When I learned one of my favorite winemakers, Celia Welch, was scheduled to host a dinner in Pasadena a couple weeks ago, I made a special effort to be there. It just happened to coincide with the releases of two of her wines, 2006 Corra Cabernet Sauvignon (her own project), and the fourth release of Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon (pictured to the left). 

There is always a lot of interest around the release of Celia’s projects, and the Scarecrow tends to attract the most attention largely due to praises heaped on it by virtually every wine critic who has tasted it. Up until this point, the only impressions that had been published on the 2006 were from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate Issue 180, December 2008, where he included notes on 2005 - 2007 most likely tasted in late summer, or fall 2008. In his notes, Parker points out that the 2007 was tasted in barrel, and with what I gather from his writing, the 2005 was a finished wine in bottle, but at what stage was the 2006 reviewed? There have been plenty of comments on wine bulletin boards how this is “the lowest rated Scarecrow vintage ever by Parker”. For sake of reference, he scored the wine 94+ points…

Since I wrote the first published reviews on the premiere release 2003 of this wine in 2006, I was very interested to see how this vintage stacked up against all of the others. If Parker tasted the 2005 as a finished wine, this would be the first chance to compare his impressions (of a wine that may have just been bottled) with my own on the eve of the release to the mailing list. 

2006 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, Napa Valley; DW 96

14.8% alcohol, “By the time I got around to tasting, the wine had been open for about two hours which is usually when the Scarecrow begins to open up and show what it is all about…” DW

Aromas: Showing the textbook violet, dark plum, crushed blueberry essence, and seductive elements of espresso

Palate: Full velvet-like texture backed by firmly focused acidity, showing expansive black currant, dark cherry and violets with hints of licorice and blossoms

Impression: The texture is what separates this wine for me in virtually every vintage. It shows such sophisticated dimension and finely tuned balance.

Not surprisingly, this wine is highly allocated to a completely subscribed mailing, and waiting list and is available in limited quantity.

Stay tuned for upcoming notes on 2006 Corra Cabernet Sauvignon.