Paul Woolls
2009 Progeny Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Special Selection Reserve. Elixir For a King!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wine “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The last time I tasted this wine was back in the spring of 2016. I purchased a couple of bottles, and it was past due to drink. Opened it up and had morphed into something extremely exquisite and almost heavenly. When I tasted it back in 2016, I stated from a previous story “one of the best wines” tasted! When tasting it in 2016, here was my review “first release of Special Selection Reserve (SSR), a 2009 Progeny 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. This was the winner! Only 100 cases were produced. This wine was aged in French oak barrels for 30 months and then aged 2 years in bottle before release. This was perhaps one of the darkest and most voluptuous Cabs I have come across in years. This was described as “a mouth filling wine of power and elegance” and I can only second that statement”. That statement still held true when tasting it the other evening. This 2009 was rated at 98 points and when doing a search for this vintage, it showed pricing ranging from $397 to $497/bottle. The wine came in 15.2%.
The current vintage today is 2019 and is listed at $250/bottle and was rated at 96 points.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
My wife prepared a creative dish of Udon noodles and filet mignon. The filet mignon was cut up into bite size pieces and tenderized then marinated in Chaka sauce sauteed with onion and garlic. Broccoli and Udon noodles were added to the skillet then tossed with a soy sauce mixed with cornstarch. Topped with sesame seeds. The meat was extremely enjoyable and the Udon noodles and sauce is always good. A very unique and delicious meal. The wine was a godsend with this meal. An extremely solid food and wine pairing.
The Winery
The property today verses 2016 (picture below)
The vineyard is located at 1032 Mount Veeder Road, Napa California. Betty O’Shaughnessy and Paul Woolls, wanted to take their experience with O’Shaughnessy Winery one step further and purchased the land which had been a cattle farm since 1885.
While predominate plantings are Cabernet Sauvignon the also have Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and St Macaire on the property. They also have a small portion planted in Grenache, Mourvedre and Counoise grapes.
Picture taken in 2016 Photo ©Michael Kelly
The property is situated on a pristine Mt Veeder property. They have 260 acres with only 32 planted in vineyards. At first glance, you might think of yourself back in the “ode sod” of Ireland. The hillsides were strikingly green with the recent rains.
Picture taken in 2016 Photo ©Michael Kelly
Additionally, they enlisted the “stars” of O’Shaughnessy to put Progeny on the map. Sean Capiaux continues as winemaker, Alan Pierson once again is turning the vineyards into framed artwork.
They were under construction of their production facility when I originally visited which was completed in August 2016. Their hospitality building started in the summer of 2016 and was completed in the fall of 2017.
Their wines are limited to Trinity Blanc, Marsanne 42%, Roussanne 35%, Viognier 23% a gorgeous and mouth feeling white wine; Trinity Rouge, Syrah 50%, Grenache 27%, Mourvèdre 20%, Counoise 3%; Mt Veeder Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 90%, Merlot 4%, Malbec 3%, St. Macaire 2% & Cabernet Franc 1% and their very Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon using 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.
I need to revisit the next trip to Napa Valley to see the transformation of the vineyard, tasting room and winery.
If you are looking for one of the best representations of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, this is one surely to consider for that special occasion.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
https://californiawinesandwines.com
https://arizonawinesandwineries.com
