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| Rob Williams - Cabernets and Blends | ||
Rob's "Wine of the Week" Archives So here is my wine review for the week of April 30th... Lewis Cellars Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Description: The Lewis wines are made by former Indy Car driver Randy Lewis and his wife Debbie and their sons in the Napa Valley. Going on their 15th year, the Lewis' have established themselves recently as premium red producers. They make a Cab and a reserve cab each year and neither is cheap. How to Get it: It's available at some Bevmos, some wine merchants, on-line, and at the winery in Napa. How Much: At the winery, $125 per bottle (the basic cab is $80). My Thoughts: The 2004 Cabs continue to impress and show that great winemakers can make great wine. However, there is also a vast chasm between a great cab and a cab that is very good. This wine falls into the latter category. The 2004 Lewis Reserve is also a tight young wine that needs age to allow it to be fairly judged. Some cabs show their true potential immediately, others need the blessing of time to allow their flavors to blend, as does this selection. The 2004 Lewis is not tannic, but is chewy (a little too chewy) with dark chocolate and tobacco flavors that want to get out but can't yet. It is drinkable now, but will be even better in 2-5 years. Overall Score: Here's the rub on this wine. Last week I reviewed the Caymus Special Selection and gave it the coveted 5 vine score. That bottle cost $136. This week's selection is a very good cab, but comes in at $125. As I've noted over and over again, my scores are based on quality AND value. If I was going to spend $125 on a bottle, I would go the extra $11 and buy the Caymus. 3 vines.
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