1997 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Posted by: Marc Hanes

1997 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - 07-04-2019 08:31:35

Etude
Napa Valley, California
Cabernet Sauvignon
1997
$69.99
13.5%
Not much purple left in the core, mostly black switching to rust red further out, can imagine it getting more orange over time. The nose displays cedar and a decent bit of residual oak toast, what remains most prevalent is the plum, cherry, currant fruit, straight up Cabernet fruit, fresh cigar wrapper, when you sniff deeply the eucalyptus comes through more. Medium-bodied, smooth and expansive, nary a rough patch to be found. The fruit verges on grapey, offers blueberry, blackberry to cherry, more buoyant than in the nose, which is an unusual switch. Tannin tamed but at least perceptibly the acidity comes off as high and activates the palate. Same basic array of tobacco, menthol, cedar, black licorice, no curveballs. Oak less signal further development. Thus, drink up while the fruit remains vibrant.
90 points