May 31, 2012 – Wine: 2004 Chalk Hill Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

I stumbled upon the 2003 Chalk Hill Cabernet while browsing online and wanted to taste it before buying some.  So, I arranged a visit to the winery back in 2007 and was sufficiently impressed to buy a few bottles.  I bought the next two vintages on blind faith, and have not been disappointed.  Tonight I opened a bottle from the 2004 vintage.  After 90 minutes of decanting, the wine had achieved lovely balance.  It also had a terrific, full nose offering up black fruits.  On the palette, the flavors start off with sweet blackberry, leather, black licorice, and minerals.  The fine tannins have a slightly chalky texture to them.  Go figure.

While not technically a Napa Valley wine, the Chalk Hill vineyards occupy the west-facing slopes of the mountain that separates Healdsburg in Sonoma County from Calistoga at the northern end of Napa Valley.  It is because of this that their wines share some of the same mineral characteristics of Napa Valley wines.  When their red wines are young, it is possible to taste a hint of chalk in their wines.



2004 Chalk Hill Estate Cabernet Sauvignon