Moone Tsai "Cor Leonis" Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
(Napa Valley, California) - [WE 96] [WS 93] [ST 93] [RP 92]

Following the acclaimed inaugural release of Moone-Tsai's 2006 vintage, this exuberant wine defines a new era in extraordinary Napa Valley cabernets. The fruit comes from the highly-coveted block-15 of the legendary Caldwell Vineyard in the Coombsville District, located on a panoramic hillside in the Southeastern corner of the Napa Valley. Sitting above the daily fog that regularly blankets the Carneros district, the property also enjoys a favorable northwestern exposure. This moderates temperatures in the morning and extends the warmth of the sun late into the afternoon, helping to ripen the fruit without exhausting the vines. It is here that some of the world's best Cabernet Sauvignon has been farmed for decades.

After spending twenty-two months in new French oak barrels, and another twelve months in bottles, this beguiling Cabernet is generous and lush; powerful, yet approachable; and characterized by a nuanced complexity featuring vibrant black fruit, black tea, and spice. The wine completes itself with nothing less than a noble finish of satisfying lift and length.

Varietal Composition: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Harvest Date: October 15, 2007
Cooperage: 100% new French oak barrels from Taransaud, Ermitage, St. Martin

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Rank #36 Top 100 Wines of USA 2011 & 96 Points - Wine Enthusiast Magazine :
The question concerning this wine isn’t whether or not it’s very good—it is. Instead, it’s about ageability. Made from 100% Cabernet grown in two very different places, Pritchard Hill and Coombsville, it’s dry and refined. Floods the mouth with blackberry, blueberry, cassis, dark chocolate, spice and new oak flavors whose richness is tempered by a firm minerality. Really fabulous in all respects, but so delicious now, it makes you wonder why you should even risk more than six years in the cellar." S.H. (11/1/2011)

93 Points - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar:
"Bright ruby. Wild aromas of redcurrant, licorice and caraway seed. Dense, broad, sweet and impressively deep, with terrific flavor intensity and a compellingly lush texture. Even showier today on the building, very long finish, which features suave tannins and a lingering note of bitter chocolate. In a richer style than the more claret-like basic cabernet. These 2008s were bottled in February of this year, or just a month prior to my visit. Incidentally, Moone-Tsai has just taken over the old Luna winery; the Luna sangiovese and pinot grigio will continue to be produced in a facility in south Napa." - Stephen Tanzer (May/June '11)

93 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine:
"Deep and complex, with plush, concentrated currant, blackberry, mocha, mineral, sage and cedar flavors that are stacked on one another. Full-blown, with a long, tapered finish. Best from 2012 through 2022. 220 cases made." –JL (Jun 30, 2011)

92 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Cor Leonis bursts from the glass with a rush of dark red fruit, licorice and spices. Expressive aromatics are woven throughout, adding elements of lift. Silky, finessed tannins frame the finish. The 2008 was made from vineyards in Soda Canyon and Coombsville. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2025.

This is an interesting set of wines from industry veterans Mike Moone and Mary Ann Tsai. Philippe Melka is the winemaker. I tasted three vintages of the Cabernet Sauvignon. As good as the wines are, the changing vineyard sources from year to year means there is not a whole lot of stylistic continuity. Hopefully that will come with time.