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 As you know, ilovenapa.com is dedicated to hunting down small-production wine gems in Napa Valley. But this time, we've outdone ourselves; we actually found a phenomenal Napa Valley Cab that is a hit in Europe - but it has never before been available in the US!
The fruit for the stunning Domaine Georg Rafael Mount Veeder Cab comes from a 25-acre vineyard owned by international hotelier Georg Rafael who has spent his life cultivating quality properties - and not just ones growing grapes.
Let me explain. Georg was cofounder of Regent International Hotels; after he sold his interest, he went on to start Rafael Group Hoteliers, a small group of luxury boutique hotels.
Properties in the Rafael Group included The Mark in New York, Turnberry Isle Resort & Club in Miami, FLA, Hôtel du Rhône in Geneva, Elbow Beach in Bermuda, Hotel Rafael in Munich, Hotel Schloß Fuschl in Salzburg and Ananda in the Himalayas in Rishikesh, India.
All the while he was hotel-ing, Georg was selling his tasty Napa Valley Cabernet, Merlot and Chardonnay to Far Niente, Mondavi, Duckhorn and Kendall-Jackson for their premium labels.
In 1996, the light went on - and Georg decided to bottle a small amount of Cabernet under his own label and place it on the wine lists in his own hotels.
Georg repeated this exercise in 1997 and 1998. Just before the
1999 Mount Veeder Cab was to be released, we discovered the
Napa-European connection. I went to Georg Rafael and asked if
he would start to offer it for sale at his winery so that we
could alert ilovenapa.com visitors about this great tasting,
great valued, wine.
This is a stunning Cab. The winemaker is Tom Farella
who makes the fabulous $28 Farella-Park Cabernet, which you
can find elsewhere on our website.
1999 Domaine Georg Rafael Père & Fils, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
A remarkable, Bordeaux-like Cab. On the nose, a bouquet of black currant leaps from the rim; there is a tweaky scent of eucalyptus, suggesting this wine's American origin, but only for a moment. Earth and cassis tones return quickly. At this young age, this just bottled Cab is a chameleon, offering layers of different, and continuously changing, scents.
On the palate, this is a supple, sensuous wine, loaded with earth and tobacco flavors; the finish echoes with yet again more black currant and ripe plum. Descriptors that apply: Elegant, Finesse, Supple. Here's another one that applies: Rare. This wine has never before been available for sale in North America. It has only ever appeared on the wine lists of Georg Rafael's luxury spas and hotels.
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ilovenapa.com Rating:
$40.00 |
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