Wine: Burly Cabernet Sauvignon

Burly

I have always encouraged our patrons to not become cultic over a label, but to follow the footsteps of their favorite winemaker. For there are a multitude of good wine makers, but there are also those few great winemakers. Massimo Monticello is among those few I classify as a great winemaker. Massimo spent those early formative years in his winemaking career at the Silver Oak Winery, back when they were still producing a good product. He now works with Hank McCrorie at Burly making what is no doubt among the greatest collectable Cabernet Sauvignons for the money in Napa Valley.

Hank and Massimo collaborate with Michael Wolf from bud break through harvest evaluating the fruit and planning the strategy to make the finest wine possible. I have had the opportunity to experience their 2008 Burly a few times now and I’ve got to tell you it is in a single word “AMAZING!”

The first time I recall trying it was in a warehouse where I tried a vertical of Burly (2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008) and I still get goose bumps thinking about that tasting experience. There was nothing less than stellar on the table that Sunday Afternoon, the 2008 was a bit “green” in its profile at that moment, but showed a ton of depth and lush richness. A year or so later, I had the opportunity to try it again in a vertical at another trade show and it had come to life and started working it’s self in the bottle with huge fruit, dynamic tannic structure, and brilliant spice development. Flash forward to now and I can tell you, this wine has managed to evolve from its infant state and puberty into one sexy, orgasm riddle wine that will roll your eyes back into your head and make you cry out for your maker!

The terms “firm”, “dense”, and “chewy” have been used to describe the 2008 Burly, and they are accurate with no apologies. The aromatics are textbook with cassis, blackberry, a hint of graphite and loaminess. Caressing your lips that firmness wraps around your tongue with bright dark fruits exploding through the mid palate riding on a soft bed of spice and anise. The finish is a rich and luxurious caress of brilliant focused black currents and light pepper that lingers enhancing the desire for another sip… just as soon as you can catch your breath.

Now, here’s the cruel moment- the 2008 Burly is not released at the moment. It will not be available until January. However, you can pre-order it now and the moment it is released have it shipped to your front door! I suspect this is your best plan as 2008, like 2007 will most certainly be highly sought after and in short supply after the first week of its release.

If you click over to our web-store, be certain to note you want to 2008 upon release in the notes at checkout. The 2007 is no longer available, and limited quantities of 2006 are still in stock.

Wine: Grayson Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

Grayson Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

We are always looking for that $15.00 bottle of wine that drinks like the $50.00 wine, and once in a long while we strike gold! Grayson Cellars is a small, family owned operation out of NAPA, California with a remarkable winemaker by the name if Larry Levin. Larry has quite a list of labels under his belt where he has made wine and has brought the best of those skills with him to Grayson Cellars where they produce some of the highest quality wines at the most affordable price points you’re going to find anywhere.

The winemaker’s notes on the Grayson Cellars’ Cabernet Sauvignon is (in my opinion) somewhat understated as it reads: “This Cabernet shows a dark, ruby color with a rich nose of ripe, dark cherries and blackberries. Its full bodied mouth feel leads to a lingering finish of toasted French oak.”

For me, I agree with the color and aromas, but find the fore of the palate rich with a vanilla spice dancing with dark cherries, back berries, black currants, and light cassis lingering through the mid-palate into a velvety rich, cocoa laden, silky finish mingled with bright pepper and spice.

While I find this wine luxurious and smooth enough to enjoy with nothing but a glass, it pairs beautifully with tons of foods as well. I personally find it a perfect pairing with quail stuffed with acorn squash roasted over an open fire with a side of bitter greens with light garlic butter.

At a retail price of $12.99, why not enjoy a pair of bottles instead of one and share with friends!

Grayson Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon