Sempre Vive 2010

Last spring on a trip to California I had my first glass of Sempre Vive Cabernet Sauvignon, a bottle from the 2006 vintage that friends opened for dinner.  The wine was from the Calistoga area of Napa Valley, the far north and the hottest end.  Despite that the wine checked in with modest alcohol of 13.5%.

Thanks to the internet and liberalized shipping rules since that time I have managed to purchase bottles from 1998, 2003, 2004 and 2006.  All were delicious and all were under 14% alcohol.  Recently the 2010 came on the market and that vintage arrived about two weeks ago. 

Let's get to the point - despite it being young it may be the best vintage yet.  It is still fruit forward but there is a myriad of flavor suggestions of blackberries, dark cherries, graphite and subtle hints of earth, herbs, spice, oak and other elements.  It is very much a California wine in its fruit but it certainly pays same homage to Bordeaux in its inspiration.  Great stuff.

The other two bottles I purchased will rest for a couple of years.

Sempre Vive Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  13.4$ alcohol and $21.00