The SOMM Journal

April / May 2017

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64 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } APRIL/MAY 2017 After spending three hours sipping through 2015 barrel samples at the Napa Valley Vintners' exclusive Premiere Napa Valley Barrel Tasting and Auction, the conclusion was obvious. The aromatics from Cabernet Sauvignons and Bordeaux blends from the region's array of appellations show - cased brilliantly expressive notes—from violets to cherry-seasoned cedar to mocha-stained black and blue fruit. And so fresh! A freshness attributable not so much to the youth and unsettled quality of these yet-unbottled wines, but to an inner clarity that emancipates itself within a frame of structure and power—a true liberation of beauty in what was a low-yield harvest. With $4.2 million dollars raised at the sold-out 21st annual auction—Napa Valley's most prestigious trade event of the year—62 successful bidders were in possession of coveted lots of one-of-a-kind bottlings.* The limited-release OF THE 217 TOTAL LOTS UP FOR SALE THIS YEAR AT PREMIERE NAPA VALLEY AUCTION, 189 (OR 87 PER- CENT) WERE FROM THE 2015 HARVEST, THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE NAPA VALLEY VINTAGE TO BE DEEMED A DREAM. Lots to Say about the '15 Napa Valley Vintage by Meridith May / photos by Alexander Rubin

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