Cardinale 2007 – Napa Valley

The nose is elegant, precise and offers a certain delicacy in its power. There are notes of fairly ripe blueberry, ripe blackcurrant and more lightly roasted cherry combined with fine hints of violet, fine hints of sense of place (local biotop/local grove) as well as discreet hints of forest floor, black tea and a very discreet hint of rosemary. The palate is fruity and reveals juiciness, freshness, minerality, nice definition, a fresh/acidic backbone, tension and a nice delicacy. Nice finesse in its creaminess. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fairly ripe/juicy blackberry, small juicy/fresh dark berries and more lightly violet combined with hints of roasted red berries, aromatic herbs as well as fine hints of local grove/sense of place (local biotop), black tea and underbrush. The tannins are elegant and delicate. An elegant and light wine. Lovely persistence with a subtle hint of mint and salinity.