WTN: Nice Napa Valley Cabernet

From the unfortunately named "Chateau Boswell" winery north of St. Helena on Silverado Trail:

2003 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Wow. This has beautiful floral perfume. A hint of a green note that adds freshness. Fine grained medium mouthfeel with tannins integrated but still there. Lovely cassis fruit, and I can taste the floral notes as well. Very elegant wine which I would "score" in the mid 90s. No hint of tiredness or pruneyness...this still had time to go! 94 points. One of the better Napa Cabs from this year.

[David M. Bueker]

Could be worse - could be Chateau Bosley!

Could be worse - could be Chateau Bosley!

Funny! That is what my brain actually interpreted Boswell as! Man, too much 70's TV in my youth...

Didn't realize this place was still around. Isn't that the "castle" off of the Silverado Trail? I think Andre Tchelistcheff was involved with them back when they first started up. Haven't heard anything of them in years.

Didn't realize this place was still around. Isn't that the "castle" off of the Silverado Trail? I think Andre Tchelistcheff was involved with them back when they first started up. Haven't heard anything of them in years.

They are still around, with an active website and a winemaker who responds to a complimentary email within a half hour.

I actually had heard/thought that the original behind the scenes investor had passed away a couple of years ago and the winery was being sold (I recall a realtor sign) but they are still an ongoing concern with the same team, it appears. They also made an absolutely KILLER chardonnay as well...it was killer even though it was made in the tons of oak-rich fruit-and-high alcohol style I usually dislike, but it was just so darn DELICIOUS with a capital "D". I remember the Chardonnay being bright yellow in color!

So, they made two of my top twenty Napa wines since I became wine obsessed a few years ago!

Alas...I can no longer afford these.

From the unfortunately named "Chateau Boswell" winery north of St. Helena on Silverado Trail:

2003 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Wow. This has beautiful floral perfume. A hint of a green note that adds freshness. Fine grained medium mouthfeel with tannins integrated but still there. Lovely cassis fruit, and I can taste the floral notes as well. Very elegant wine which I would "score" in the mid 90s. No hint of tiredness or pruneyness...this still had time to go! 94 points. One of the better Napa Cabs from this year.

Brian, I have to say your comments on other subjects have more merit IMHO than your ratings of wines from Napa.

[David M. Bueker]

Brian, I have to say your comments on other subjects have more merit IMHO than your ratings of wines from Napa.

ooh...snap!

Brian, I have to say your comments on other subjects have more merit IMHO than your ratings of wines from Napa.

I don't know what to say.

You don'tike their wines? I've had two other bottlings that I would rate lower, but this cab was nice.

Brian, I have to say your comments on other subjects have more merit IMHO than your ratings of wines from Napa.

I don't know what to say.

You don'tike their wines? I've had two other bottlings that I would rate lower, but this cab was nice.

You don't have to say anything, everybody is entitled to their own opinion. It's only grape juice.

[Jenise]

Hey, Brian posts what he thinks just like we all do, and we enjoy his posts. If all agreed all the time and all bottles were the same, we wouldn't have much to talk about, would we?

Brian, I have to say your comments on other subjects have more merit IMHO than your ratings of wines from Napa.

I don't know what to say.

You don'tike their wines? I've had two other bottlings that I would rate lower, but this cab was nice.

I don't know what to say, either, having not tasted their wines ever AFAIK. I always enjoy reading your notes on Napa wines, Brian, knowing of your fondness for wines of the Arbois. Some day, I'll try some of your recommendations and see if our palates align in that regard, too. Having drunk wine with Lou before, I know how close our two palates are, so I am one cornfuzzled reader right about now -- but that's what makes wine such a fun topic of conversation!

Mark Lipton

p.s. I recall that "For Sale" sign on the unfortunately named Ch. Boswell, too. I wish that they'd at least have changed the name