A (6 btl) Case (3 bottles of each) of "95" Point *(2X95=190)
Anderson's Conn Valley Proprietary "Eloge" and "Right Bank" Cabernets
from the superb 2004 & 2005 Vintages. Robert Parker calls these wines
"Hedonistic Turn Ons'"
$375.00...Save over $40.00 off wineries Suggested Retail Prices.
Fear and Loathing from High-Stress Wine Sales
Robert Parker pulled his now famous end-around sneak play earlier this
week by issuing the annual "Northern California" issue of the Wine
Advocate (one gazillion pages) between Christmas Day and New Years
Eve. Trusting that this brief period between two of the biggest
holidays of the year will offer a respite from the constant deluge of
information (and the related need to pursue and acquire the highly
rated wines before inventory dries up), many retailers were caught off
guard (DOH!) in their ill-advised belief that they deserve to indulge
in a couple more spiked eggnogs while playing with their kids
Christmas toys before returning to the dreaded reality of retail sales
come January 2nd. Ain't gonna happen, Bub...time is of the
essence...the early Goose gets the Juice!
Which leads me to this E-alert. While there were a number of very
expensive Napa Cabernets which received scores over "90" points (the
sweet spot when it comes to the public's perception of quality) I, in
my usual frugal fashion searched for the ever-popular "highest
score/least expensive" ratio items (and the category which I will be
offering you guys for the next few months as many of the rated wines
have not yet been released).
Two "95" point wines (Both Napa Cabernet-based Bordeaux/Meritage
style) reds jumped off the page, Anderson's Conn Valley "Eloge" and
"Right Bank", both vintage 2006. I punched the buttons and made the
call to their supplier. His response..."The '06s' haven't even been
released and we suspect that now that they've been Parkerized their
prices are going to be adjusted accordingly...but wait, I still have a
small inventory of the '04 Eloge and '05 Right Bank and they BOTH
scored "95" in last year's Northern California edition ...you should
jump on em' before my boss puts them on restriction and raises the
price!
And that, mi amigos, is what I did.
Hence your opportunity to buy a mixed, 6 bottle case of these
delicious wines for only $375.00; compare to similar, famous, top
rated Napa Cabernets from these two excellent vintages and it becomes
immediately clear what an excellent deal this is...
2008 marks Anderson's 25th Anniversary in the Napa Valley
In 1983 the Anderson Family (after a lengthy process of negotiation)
founded Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards at the confluence of Conn
Creek and the foothills of Howell Mountain in the Napa Valley. U.C.
Davis graduate Mac Sawyer (the second American to participate in
"ENSAM" (France's viticulture and enology graduate program) was
installed as winemaker in 2000 after gigs at Groth and Clos Pegase.
From the very first vintage (I remember Gus Anderson came into our
shop to introduce himself and personally request that we consider
taking on the wines...somewhat rare for Napa Valley winery owners) the
Anderson Cabs have impressed me by their incredibly rich, fruit
forward style...more black cherry and cassis than blackberry and
tar...more milk chocolate than dark chocolate...more fun loving and
giving than many of their serious Napa neighbors yet still possessing
plenty of depth, dimension and staying power.
3-2004 "Eloge"...A Bordeaux styled blend of 100% Napa Valley fruit
composed of 65% Cabernet, 25% Cab Franc, 5% Merlot and 5% Petit
Verdot. Harvested September 22nd - October 1st, 2004. The fruit came
in at 26.2 Brix (near perfect ripening #s). The '04 spent 22 months
in 90% new French Oak barrels.
You may remember that 2004 was one of the quickest and earliest
vintages in recorded Napa history. Although yields were down due to
mild summer temperatures that year, an intense heat spike in August
caused the fruit to ripen rapidly with intense colors and flavors.
Sawyer describes the '04 Eloge as "Nose of mocha, blackberries, Bing
cherries some black pepper and cassis; the wine is full-bodied and
glycerol with a rich, full mid palate followed by layers of dark
cherry, cassis, vanilla, blueberry jam and a perfect balance of fruit,
oak and acid. The finish is opulent, intense and nearly time-able.
"95" Parker..."The 2004 Eloge is a beauty. Notes of cedar, spice box,
black currant, leather, truffle and earth jump from the glass of this
elegant yet authoritatively flavored wine that shows terrific fruit
intensity, full body and silky tannins. This is a complex, beautiful
wine that should drink splendidly for 15 years or more".
*3-2005 "Right Bank"...Conn Valley's version of a classic, right bank
Bordeaux blended with 100% Napa Valley grapes composed of 60% Merlot
and 40% Cab Franc, the wine was harvested slightly earlier than the
Eloge and spent nearly 2 years in predominantly new French Oak. The
Right Bank is a full bodied wine which mirrors its French counterpart
possessing opulent ripe blackberries, cedar and licorice flavors
followed by a weighty mouth feel and a long finish; the wine should
peak in 6-11 years.
Parker equates the Right Bank to Cheval Blanc!
Remember the scene in "Sideways" when, after (scumbag) Jack's wedding,
Miles steals off to a fast-food place to suck down his treasured
bottle of Cheval Blanc (White Hoarse) with a Burger? And earlier he
threatens to walk out if anyone orders f---ing Merlot at the Buellton
restaurant? And, of course everyone knows by now that Cheval Blanc is
(often) composed of a majority Merlot...Your bottle of Right Bank is a
CA-Parallel of that famous label. Parker says it's a Hedonistic Turn
on...
*"95"..."Their Napa Valley Cheval Blanc look-alike is called Right
Bank, usually a blend of 2/3 Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc,
although it can change somewhat depending on the vintage. This is a
thrilling wine that comes as close as just about any wine in Napa of
mimicking a great Right Bank Bordeaux. The 2005 is sensational as
well. Exhibiting a deep ruby/purple color and notes of blueberry,
blackberry, smoked game, cedar, licorice and some camphor and leather,
the wine is complex, fleshy, full-bodied and a total hedonistic turn
on. Drink it over the next 15 years or more."
"Well, There it is then"... (Emperor Joseph II in "Amadeus")...A mixed
6-Bottle case of two of the highest rated/least expensive
Super-Premium Napa Valley Cabernets for the relatively modest price of
$375.00.
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