2015 BV Tapestry, Cabernet Sauvignon

 

2015 BV Tapestry, Cabernet Sauvignon

     Keeping a promise is always a good thing. I made a promise in my last review that I was goint to be making some changes to this wine blog. While it will of course remain about wine, I did promise to incorporate some higher priced wines more frequently. Why the changes? You might ask. Well I very simply felt that they would help the channel and invite more of a diverse audience. For years I have targeted the audience that basically represented me, the average wine drinker and that was it. Today I begin a new era of targeting both the average wine drinker as well as the wine drinker that is slightly above that bracket. I have learned a lot about wine and the industry in the few years I have been doing this Desert Wine Guy thing and I hope you guys have as well with what I share. I think that we deserve to break out of the box we have many times, placed ourselves in. Okay then....let's see what I have to start off this new era of The Desert Wine Guy with.
   Today I will be taking a look at the 2015 BV Tapestry, Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine cost me a whopping $70 and its alcohol content also comes in at a whopping 15.2%. The wine is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot and is aged in a mix of French, American and Hungarian Oak (60% new) for 22 months. So, there I was visiting one of my daughters in Wyoming when her husband and I decided to check out the local big box (ahh yeah, anyway) liquor store which was named Town & Country. While I was there I of course just had to check out some wine that is made in the state but I also had to see what I could find in the Napa end of the wine country as well.

While looking around, I came across this wine and as the BV winery is one of my favorite wineries, and the fact that I had never seen this label before, I had to buy a bottle. Of course I did hear about it from Mrs. Desert Girl for spending so much money, in the end however, it was worth the punishment I received :)
   Let's move now to the label on this wine bottle. Like....wow! Like....beautiful. Guys, take a look at the label for yourselves and tell me what you think. Does the word "prestigious" come to mind? Perhaps the thought of a classic Cabernet Sauvignon served at a state dinner where the President (my President) would be seated next to other heads of state comes to mind? Guys, I am really impressed at whomever is responsible for this wine labels creation as major thought and talent went into it for sure.
   As far as the wines bouquet goes, black cherry and a brooding darkness of sorts comes across initially. There is a sense of a light plushness as well that comes lumbering through and together these notes are really nice.
   On to the palate I go now and I don't mind letting you know that I am really excited to taste this wine as it is after all a BV Cab and certainly represents a highly respected winery from the Napa Valley. Here goes the first sip. Okay...so...first up is a big time and dominate note of briary blackberry which is intermixed with a black luxurious note. It is certainly a presentation that is on the darker side and not (thankful) on the brighter and fruitier side as this after all is supposed to be a serious Cabernet. At first, I was like "wait, what is that I am tasting"? The wine is busy and once I had it all figured out (it took a while) I was really pleased with myself as I was initially banging my head against the wall trying to nail it down. I want you guys to know that there is a bit of bright fruit presented here but don't expect that fruit to dominate the palate or, even come close as the dark notes surround it and dictate just how much this bright fruit can put on display.

Lisa Peju (Left) & Winemaker, Sara Fowler

There is a bit of cherry that tries to come forth and it does a fairly good job of that but it also runs head long into blackberry which is still in the end, controlling by a fairly good bit. Tannins, tannins in the wine are certainly noted and while I can't say they were mostly in the background, they were certainly enjoyed. These tannins were not overboard and do show that the wine can go on for a few more years without any worries of the wine being past its time. That 60% new oak the wine sat in for almost two years is noted as well and if that has you shying away from the wine, you should just keep on going because this is not the wine for you. There is a dark depth and dark richness to this wine and when you add the tannins on top of all that, those of you looking for a Cupcake or Yellow Tail version of the Cabernet Sauvignon varietal need to truly look elsewhere and quickly. I think acidity really is a major component of this wine and really helps in making it what it is in the end. What is it in the end? Well, it is to early to tell you that now isn't it :) The acidity in this wine is definitely on the forward side but yet not crazy in any way. By the way, what is a great wine without acidity anyway? The answer to that question by the way is, nothing. If there ever were a red wine that deserved the term "concentrated" this would certainly be that wine. As I sat back and thought about what I am tasting, the term "concentrated" really hit the mark and I think it will with you as well. Let me move on now with the fruit note of blueberry but, before I go on, please know that this blueberry is not the cheap blueberry of a sweet "Cupcake" type wine (?) that some (not you) might be use to.

This blueberry is also another note which is held under deep control as I feel it needs to be in every red wine. This blueberry is almost a mid-palate note and a well positioned note at that. The question here is does this blueberry make a positive impact on the wine. The answer is oh yes, it does. To me, there is a very fine line between an effective blueberry note and a note that brings a wine in the jammy territory and this particular blueberry note is good, avoiding any jammy note worries. What about the alcohol in the wine, is it tasted? Ya know...while it is not tasted, it....feels noted but not in a burn way. Surprisingly, I actually enjoyed it as I believe it does the wine well. I don't believe that I have ever tasted a wine where the alcohol in it actually worked for the betterment of the wine rather then either remain neutral or work to the detriment of it. How about a nice mocha note? How would that sound here? Well folks, you want it, the wine delivers it. Yummy, that is all I can say when it comes to this note. Well....okay, I'll say more if you insist. This mocha seems to come about midway between the opening and the mid-palate and that is good because this is where it works wonderfully. Not too light and not too deep, this mocha note can't be missed and to me, keeps me thinking that this is a seriously well made, Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon. Sweet spice, oh boy is there a spice kick to this wine. Don't get scared with that word "sweet" as this note goes amazingly well with everything else the wine is throwing out and for the most part, it works. With this wine though, I have to recommend you chill it just a slight bit as the spice can be considered to be ever so slightly over the top. Now keep in mind that I drink red wine at room temperature, I do not put it in the fridge at all. I have always enjoyed my reds like this and have no intentions of changing anything (except if drinking this wine again). Also know that I keep my house at 70 degrees so heat itself is not an issue :)

Tony & Herta Peju

If you chill the wine just a bit, I am sure that spice will be adequately subdued. Guys, that is it, this review is over and it is therefore time to get to the conclusion paragraph to wrap it all up. I will see you there.
   So, here we are, at the end of this admittedly rather long review. All I am craving right now is a very serious steak. I'm talking a steak from the finest, grass fed, totally organic cow that has ever been raised. That would compliment this wine just perfectly. This is an old school, Bordeaux type Cab and nothing less. The words seriousness and ominous are well suited as the first two that best describe what I have just tasted. If you enjoy an old fashioned Cabernet Sauvignon, I highly recommend you buy a couple of bottles of this wine because you will drink the first one and be very sorry you can't get hold of another one for the cellar. On The Desert Wine Guy rating scale, I am very happily giving this wine 94 points. Last point here. Was the wine worth $70? My answer is, absolutely it was.

                                                                                              The Desert Wine Guy

                                                                                                                              
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