Bella Union Napa Valley Cabernet 2018 |
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It may seem an oxymoron how to make a Napa Valley Cabernet, a wine with a long prestige heritage, at a reasonable price to bring to market. I talked to a Napa Valley producer a couple of weeks ago, and he was rattling off the crazy cost increases that growers and producers are facing. For instance, since the valley fires, there has been no affordable housing for workers, so labor costs are way up. Gas and diesel are up over 50%, so the cost of any mechanical work in the vineyards and transportation of grapes or wines is again way up. Any fertilizers needed are petroleum-based and up to 100% more than last year. Cost for glass and corks, if you can get them due to supply issues, are at unheard-of prices. And the list goes on. It is incredible to me that any wine that is in great demand, such as a Napa Valley Cabernet, can offer a bottle of wine at a reasonable price. But yet, there are still surprises, such as Far Niente's relatively new project Bella Union Winery. |
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Bella Union was founded in 2012 by the partners of Napa Valley's Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel wineries to specialize in the art of blending Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Bella Union is a 25-acre Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard along Bella Oaks Lane and a longtime source for Far Niente wine projects. The vineyard has been a highly sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon since the 1880s, in the heart of what is now Rutherford. Back in the 1880s, Bella Oaks Lane was a dirt road called Bella Union Roadway, which led to the Bella Union Mining Company in the Mayacamas Mountains. Hence, the name of the vineyard Bella Union. In 2012, the vineyard owners no longer wanted to farm the property, but they weren't ready to sell it either. Far Niente agreed to a 30-year lease of the vineyard, and it became the inspiration for their new wine project Bella Union. |
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Bella Union was the latest incarnation for the Far Niente Family of Wineries & Vineyards which include Dolce, Nickel & Nickel, EnRoute, and of course, Far Niente. Always looking to the future, the former Provenance Vineyards & Winery in Rutherford was acquired in November 2021 as the future home of Bella Union. It just so happens that it is located next to DeCarle Vineyard, one of the primary sources for Bella Union blends. The current wine is made at the Nickel & Nickel facilities. Currently, Bella Union's production is 1,250 cases a year, but with the new winery and vineyards, that production is expected to increase.
In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, the Bella Union vineyard grows a small amount of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot to blend in with Bella Union Cabernet Sauvignon. This western bench location offers an ideal combination of cool evenings and warm afternoons, allowing the grapes to ripen fully and evenly. The site's well-draining, gravelly loam soil plays an equally important role, contributing to the signature character of the vineyard. The fruit is intense, beautifully proportioned, and complex with aromatic ripe plum, black cherry, and currant flavors.
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Bella Union specializes in the art of blending Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Initially sourced exclusively from the 25-acre vineyard along Bella Oaks Lane, Bella Union remains rooted in Rutherford. Still, the Cabernet blend has evolved to include premium vineyards from Calistoga, Oak Knoll, and Yountville. |
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Near-perfect weather conditions and timing, from budbreak to harvest, inspired us to hail 2018 as a Goldilocks vintage! A February start to the season was followed by a mild spring, giving us extended flowering and balanced clusters in both vineyards. Consistent summer temperatures allowed our fruit to enjoy a leisurely, extended hang time so that each cluster could achieve perfect phenolic maturity. Because we never had to rush, we were able to harvest our fruit when it reached just-right ripeness that as just-right, picking our blocks over the course of two weeks.
With its blackberry patch aromatics followed by hints of raspberry preserves and accents of leather, there's a ripe, pure fruit quality to this stunning new vintage. Generous layers of red fruit flavors fill the entry while subtle cocoa and baking spice undertones linger on the midpalate. Resolved tannins enhance the almost-velvety texture throughout the entire wine, and fresh botanical notes add vibrance to a finish that is at once long, luscious, and lifted.
Aged for 18 months, French oak barrels, 50% new
88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot
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An array of bright red fruit with herbal undertones opens the way to a core of grippy concentration and powerful ripeness in this age-worthy wine. The tannins are structured and considerable. Enjoy 2028β2033. Cellar Selection, Wine Enthusiast 93 pts
The 2018 Bella Union by Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon is layered and smooth on the palate. This wine shines with aromas and flavors of blackcurrants, some red fruits, and a trace of oak. Serve it with a grilled ribeye. Wine.com 92pts
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Bella Union Napa Valley Cabernet 2018
When tasting this wine, we didn't know what to expect. This is not a subtle wine at all. Massive mouthfeel, lots of dark fruit without being cloying or jammy. Concentrated flavors of plum, dark cherry, some cedar notes, and olive tapenade. The wine had a sauteed peppercorn flavor much like an Au Poivre sauce. Noticeable oak with a finish that went on till the next day. This wine screams for a T-bone steak with sautΓ©ed onions from the grill. We went back and tried it again after an hour, and the extra time caused the complexities to magnify even moreβan amazing Cab for under $50.
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*Sale price is on 3 or more bottles, wine is packed in a 6 bottle case. |
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Orders must be done by replying to this email. The reason is that I need to keep control of the inventory in one central spot. Emailing or calling your favorite wine geek at one of our four stores may not get your orders in on time to be counted or processed and creates a helter-skelter for us to get you the wine. For the same reason, ordering on our online Web Store is linked to our regular price, and this sale price is only offered on the email platform. It is also why it takes me some time to respond due to the deluge of orders that I sometimes get. We haven't reached the efficiency or volume of Amazon yet, and in this pandemic environment, simply operations sometimes prove difficult. Thank you in advance for your patience. |
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Let me know your preferred store for pickup: Attleboro, Norwood, Sturbridge, or Swansea. If you don't state the store, I will assume you are picking up in Sturbridge.
Place your order now while you've got everything in front of you. Reply to this email along with your name and which store you want to pick it up.
I will confirm your order via email when it is ready for pickup. Please give us at least 48 hours to respond. Stay well, cheers!
βJohn Hannum, Fine & Rare Wine Specialist
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We reserve the right to limit quantities. You must be at least 21 years of age to purchase/consume alcohol. Please drink responsibly. Not responsible for typographical errors. Rebate quantities are subject to limitation by the manufacturer. These alcoholic beverages may be subject to payment of Connecticut or Rhode Island Alcoholic Beverage Tax and Connecticut Use Tax, and may be subject to seizure as contraband. |
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