2006 Kathryn Kennedy Santa Cabernet Sauvignon Cruz Mountain (Special Rare Vintage 2)
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S$33288
Vintage: 2006
Country: USA
Region: Santa Cruz
About Winery
The Kathern Kennedy estate vineyard is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The vines cover gentle slopes in Saratoga, California on the inland side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Eight acres of vines were planted on their own roots by Kennedy in 1973. Each vintage is grown by hand and vinified in small lots followed by gentle barrel aging.
Kathryn's son continues (as he has for more than 40 years) to farm what's left of his mother's vineyard. Development encroaches and there is but one acre of the original 8 left to farm...for now.
This is truly one of the great California Cabernets and some of the oldest vines in Santa Cruz. It was started by one of the first women winemakers and one of the first women winemaker-vineyard owner-farmers. I don't think gender makes one a better or worse winemaker, but to do what she did when she did it demonstrates a fierceness and talent that I can only marvel at. Like Ginger Rogers, she had to do everything the Fred Astairs of the world did but backwards and in heels!
All the backstory notwithstanding, this has been one of our favorite cabernet sauvignons since our bartending days in 80s. I've had bottles in excess of 25 years old and never seen one that was past its prime.
About Winery
The Kathern Kennedy estate vineyard is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The vines cover gentle slopes in Saratoga, California on the inland side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Eight acres of vines were planted on their own roots by Kennedy in 1973. Each vintage is grown by hand and vinified in small lots followed by gentle barrel aging.
Kathryn's son continues (as he has for more than 40 years) to farm what's left of his mother's vineyard. Development encroaches and there is but one acre of the original 8 left to farm...for now.
This is truly one of the great California Cabernets and some of the oldest vines in Santa Cruz. It was started by one of the first women winemakers and one of the first women winemaker-vineyard owner-farmers. I don't think gender makes one a better or worse winemaker, but to do what she did when she did it demonstrates a fierceness and talent that I can only marvel at. Like Ginger Rogers, she had to do everything the Fred Astairs of the world did but backwards and in heels!
All the backstory notwithstanding, this has been one of our favorite cabernet sauvignons since our bartending days in 80s. I've had bottles in excess of 25 years old and never seen one that was past its prime.
92 points Wine Advocate
Aging gracefully, the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate from Kathryn Kennedy sport a still vibrant ruby color with just a touch of lightening at the rim. Graphite, vanilla bean, currants, cured meats and hints of chocolate all emerge from this medium to full-bodied, supple, layered and gorgeously polished Cabernet. Possessing fine tannin, a solid mid-palate, and beautiful length, it's drinking beautifully today, with a great mix of fruit and secondary aromas and flavors, but it will keep for another decade.
92 points Vinous
Opaque ruby. Deeply pitched, mineral-accented aromas of cherry compote, cassis, pipe tobacco and licorice. Picks up floral and spice character with air, along with a touch of cracked pepper. Sweet and expansive, offering ripe dark fruit flavors and notes of licorice pastille and mocha. Showing more power and brawn than the 2005 today, and I don't think that's just a function of youth. Sexy vanillin oak and fruitcake notes linger on a persistent, penetrating, taut finish.
