2010 Bell Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 750ml

The 2010 Napa Valley Cabernet is a wonderful example of why Napa Valley is a great place to grow the red Bordeaux varietals. Dark ruby color with aromas of red ripe fruit and toasted oak. The medium-body tannins and sweet oak give way to flavors of jammy blackberries and dark cherry. The layers of complexity in this blend are derived from grapes grown in selected vineyards in the Napa Valley. The Merlot adds to the mid- palate adding richness, while the Syrah brings spice and rich fruit to the wine. Crafted in a rich, concentrated European style, this wine pairs well with flavorful, full-bodied meals, and will develop a harmonious smoothness with age. Excellent today, the wine will also reward those with the patience to cellar it.

Our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend created from select vineyards and appellations within the renowned Napa Valley. Drawing on his experience with Cabernet Sauvignon clones and his intimate knowledge of sub- appellations within the region, Anthony has created a wine that builds upon the unique terroir of Napa Valley. Our 2010 vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (79%), Merlot (13%), Syrah (5%), Malbec (1%), Cabernet franc (1%), Petit Verdot (1%). The wine was aged in a combination of French (63%) and American (37%) oak barrels, of which 60% were new barrels, for 20 months. The wine was not fined and received a screen filtration prior to bottling.

2011 Bell Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 750ml

The gentle entry of this 100% Cabernet sauvignon features fragrant notes of sarsaparilla, licorice and red fruits.  Sweet oak on the nose, and very supple tannins underpin a delicious mid-palate of Maraschino cherry, eucalyptus, herb and dark, savory spice.  Round and smooth, this wine is eminently drinkable, appealing to an audience that loves a classic, polished, seamless wine with a persistent finish.

2012 Bell Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 750ml

This wine unfolds in layers of dried flowers, mulberries and raspberries to expose a lush core of juicy red currant and ripe red berries.  The elegant texture is a lovely counterpoint to the vibrant fruit flavors, followed by trailing notes of cocoa and black olive.  Fine tannins linger on a juicy, refined finish.  This wine has all the ingredients that would deliver something superb with several years of aging.

The Wine: Bell Wine Cellars is committed to handcrafting limited edition bottlings of extraordinary wines that best reflect the terroir of their vineyards and the care and passion of their growers.  Cabernet Sauvignon is grown in nearly every wine region of the world with varying flavor results.  As a plant, its thick skins save it from rot that occurs in wet, cold climates, and it thrives in many different soils, such as clay and coarse gravel.  While we at Bell Wine Cellars have always focused on Cabernet from Napa Valley, we recognize that Cabernet can also produce lovely results in other areas; this particular bottling allows us to compare and contrast the two neighboring growing regions in the glass.  In sourcing the fruit from Sonoma, we’ve captured the unique qualities that are typical of the area, with its openness to the ocean breezes off the Pacific and different soil structures. Lower elevation, frequent fog and chilly temperatures shape wines that often display scents and flavors of black olive, fresh garden herbs, graphite and anise, all hung from superb tannic structure that serves as a strong backbone.