Diamond Creek Cabernet-Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace Napa 1996

The Californian Diamond Creek Vineyards, which name comes from the place where it stands, the Diamond Creek Canyon, is made of different types of soil vineyards, bottled separately, ranging for 3 to 4 different wines depending on the vintage. One more thing that makes Diamond Creek different from the others wineries of that area, especially when it was founded in the late 1960’s, is the fact that it’s planted only with Cabernet-Sauvignon, from vines coming from First Growth Bordeaux Château.

Having a great capacity to age, these wines fully shows themselves when mature at around 20 years of age while holding a lot more. It is always a Great moment to enjoy these wines in that stage of development, which I did again! I had the opportunity over the years to drink few “old” or mature wines from Diamond Creek, as the 1979 and the 1992 also noted on my blog.

Here is now my note on this 1996 Red Rock Terrace:

Very dark garnet color. Nose of berries, leather, tobacco with fine spices and oak, showing clearly what Cabernet-Sauvignon wines can do best, while having great resemblance with left bank Bordeaux wines. This had such a beautiful nose! Flavors of the same kind of what was on the nose with the additional minerality, still showing structure even if polished in a long silky, fine, balance and savory finish. Liked it a lot! Superb (92)

Made of Cabernet-Sauvignon from vines planted on steep hillside made of red clay mixed with iron deposits. Aged in new French oak barrels. Alcohol level of 12,5%

The 2011 and 2012 vintages are currently available in some SAQ stores. For older vintages, some were previously sold through special release from the SAQ, so look for them of shop south of the border in US wine shops.

Diamond Creek Vineyards website: diamondcreekvineyards.com

They are represented in Québec by Réserve et Sélection / Trialto: trialto.com