Novelty Hill’s 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Stillwater Creek Vineyard – blended with Merlot and a near-negligible share of Cabernet Franc – evinces satisfying juiciness of cherry and cassis accented by fennel, cedar, and green olive. With refined tannins and persistent sweetness of fruit, it ought to satisfy for several years. (A Novelty Hill Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon largely from Stillwater Creek Vineyards with smaller shares of Alder Ridge and Weinbau fruit, displayed a cosmetic and confectionary oak overlay awkward in its alliance with the herbal side of its cepage, as well as betraying more astringency than typical in its collection.)
Novelty Hill wines are made by veteran Mike Januik in the same (deluxe, now five year old) facility as are his Januik wines (reviewed separately in this report), but is a partnership with Tom Alberg and Judi Beck that originated when in 2000 they consulted with Januik on the establishment of what became Stillwater Creek Vineyard. Unsurprisingly, that inspirational Frenchman Hills site (for a bit more about which, see my comments in the introduction to this report) is the source for around one-third the volume of Novelty Hill’s wines (and is, incidentally, where I tasted them). While there are a number of excellent white wines on this roster, it should be borne in mind that more than three-quarters of Novelty Hill production is red, vinified along the lines sketched in my account of Januik wines in the present report.
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