Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages 1997

Description

Wine Advocate #132 Dec 2000 Robert M. Parker, Jr. RATED 94 Drink: Now The 1997 Cinq Cepages is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit-Verdot, it boasts a super-complex bouquet of licorice, dried herbs, black currants, spice box, and cherry liqueur. In the mouth, notes of chocolate, new oak, and red and black fruits caress the palate in a medium to full-bodied, succulent style. Aged in 50% new and 50% one-year old French barrels, it is bottled with no fining or filtration. Fleshy and complex, this is California’s answer to a big, rich St.-Emilion. Drinkable now. Wine Advocate #127 Feb 2000 Robert M. Parker, Jr. RATED 94 Drink: Now The 1997 Cinq Cepages is blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the balance Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, this wine exhibits a saturated dark purple color, a mouth-staining, gloriously rich palate impression, and abundant blackberry and cherry fruit mixed with cedar, licorice, tobacco, dried herbs, and toasty new oak. According to winemaker Steve Reeder, the wine is aged in 50% new and 50% one-year old French oak barrels. Most of the oak comes from such coopers as Seguin-Moreau and Taransaud. Ultrarich and chocolaty, with layers of cedar, plum, currant and black cherry, revealing uncommon depth and tiers of flavor as it picks up coffee, toffee and anise. Finishes with firm tannins. Best from 2002 through 2012. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. (JL)