Wine Last Sold on: July 31, 2008
Bourassa Vineyards
Today's Featured Wine:
2004 Symphony³ Proprietors Reserve
| Varietal: | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Region: | California: Napa Valley |
| Total Available:: | Final Allocation Alert |
| Avg. Price: | $60.00 |
| Wine Spies: | $42.50 |
The Winery Says:
Bourassa Vineyards, Member, Napa Valley Vintners
About This Wine:
This Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Symphony is a blend of our most prized vineyards from three distinct growing regions, Tulocay, Oak Knoll and Yountville. Dense ruby in color, rich raspberry and hints of chocolate and blackberry fruit flavors fill the palette with smokey toasted oak in the background. There is a smooth vanilla sweetness present to round out the finish.
Bourassa Vineyards, the Essence of Paradise
Welcome to Bourassa Vineyards, one of Napa Valley’s most distinguished wineries. Bourassa Vineyards skillfully produces rich, complex blends and world class varietals from only the finest, self-maintained vineyards in Napa Valley. Born from a family tradition of winemaking with a passion for quality, our wines are hand-crafted in small lots to ensure unsurpassed excellence in every bottle. Our award-winning vintages display varietally correct balance paired with handcrafted passion.
The Bourassa tradition of winemaking started in 1899 in Naples, Italy with Victor Nozzolillo, Victor Bourassa’s grandfather. In 1910, he came to American by himself, greeted only by an older brother who also left Italy at a very young age. Nozzolillo fought in and survived WWI before settling down to raise a family.
On Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA in the early 1900’s, street-style farmers’ markets were the order of the day. Grapes from other states were on display on wooden boxes, ripe for home winemaking (most of which was done in the basement during Prohibition.) It was Victor Bourassa’s grandfather who provided him an inheritance of tradition as a winemaker. He instilled in Bourassa an eagerness to learn the ancient craft of winemaking.
On the other side of town, Bourassa’s other grandfather Joseph Bourassa, tended his entrepreneurial spirit by building a neighborhood grocery store from the ground up. He too planted a seed within Vic Bourassa to honor and build on tradition.
Many of Victor Bourassa’s memories provide confidence in seeking the knowledge in winemaking and entrepreneurship for his wine business today. Bourassa Vineyards is built on this strong family tradition in Napa Valley. Bourassa recognized the importance of these people who have touched his life. They have taught him to work hard, have integrity and always be optimistic in life. Thus the result is the fruition of Vic Bourassa’s lifelong dream to produce and sell wines that would make his grandfathers proud.
Technical Analysis:
Alcohol: 14%
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Napa Valley
Sub-Appellation: Tulocay, Oak Knoll, and Yountville
Year: 2006
The Wine Spies Say:
Limited Allocation & Exceptional Value Alert:
The Wine Spies have negotiated with Bourassa Vineyards to get the remaining limited allocation of this exceptional wine. In addition, today’s wine is being offered at nearly 30% off its regular price, well below even their wine club price. But once our sale is over you will not be able to get this exceptional wine at this price ever again. In addition, we are offering free ground shipping on orders of six or more bottles. Be sure to enter the promotion code NAPASPY at checkout.
Mission Codename: Music to my Mouth
Operative: Agent White
Objective:
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Bourassa Vineyards
Wine Subject: 2004 Symphony³ Proprietors Reserve
Winemaker: Gary Galleron
Backgrounder:
Napa Valley is famous for Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2004 was an exceptional year. The grapes for this delicious example come from three distinct regions of Napa Valley. Oak Knoll in the valley flats just north of Napa was designated the 14th district in April of 2004 and has approximately 2500 acres planted. The Tulocay region is located at the base of the foothills on the east side of Napa. Finally, Yountville AVA, established in 1998, is known for its cooler climate which is best suited for exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – This wine is dark purple, almost black in color with an inky quality and dark garnet hued edges. When swirled, long slender legs streak down the side of the glass.
Smell – Medium intensity flavors of ripe blackberry, raspberry, baking spices, hints of pepper and a mild herbaceous component. As this wine opens a unique vanilla caramel component also reveals itself.
Feel – Smooth, rich and full-bodied with medium firm tannins and a distinct mineral component rounds out the palate.
Taste – Deeply layered and concentrated fruit with with ripe blackberry supported by toasted oak, vanilla, hints of tobacco, spice and black pepper.
Finish – This wine finishes long and smooth with lingering with hints of all of its rich flavors.
Conclusion – Like all of the wines from Bourassa Vineyards, this wine shows strong production quality and is a delicious wine. Like the name, Symphony, expertly blends fruit from three distinct regions to produce a wine that is smooth, rich and a joy to drink. As we mentioned above, 2004 was an exceptional year and this wine is clearly representative of the vintage and the region. We recommend picking up a few bottles. One or two to drink now and a few to taste over the coming years as this wine grows.
Mission Report:
Below follows the mission in which Agent Red and our Ops Center were concerned that Agent White had gone off the reservation with Bourassa Vineyards’ wines.
Agent Red reporting in – transcript as follows:
Ops was concerned… White had been taking the spy plane down to Mexico, not reported in for days at a time and always came back with great wines from Napa Valley’s Bourassa Vineyards. Questions lingered, and even worse Agent Blush was getting suspicious.
I was dispatched to Napa to investigate. I hate these missions, as being a fellow field agent, I know what’s involved in finding great wines. Nobody wants to be second guessed, and we are fighting on the same team against the O.D.S.W. (our arch nemesis Only Drink Supermarket Wines). I had no reason to doubt White’s allegiance – I personally knew of many of the unsung battles we’ve won against O.D.S.W. He was on the front lines, and I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather have there.
Recently White had returned with a cache of great wines from several Napa Valley wineries, and in particular he was raving about some of the latest Zins, Syrahs and blends. Upon my arrival at the winery, I was greeted by our internal asset ’E’ who quickly pulled me aside and out of the tasting room. He assured me that all was on the up-and-up and said the best way to prove it was to taste the wines.
After doing some barrel tastings and trying the entire flight my fears where allayed, the wine was indeed great, and ‘E’ had said that him and White were simply enjoying some much needed R&R while trying some wine (and tequila). I was most taken by the Cab that ‘E’ had poured. The 2004 Symphony³ Proprietors Reserve just delicious.
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of Bourassa Vineyards can be seen in this satellite photo.
Average Wine Spy Points: |
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One of Bourassa's finest wines (and they have lots of great wine), this reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has it all... A complete bouquet layered with red and black fruit, spices, and oak. Smooth, rich and full-bodied on the palate. Concentrated flavors of blackberry, vanilla, pepper, tobacco and oak; and a finish that lingers inviting another sip (gulp).
Overall a great wine and an even better deal on one of the best vintages in recent memory. Be sure to pick up a few bottles. One for now and a couple to try in the coming years.
Agent Red Says: We encourage you to share your reviews and comments about this wine. If you need help scoring or using tasting tags, click on the help links on the form. You’ll also earn more Spy Points for each review you submit.
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