious and thoroughly ageworthy, but be careful. One taste and you may be ruined on less expensive Cabernet for the rest of your days.On to the Tasting Notes:
I got a call late one afternoon from one of my distributors who said that he was coming over with something special. I love it when that happens. So he showed up a half hour later with the Schweiger Cabernet. We opened a bottle and tasted it. It was delicious. All we had to do was figure out a price. Once I heard that they really wanted to sell the remaining inventory on the 2004 so that they could order the 2005 vintage from the winery I knew that we were going to be able to make some folks very happy. We settled at half off the regular price and I’m thrilled with the value.
I opened a bottle of Schweiger and poured a large tasting glass. I remembered that the wine needed some time to open up so I left it on the desk for an hour and went to do some other chores. When I returned I found a powerhouse of a Cab waiting for me in my glass. Aromas of black cherry, brambly blackberries on the vine, cigar box, and violets leapt up from the glass to tickle my nose. On the palate the wine came across as being very polished and quite intense. It displayed a fine balance between tannin, fruit, and acidity that suggested that it was evolving very nicely and would continue to do so well into the future. The first sip was awash with flavors of dark fruit like black currants, plums, and cherries. It had a luscious, creamy texture that felt like velvet on my palate. The finish showed a plump note of vanilla as well as a fine loamy quality that spoke to the exceptional terroir on top of Spring Mountain where the estate is located.
I will admit that the Schweiger Cabernet isn’t perfect. It has just a tiny bit too much alcohol to be perfectly balanced. But, it is by no means flawed. I really believe that it is still in the upswing in terms of its evolution. Try a bottle out for yourself and see what you think. If you like bold, intense Cabs then you’ll be in heaven. If your preference is for softer more subdued Cabs then grab a few bottles for your cellar. It should hold nicely for the 5 to 7 years. Whatever you do, buy some Schweiger. You won’t soon have another chance to buy an honest Spring Mountain Cab at this price!Food Pairing:
I took a bottle of the Schweiger Cab home a couple of weeks ago when I first tasted it. I ran up to Whole Foods before I left the store and grabbed my Cabernet standby, dry aged ribeye. I simply salted and peppered it and grilled it off. In retrospect I think I should have done a nice reduction sauce to serve with it. Something like a cup of ruby port with a cup of good beef stock and a tablespoon of raspberry preserves boiled until it thickens up into a thin syrup. That would do a lot to accentuate the intensity of the Schweiger. Regardless, please make the Schweiger the star of the show. It is a truly special bottle and deserves not to be overshadowed by a ridiculously complex dinner. Have a nice steak and savor the nuance and complexity that you get from a bottle like this!
You MUST mention this special or print it out to receive the price on the above wine.
This price expires 9/5/2010 at 6pm and is limited to in-store quantities.
No rain checks given. Call (303) 936-0272 to reserve bottles with a credit card.