Cuvée Julia
2009 Cuvee Julia
What's the best kept secret in the Napa Valley? It's the fact that only one other person besides winemaker Gerhard Reisacher knows the exact blend components of this amazing wine. Whispered to daughter Julia while deeply asleep, the secret blend melts away into her dreams. This is Cuvée Julia, the crown jewel in the Delectus portfolio of wines. Cuvée Julia is a blend of the best barrels of the vintage, usually Cabernet driven, and is always the most dramatic bottling of the year.
Vineyard: Estate
Appellation: Knights Valley
Composition: CS 65%, CF, PS, ME
Case Production: 300
Barrel Aged: 22 Months
Release Date: 03/12
Tasting Notes
This wine is as beautiful and complex as its muse. The journey begins with a floral bouquet of rose petals and a zest of orange blossom. Subtle hints of cocoa and a sweet and spicy clove round out an elegant yet complex nose. The palate is serious but fun. The mid-palate is compact but playful throughout with hints of dark chocolate and incredibly smooth tannins. The finish is very chewy and long. This wine offers finesse instead of raw power!
Past Vintages, Reviews & Accolades
2005 Cuvée Julia
92 pts. - Connoisseurs' Guide
"Deep and absolutely brimming with very rich, oak-buttressed fruit, it offers far more than a one note display of ripeness and shows touches of vanilla, tea leaf, dark earth and black olives as accents to its central themes of currants. Its ample tannins and finishing heat are par for very ripe Cabernet, but they are countered step for step by its remarkably tenacious fruit, and seven or eight years of growth is a very safe bet for adoring fans of the style."
2004 Cuvée Julia
93 Pts. – Wine Spectator
"Plush and fleshy, with spicy currant, wild berry, cedar and anise flavors that are complex and concentrated. Well-focused, elegant and balanced, this keeps the fruit at the forefront and ends with a complex mix of mocha, currant and minerally earth nuances. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Merlot. Best from 2008 through 2014." (May 31, 2007)
2003 Cuvée Julia
94 Pts – Wine Spectator
"A delicious, open-throttle mouthful of exotic Cabernet, with tiers of earthy currant, espresso bean, melted chocolate and hints of herb, sage and smoky herbal tea. Intense and concentrated, the flavors coat the palate and finish in a long, persistent aftertaste, echoing chocolate-covered raspberry. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Merlot. Best from 2008 through 2014." (June 15, 2006)
2002 Cuvée Julia
96 Pts - Wine Spectator
"A tremendous wine—bold, ripe, rich and concentrated, with layers of complexity and a long, persistent, tightly focused finish. The layers of spicy currant, espresso bean, herb and toasty oak fold together beautifully. With each sip, a new flavor nuance appears. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Merlot. Best from 2007 through 2014." (May 31, 2005)
