Wine of the Week: Amapola Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley

2008 Amapola Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley

97

OUT OF 100

stark sips

VERDICT: "Outstanding - Starkie!"

Sonoma Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.9% alc.

$60

www.amapolacreek.com

A Sonoma Beauty: If you’ve never tried an unfiltered Cab, this ’08 Amapola is a good place to start.

Our Stark Insider wine of the week is a very special one.

Unfiltered, and outstanding in all regards, this ’08 Cabernet Sauvignon by Amapola Creek exemplifies the best of Sonoma County.

I particularly love the nose. Take a whiff, and you’re bowled over with sumptuous earth tones, tobacco, and — dare I say — that brambly/farmy action that so many of us seek out. If I were wearing a smoking jacket, I might even mention “terroir” and “expression” in reference to this wine.

ALSO: Stark Sips: Silver Oak Cellars

In Napa, on the other side of the Mayacamas Mountains (which we encountered earlier this week with a look at the Mount Veeder Cab) this bottle might sell for twice the price.

Hands down, Sonoma produces some of the best Cabs and Chards anywhere.

Amapola Creek 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley

1190 cases, $60

Highly Recommended.

Clinton Stark

Clint writes about Silicon Valley (Churchill Club Academy member), film, California wine (Stark Sips), theater (ATCA member) and tech (including his Canon EOS 60D and unlocked Nexus 4). A would-be NHLer if it weren't for the clarinet, he tries in vain to direct Loni on Stark Insider TV. He's held executive marketing roles at Cisco, EMC and Salesforce.com, and is active with start-ups across the valley. Clint's story...

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