Every time we try a new wine, I head home for my computer and research the history, the family, the winemaker, and of course the wine we drank. I want to know everything about it so that if asked, I can give some sort of yes I've had it, loved or didn't care for it answer. Well, if you listen to certain radio stations or music you've downloaded in the past 5-10 years, you would hear Avril and Taylor singing (okay, maybe not 10 years-they are quite young)! When I researched pictures of this winery, etc. all that came up was pictures of Avril and Taylor. You wonder if these two bombshells had an influence on the name of the wine or not!
But with further research on Facebook, I found out that a Dallas family owns this winery in Napa. The name of the wine looks to be from one of the relative's last name, Avril and a grandfather's name, Taylor. Oh so sweet! This wine is the family's inaugural vintage, and we are proud to be one of the few that have tasted it. Only 100 cases were bottled, so that probably means about four barrels. The "Clampitt Family Winery" usually bottles two barrels of their vintage every three years by hand, so I know the hard work the Pitzers put into this wine.
2009 Avril Taylor Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($52) is an "exceptional blend" of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, and % Petit Verdot. When the cork was pulled the nose was very fruity and jammy. Our sommelier at the Dallas Country Club decanted it and the wine opened up beautifully. It was heavenly! The winery even suggests that you do this before drinking as mountain wines tend to have more structure and tannins.
You can purchase this wine at Ten Times Cellars in Dallas or Fort Worth. It's worth the trip to either location for this wine! Good luck Pitzers and congratulations on your first vintage wine!
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