Monday, April 18, 2011

Wine Review: Honig 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley




Honig 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Let me first say that I was lucky enough and honored to sample this wine prior to its release. Winemaker  Kristin Belair has crafted a wine that is so "honest",  with the fruit being the star, and the oak being the supporting actor. This wine is a blend of 95.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4.5% Petit Verdot. I found this wine to be intoxicating and lush; just like the" perfect woman" one would see on the silver screen, playing the role of the seductress. I usually don't write flowery reviews, but I needed to provide this bit of imagery for the reader to fully understand my tasting experience.


Kristin Belair Winemaker at Honig Vineyard & Winery

The wine was a dark garnet color. The nose has aromas of ripe dark fruit integrated with lovely exotic spices. The palate mimicked the nose showcasing flavors of blueberries, dark cherries, hints of blackberries along with faint hints of coffee and coconut along with sweet vanilla oak finish. The oak was not overpowering, but played the role of creating balance and structure in the wine. The wine is rich and lush and  has a long finish.  The wine was paired with a rib eye steak pan seared in olive oil with a few sprigs of  rosemary, which infused the meat with a lovely earthy flavor that pairs so well with Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is wonderful to sip alone or pair with aged cheddar or Cahill Porter Cheese. Note: This wine was a sample provided by Honig Vineyard & Winery http://www.honigwine.com/ SRP $40.00

2 comments:

  1. Even if you've never heard of Honig wines, if you see a Honig label, you can buy that wine with confidence. Lorrie could have been describing any one of their Cabernet Sauvignons in this post, and their Sauvignon Blanc is always among the most popular in Napa. Do you enjoy Frogs Leap wines? Honig (and its vines) are immediate neighbors. Another plus: like Frogs Leap, Honig is committed to sustainability in its business practices.

    As for the 2008 vintage, virtually all of the 2008s from up and down both Napa and Sonoma are drinking beautifully now.

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  2. Thanks so much for the reply David! That is one sexy wine!

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