About This Wine:This will happen only once! Her name blesses the back label of some of Napa Valley's finest wines. Now Heidi is making her debut on the face label. With this tantalizing opener, we are pleased to offer you the release of our 2008 Amuse Bouche - embellished with a Warhol-esque representation of our esteemed winemaker.
Once again, we have produced a Pomerol-style wine, blending 94% Merlot with 6% Cabernet Franc from our estate vineyards. The '08 was harvested by blocks on Sept 18 and October 1. This was a very good vintage in Napa Valley, but with much lower yields; our production was just under 500 cases. Heidi describes this wine as remarkably aromatic, with strong flavors of jammy black cherries and cocoa bean and underlying hints of crushed minerals and vanilla. Simply delicious!
The Amuse Bouche 2008 original art was created by legendary artist, Steve Kaufman. Known as the "Warhol kid" for the past two decades, Kaufman was Warhol's assistant from 1978-1981 and is commonly referred to as the "Prince of Pop Art." His artwork hangs in the White House, the Smithsonian and more than 600 galleries across the United States, Japan and Europe. The New York Times recently lauded Kaufman, stating that "his bio rivals that of Picasso at the same age." www.SteveKaufmanart.com.
"Heidi Barrett has been the winemaker for many of the top Napa Valley cult wines such as Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, Grace Family, Paradigm and more."
Ratings & Reviews:
95 Points - Wine Enthusiast Magazine:
"One sip is all it takes to understand that this is a vital, impressive and possibly profound wine. A blend of 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, it displays the voluptuous richness of a Heidi Barrett wine, but also shows a firmness of character and a structural dryness that elevate it. Exceptionally flavorful in blackberries and cherries, it has tantalizing hints of herbs, olive tapenade and, of course, intensely fine oak. Drink now–2016." - S.H. (3/1/2011) - 95
92 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:"The 2008 Merlot (95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc) reveals a fragrant bouquet of sweet black cherries and black currants, a creamy, opulent texture, and good purity, palate presence and personality. With sweet tannins as well as a velvety, somewhat flamboyant style, it should be enjoyed over the next decade." - Robert Parker (Dec 2010)
Wine Spectator Magazine:
"Complex and concentrated, with black currant and olive aromas and supple blackberry, earthy clay and cedar flavors that linger toward lively tannins. Should be better with time. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2012. 550 cases made." –TF (11/15/2010)
93 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (2007 vintage):"Dominated by Merlot, but with a small amount of Cabernet Franc included in the blend, this limited production, boutique offering hits all the right spots on the palate and olfactory receptors. Its dark ruby/purple color is accompanied by sweet aromas of plums, black cherries, soy, and oak and the wine is fleshy, textured, flamboyant, lush, and delicious. Amuse Bouche’s finest effort to date, it can be enjoyed over the next 12-15 years." (12/2009)
91 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine (2007 vintage):12 California Merlots: A dozen wines that show the elegance and supple texture the Merlot grape can attain in the Golden State
"Supple and beautifully layered, with black cherry and toasty vanilla
aromas and currant, spice and roasted sage flavors that start
delicately and then build to a rich, ripely tannic finish. Merlot and
Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2015. 500 cases made." - T.F.,
Wine Spectator91 Points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (2007 vintage):"Bright red-ruby. High-pitched, slightly candied aromas of crushed red berries and plum lifted by a whiff of rose petal. A juicy, sweet, slightly high-toned fruit bomb, with good energy to its creamy, exotic red berry flavors. Boasts lovely clarity and finishing perfume."
Top 100 Perfect Pours of the World (v. 2007): " Pomerol-style
wine from Napa Valley produced by legendary winemaker Heidi Barrett,
this Merlot-based red is darkly vibrant, exuding aromas of blackberry
and black plum. On the palate, the wine expresses earthy, forest-floor
flavors or wild mushroom alongside juicy berry fruit, roasted coffee
and bittersweet chocolate."
-
Robb Report, October 2009
