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Sauvage, by St. Helena Winery (Cabernet Sauvignon)

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This entry was posted on 2/26/2006 4:39 PM and is filed under California Cabernets.

This is a fabulous wine,  Unfortunately, production is miniscule.  Only 75 cases are produced worldwide.  I happened to find it at Bacchus Wine Market in San Diego's Gaslamp district.

It is a huge wine, bursting with fruit and tannin.  The nose is full of black fruits and plum, while the palate is covered in layers of blueberry, blackberry, and boysenberry.  There is a huge amount of tannin here, but it is well camouflaged by the fruit.  The wine has a giant mouthfeel.  This is a wine that literally attacks your senses in an oh so pleasant fashion!  It is a heavy, dense wine with 14.5% alcohol.  The finish is luxurious, and lasts a long time.  The 2003 Sauvage would have been this week's wine of the week, were it not for the fact that there are only 3 remaining bottles in all of San Diego, as best as I can tell.  I paid 47 dollars for the wine.  As an added bonus, the bottle is impressive looking and beautiful to look at.  The wine will probably get even better with a little bottle age.  But with only 3 bottles left in our fair city, what is the point of plastering it on the wine of the week section?  If you see this review, run down to Bacchus and pick up one of the last 3 bottles.  Better yet, ask the owner to try to somehow get some more!

4.5 stars

addendum:  I found that the wine was originally distributed to the following San Diego area retailers.   I do not know which ones still have it in stock, and for what price:  Wine Sellar & Brasserie, The Wine Loft, San Diego Wine Bank, Del Mar Wine Company, and Meritage Wine Market.
 

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    • 3/10/2006 4:53 PM Rawli wrote:
      VC,
      Well Sir you have done it again. I have had the pleasure of tasting (or testing)2 bottles of Sauvage and it is by far the best 2003 vintage that I have tried. While slightly tannic the earthiness and in your face flavors is above the rest. Add to that following your recommendation, I purchased numerous bottles @ the 47.99 price you have saved me ~ 75.00/btl from the LA price. Great reviews and a cost saving too, VC, Bravo to you.
      Thanks
      Reply to this
      1. 3/10/2006 8:56 PM VinoCritic wrote:
        Hey,

        Glad you found the review helpful and liked the wine.  I plan on putting a couple of bottles in the cellar. 
        Reply to this
    • 3/14/2006 8:16 PM jake wrote:
      VC; nice review, but I went to the Del Mar Wine Company and they said they sold out of the wine. I went the day after you posted the review. Good news is that people are digging your web site. Bad news is, your "hidden little gems" may get scarce. Be carefuyl what you post.Do you know who else has it? When are we going to drink some wine, bro?
      Reply to this
      1. 3/14/2006 9:25 PM VinoCritic wrote:
        Jake,

        I always buy a couple of bottles before I post the wine of the week to make sure I will have some after all you guys buy it out!!  I do know who bought out all the bottles at Del Mar Wine Co., but I doubt he will part with his bottles, after seeing his comments on the wine.   Actually, I also went back to get some a few days after I posted the review and got the same bad news that someone read the review and bought out the shop's supply.

        There are several other stores listed on the review.  I don't know who has it and who is out.  Have you ever heard of the phone?  I was in Meritage over the weekend, and they still had several bottles, although their price was a few bucks higher than Bacchus and Del Mar Wine Co.  Good luck...........V.C.
        Reply to this
        1. 3/16/2006 9:41 PM VinoCritic wrote:

          O.K. blokes:  Here is the up to date list of where you can still get the Sauvage (as of March 16):

          Meritage Wine Market in Encinitas

          The Wine Loft in Carlsbad.

          Beltramo's Fine Wines in the SF Bay area.
          ----------------------------------------------------------

          Since posting the review last week,  Bacchus Wine Market, Del Mar Wine Company, and 20/20 Wine Market have sold out!  San Diego Wine Bank, The Irvine Wine Room,  and Wine Sellar&Brassiere have also sold out. 
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          I have also received word that the WineSellar&Brassiere will start to carry Sympa, the reserve wine from St. Helena Winery in the near future.  You will be able to purchase it at the downstairs wine shop or the upstairs restaurant.  I will try to post a review of the wine soon!......................Drink Up!.................V.C.


          Reply to this
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