SOUTHERN / AMERICAN / PACIFIC WINE & SPIRITS® Casa Piena Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 (Yountville, Napa Valley, California) – 6058565009567

About this Wine:

2008 Casa Piena Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate, Yountville, Napa Valley

The third crop is the charm. We’ve been saying it now for a few years emphasizing the growing pains associated with a young vineyard. The first two years can be kind of a mixed bag with both wines being solid but ever changing in barrel and bottle. With this third year, the 2008, we saw good stability of color and flavor and a wine that got steadily better as it aged. Coming from a vintage that still unjustly sits in the afterglow of 2007, the 2008 Casa Piena will surprise a lot of people both as a wine that surpasses anything we’ve ever done before and as the beginning of a high-quality trajectory for this young estate vineyard.

95 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (2008 Vintage:
“Slightly better (which is no surprise, since it appears to be an impressive work in progress) is the 2008 Casa Piena. Production in this vintage is slightly higher as well. This wine displays similar character, with more unsmoked cigar tobacco intermixed with creme de cassis, camphor, graphite, and some subtle earthiness. Opaque ruby/purple, medium to full-bodied, layered, and opulent, this is a beauty as well, but slightly richer and potentially more complex than the brilliant 2007. This is an impressive newcomer, so take note!

A new project, and an impressive one at that, Casa Piena is owned by former lawyer and football executive for the San Francisco 49ers, Carmen Policy. None other than Thomas Brown is the winemaker at this facility, which is situated at the crossroads of Silverado Trail and the Yountville Crossroad, a pretty classy neighborhood, considering that Cliff Lede and Kapcsandy are also nearby. The wine at Casa Piena is aged 20 months in 80% new French oak casks and is virtually 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.” –
Robert Parker (Dec 2010)

94 Points – Wine Spectator Magazine (2008 Vintage):
“A tight, vivid, juicy, concentrated yet graceful youngster, focused on dense mineral, dark berry, currant and blackberry fruit, ending with chewy tannins and notes of espresso and spice. Comes on the heels of a 2007 that seemed out of sync with the vintage. Best from 2012 through 2022.”—J.L. (Aug 17, 2011)

94 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (2007 vintage):
“The 2007, which was the debut vintage from this 14-acre parcel, is beautiful. Elegant, silky notes of red and black currants intermixed with lead pencil shavings, bay leaf, licorice, and earth are presented in a seductive, medium to full-bodied, fleshy, opulent style. Beautiful purity, texture, and length all make for an impressively well-balanced wine that is already showing complexity and savory elements. It should continue to drink well for 15 or more years.” – Robert Parker (12/2010)

93 Points – Wine Spectator Magazine (2006 vintage):
“Both intense and vibrant, with a measure of restraint and finesse. Rich, concentrated, focused, deep and persistent, with chewy tannins. The flavors are built around tight currant, blackberry, black olive and cedary oak, with a touch of anise. Needs time. Best from 2010 through 2017. 240 cases made.” –JL (6/30/2009)