Artesa Winery
1997 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Appellation: Napa Valley, California

The first Artesa we have tried. Artesa is a daughter company of the huge Cordoniu empire, but you wouldn't know it from this excellent wine. Rich, perfumed cassis, smoke, and super-ripe cherries in the nose. Full-flavored, classic California Cabernet flavors in the attack and midrange. Falls off a tad in the finish, but only compared to the power and roundness in the rest of the wine. Tasted as a guest, price unknown. But if affordable, this wine is enough to restore my faith in California Cabs, whose prices are often way out of line with the quality of the wine.