The Araujo Estate is a Chateau-style wine property located in the northeast Napa Valley. Its two primary components are the 40-acre Eisele Vineyard, and the winery and cave complex which designed and built specifically to vinify Eisele Vineyard grapes. The Eisele Vineyard is one of the most respected Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in the Napa Valley. Warm days, cool nights and well-drained cobbly soils produce remarkable wines. The vineyard was established more than 100 years ago, and was first planted to cabernet sauvignon in 1964. Araujo Estate wines emerge from a seamless cycle that begins in the vineyard and culminates in the rockbound stillness of the winery's barrel-aging cave. The outstanding team here includes winemaker Francoise Peschon and consulting enologist Michel Rolland; vineyard consultants Bob Gallagher (viticulture), Amigo Bob Cantisano (organic), and Jef Dawson (biodynamic).

www.araujoestate.com

Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele
The first Araujo Estate Cabernet was produced from the 1991 vintage. More than two thirds of the 41-acre Eisele Vineyard are dedicated to cabernet sauvignon and its companion varieties, cabernet franc, petit verdot, and merlot. The grapes are crushed and fermented in several small lots, then transferred to French oak barrels for two years of aging in the winery's caves. The resulting wine is an intense expression of the Eisele Vineyard terroir and the nature of the vintage, showing the characteristic flavors of cassis, black cherry, cedar, chocolate and slate, with a lingering mineral finish. Araujo Estate cabernets are noted for their silky texture and great finesse.
2000 $159.99
"The 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard (a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, and the remainder Petit Verdot) is from a difficult vintage. It displays Margaux-like elegance and weight, and possesses a dense ruby/purple color, a sweet perfume of acacia flowers, black currants, licorice, minerals, and subtle wood, medium body, honeyed fruit, and a long, velvety-textured finish. This is a wine of exceptional finesse and grace. It was produced from an extremely tiny crop of only one cluster of grapes per shoot. It can be drunk now and over the next 14 years." 90-93 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #142
1998 $174.99 very limited
"Medium-deep red. Complex, inviting aromas of plum, leather, spice, game and Burgundian earth tones. Lush and sweet in the mouth, with plum, meat and leather flavors. Harmonious acids give shape to the wine without drying it. Finishes with sweet, rich tannins and very good length. This has filled in very nicely since I tasted it from barrel a year ago. A real standout of the vintage." 91 Steve Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 5/6-01
"There are 2,300 cases of this 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit-Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc blend. It is supple and elegant, with a complex, evolved bouquet of smoke, black currants, spice box, and cedar. In the mouth, the wine is forward with sweet tannin, gorgeously rich, concentrated fruit, and impressively integrated acidity and tannin. Drink this alluring charmer now and over the next 12-15 years." 92 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #132
1997 sold out
"The aromatically forward 1997 will be among the more seductive and sexy Cabernet Sauvignons produced in the nineties. It possesses all the ingredients necessary for greatness - concentration, purity, and richness - but what sets it apart from other vintages is its evolved aromatic personality. The wine tastes as if it is 6-12 months older than it actually is (something I found with many 1997 North Coast reds). The color is a healthy saturated dark purple. The wine is elegant, rich in fruit, medium to full-bodied, and extremely expressive, even flamboyant. This should prove to be a sexy, ostentatiously-styled wine that will drink beautifully upon release, yet its balance suggests at least two decades of longevity." 91-94 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #120
"Smooth and rich, this wine is deceptively complex, with pretty mocha, vanilla bean and oak flavors along with lots of plum, currant and black cherry tones that turn supple and gain elegance. Tannins are ripe and polished. Best from 2002 through 2012. Cellar Selection." 94 The Wine Spectator 10/31/00
"Deep ruby-red. High-pitched, slightly floral aromas of black raspberry, plum, lead pencil and a hint of chocolate. Great velvety sweetness and ripeness in the mouth; enticing game and mocha notes complement the dark berry fruit. Already shows impressive incipient complexity and a seamless texture. Very long and very subtle, with finishing fruit obscuring the wine firm tannic structure." 92-95 Steve Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 5/6-99
1996 $239.99 very limited
"The saturated purple-colored 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard offers an attractive nose of black fruits intermixed with toast, minerals, subtle tar, and wood smoke. Full-bodied, with impressive purity, a multi-layered mid-palate and finish, it is an expressive, pure, powerful, and large-boned wine." 94 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #126
"Deep ruby color, darker for its age than the '97. Slightly roasted aromas of black fruits, toffee, leather, tobacco, mocha and dark chocolate; exhilarating suggestion of crystallized berries. Lush and velvety in the mouth; already displays wonderful sweetness and layered texture. Very strong back end features chewy, ripe tannins. A very successful '96, showing beautifully today." 93 Steve Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 5/6-99
"Smooth and polished, with detailed flavors of ripe plum, black cherry, spice and light oak, this pedigreed red turns rich and elegant, with a long, complex aftertaste. Highly Recommended." 94 The Wine Spectator 11/15/99

Bart & Daphne Araujo