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Wine Reviews 2009 VHR Cabernet Sauvignon

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent, thewineindependent.com  <span>Aug. 3, 2022</span>

“2009 was a warm vintage with good yields,” said Vine Hill Ranch’s managing partner, Bruce Phillips. “It was a typical Napa vintage.”

This vintage is a blend of blocks 4, 6, and 7. The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet colored with a touch of purple. Gorgeous notes of plum preserves, crème de cassis, licorice, and Chinese five spice tumble out of the glass, followed by beautiful floral nuances of fresh-picked roses and candied violets with a pinch of crushed rocks. Full-bodied, the palate is plush, impactful and so, so spicy, packed with youthful black fruit preserves layers, delivering just enough freshness to lift the epically long finish. Seriously strutting its stuff, this is a great time to crack this open! Composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, only 375 cases were made.  97 pts.


The PlumpJack Blog  <span>May 11, 2012</span>

Steven Tanzer, Vinous Media, vinous.com  <span>July 25, 2019</span>

Bright, full ruby. Black and blue fruits, licorice, violet, tobacco and smoky oak on the alluring, slightly high-toned nose. Wonderfully seamless and velvety if still quite backward; but even today there are no rough edges to the highly complex flavors of dark berries, black cherry, licorice, graphite, spices and flowers. Harmonious acidity and a touch of tangerine peel contribute lift and grip. This very refined Cabernet finishes with a suave dusting of tannins and subtle, rising, palate-staining length. A stunning example, from vineyard blocks picked during the first half of October.  95 pts.


The PlumpJack Blog  <span>May 11, 2012</span>

It has been quite a while since I’ve picked a wine to write about, and it surprises even me that it would take a California Cabernet to get me going. The new vintage of Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet has just been released and, once again, this small Oakville producer is rocking my boat. Beautifully elegant, but at the same time powerful—the wine shines with precisely defined, concentrated fruit. It’s a wine you can drink now, but if you are one of the few that can put it in the cellar, it will shine with some bottle age. If you consider yourself a lover of the best Napa Cabs, this is a wine that shouldn’t be missed. Once again, very limited production and the price is the same as last year at $150 (well worth the price). If you are a collector, it comes in an attractive three bottle wood box.

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