Sloan Proprietary Red 2001 750ml

The just-bottled 2001 Sloan is outrageously awesome, revealing a Mouton-Rothschild-like perfume with a hint of Cheval Blanc-like complexity. A smorgasbord of aromas includes scents of Asian spice, roasted coffee, creme de cassis, licorice, blackberries, cocoa, and melted fudge. Opaque purple to the rim as well as extraordinarily intense, with fabulous richness, a multilayered texture, and a compelling, 65-second finish, this magnificent, young, Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated effort should be an instant legend whenever Stuart Sloan decides to release it. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025.

• Country: United States
• Region: California
• Appellation: Napa Valley
• Size: 750ml
• Color: Red

Varietal

Cabernet Sauvignon

By far and away the most recognized and widely grown red wine grape varietal in the world is the Cabernet Sauvignon. First cultivated in the 18th century in France, this wonderful cross of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc grapes has long since been the most important varietal for red wines across the globe. Now grown everywhere from its native France to the furthest reaches of the New World, Cabernet Sauvignon is adored and prized by wineries for its hardiness and resistance to rot, as well as its large and sharp flavors and wonderful capability for fine aging Indeed, many of the finest wines of history and the modern age would be simply unimaginable without Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, with the famed wineries of Bordeaux and other important regions using it as the primary grape in their oak aged produce. High tannin levels, acidity and powerful flavors are the characteristics most commonly associated with this varietal, however, when blended and slowly aged, it is capable of a world of flavors and aromas unmatched by any other grape.