Amici Cellars, Spring Mountain District (Napa Valley, California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Amici is the new venture of Joel Aiken, the respected and well-liked winemaker who spent the most recent decades years of his career at Beaulieu Vineyards as the keeper of the flame for the Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. This Amici Cab — one of several that he has just released — is a lean, spicy, minerally mountain Cab with very good concentration of fresh, ripe (but not overripe), dark berry fruit, with accents of fresh herbs and lovely definition. The wine is, of course, full-bodied, and its tannins are assertive; the fruit and tannin strike a good balance considering the young age of the wine. As the tannins further integrate, the wine will show its ultimate quality. It is certainly enjoyable and impressive now, but I would hold it for five years for enhanced development. Only 125 cases produced.