Moone Tsai "Cor Leonis" Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
(Napa Valley, California) - [RP 92-94] [ST 92
(+?)]

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Notes from the Winemaker:
This remarkable cabernet in its especially limited production quantities, receives our Cor Leonis designation, to mark its position as the very “best of our best” wines that we produce.
Transfixed by the brightest star in the constellation Leo, the Romans dubbed it Cor Leonis, the “Heart of the Lion.”

Tasting Notes
Bearing an extraordinary combination of fruit from a trifecta of Napa Valley’s most celebrated districts, our 2010 Cor Leonis Cabernet is the hallmark of our winemaking philosophy. The wine’s nose entices with aromas of blackberry and spice. In the mouth, these give way to layers of rich, ripe black fruits enhanced with clove and mineral notes. Twenty six months of aging in 90% new French oak provides elegant framing for this wine's concentration and intensity. With its seamless integration of sweet tannins, the wine is voluptuous on the palate, and delivers a sustained finish accented by cinnamon and dark chocolate.
This richly expressive wine draws its prized fruit from Beckstoffer’s heralded To Kalon Vineyard, Pritchard Hill, and Caldwell Vineyard’s legendary Block-15 – whose vines have flourished in the rocky, volcanic soils of the heralded Coombsville District for over 30 years. The clone of Cabernet grown on this vineyard is prized for its complexity and depth, and the company of wines sourced from this vineyard is noteworthy.
Winemaker: Philippe Melka, Bordeaux-bred (Chateau Haut Brion, Petrus) and– recently heralded by Robert Parker as one of the top nine winemakers in the world. “Where possible, I will minimize winemaking techniques in the cellar so I can create a wine that tells the story of the vineyard. In the end, it must be about the fruit.”

Wine Facts
Varietal Composition: 100% Cabernet
Vineyards: Caldwell/Coombsville District, To Kalon, Pritchard Hill
Production: 341 cases

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92-94 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Cor Leonis is strikingly beautiful. Freshly cut flowers, mint, cinnamon and cloves literally jump from the glass in this delineated, vibrant wine. The pure pedigree of the 2010 vintage comes through in spades. Although not yet in bottle, the 2010 is shaping up to be a gorgeous effort from Moone-Tsai. Actually, it already is. The 2010 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Spanos, Caldwell and To-Kalon. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.

I only tasted a few wines from Moone-Tsai this year, but they were all striking and full of personality." - Antonio Galloni (Dec 2012)

92(+?) Points - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar:
"(bottled just before my visit): Bright, full medium ruby. Blueberry and menthol aromas are lifted by a floral topnote, with some toasty oak yet to be absorbed. Sweet and very concentrated, with a fine-grained texture and plenty of breadth to the dark berry, spice and menthol flavors. Big, structured cabernet with excellent grip. Finishes with building tannins and noteworthy rising length. Still a bit clenched following the bottling; this may well merit an even higher score with four to six years of cellaring." - Stephen Tanzer (May/June 2013)

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