ASHE 09 CS ENTRE NOUS
This is a gorgeous property located right off Highway 29 in Oakville. Its vineyard architect is Dave Abreu, it's managed by Jim Barbour, and the wine is made by Philippe Melka (Lail, Gemstone, Dana). Here's the skinny on this property; over the winter and sping of 2010, we came across Kristine Ashe at several trade tastings. Everytime we sampled her wines, they were at the top of our lists. Heck, at the Oakville tasting, we felt her Cabernet was as good as many of the TRUE cult wines! If that's not an endorsement, then don't bother reading any further!The modern wine is crafted in the old way – completely by hand. The journey starts in the family's Oakville estate vineyard, where midnight harvests, hand de-stemming and barrel fermentation allows them to unlock diverse aromatics, complex flavors and a purity of fruit that cannot be achieved by mechanical methods. The elegance of this Cabernet shines through with soft, refined tannins and luminous fruit.
ROBERT PARKER'S THE WINE ADVOCATE 92 POINTS - "The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Entre-Nous Estate opens with a deeply pitched, spiced bouquet. Mocha, dark red berries and flowers are some of the notes that flesh out in the glass. The 2009 boasts gorgeous length on the palate. Only a very slight dryness on the finish keeps the score from going higher. This is a super-impressive showing from a producer who is new to me. The 2010 is 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024."
