Laura Michael Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Mini Vertical

Tasting notes & discussion 57

24 HOUR SALE
Typically $56/bottle from Laura Michael Wines
Vintage 2018 & 2019 from Calistoga
Available for AZ; CA; CO; DC; FL; GA; IA; IL; KS; LA; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; MT; ND; NH; NM; NV; NY; OK; OR; PA; RI; SC; SD; TX; VA; WA; WY
Sold by participating winery or licensee, fulfilled by Wine Country Connect

About Laura Michael Wines: “Today, [Laura and Michael Swanton’s] tenacity for learning systems and science is directed at running their small winery and vineyard estate dedicated to limited-production, premium red wines. Since 1999, Laura has managed all winemaking processes from grape sourcing to the logistics of launching and operating a winery. Her zeal to understand winegrowing at its root has her pruning, picking, irrigating and collecting samples in the vineyard. A thirst for winemaking knowledge encourages her participation in crush, pump-overs, racking and bottling.”

Calistoga Party

TASTING NOTES:
2018 - “Cabernet from Barlow Vineyards always exudes dark cherry notes on the nose and on the palate. Aged in 35% new French Oak barrels, the oak frames the beautiful aroma and adds balance to the wine. Still a youngster, this wine really needs to be decanted or saved for several years in your cellar. Drink by 2038.” (AbV 13.2%, pH 3.65)

2019 - “Dark cherry abounds in the nose and on the palate. Deeply inky in color, this wine really wants to be paired with a meal. Aged for 15 months on 40% new French Oak, there is plenty of tannins that will help this wine age for 15 to 20 years. Decanting will help soften this wine up for early drinking, or cellar for several years. Drink by 2039.” (AbV 14.6%, pH 3.66)

BARRELS: French oak, 35% - 40% new.

PAIRS WITH: “A meal.”

TANGENTIALLY RELATED FACT to help you make conversation over this wine:
The toga party. Ever since Animal House, it’s been one of those things people immediately think of when fraternities come up. You’ve always got the one big frat bro with a beer and a cheap toga that yells “TOGA!” People loved making that reference in media during the 90’s and early 00’s. I don’t know, Animal House was a big influence on writers and producers for that era.

Anyway, a toga party is just a party where everyone wears a “toga.” I use quotes, because they were mostly bedsheets. Also sandals. Sometimes other stuff would have a Greco-Roman theme to it, but the toga was the big thing. As far back as 1882, people have put pillow cases and bed sheets on like togas to party. Usually these parties were put on by the Masons, Elks, various community or civic groups. It wasn’t until the 50’s that they seemed to be picked up specifically by college groups, and then Animal House in ’78 just went and completely blew it up.

Laura Michael Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Mini Vertical

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