Current Releases From Red Mountain's Big Dog
Here are the Aquilini Wines To Purchase, and a Couple To Argue About!
I’ve featured a few Aquilini wines on my website but here is a more comprehensive overview of current releases. This Canada-based enterprise owns a big chunk of Red Mountain, and makes a range of wines in all price categories. Among their brands are A56, Chasing Rain, 10,000 Hours and the eponymous Aquilini. Here are my notes on some of the current offerings. As you can see from the case quantities, many are widely available. Purchase them here. The first wine listed below – Chasing Rain – is an exceptional value.
Aquilini 2020 Chasing Rain Cabernet Sauvignon
This is likely an assembly from excess barrels, principally a Cabernet along with 6% Petit Verdot in the blend. Most interestingly it was aged in 22% American oak, which might have been a winemaker experiment as the mainline reds are aged in French oak. This is the sort of treasure that comes along from time to time when a winery dedicated to making top tier reds finds some leftover barrels and makes a wine that far exceeds its price. This still carries the Red Mountain AVA, which seems to confirm it comes from Aquilini's expansive estate vineyards. It's loaded with red and black fruits, barrel flavors of espresso and char, and some pretty stiff tannins from the PV, which is usually kept below 3% in most blends. At this price it's a steal, and ready for your tri-tip, barbeque or smoked meats once winter decides to exit the premises. 4640 cases; 14.5%; $25 (Red Mountain) 92/100
Aquilini 2019 A56 Red Blend
There's nothing shy about this Bordeaux-style red blend. A more complex and layered companion to the 2019 A56 Cabernet Sauvignon (reviewed on my website in January - you can do a search for it), this is 40% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Cab Franc (with a splash of Petit Verdot). I think the blend has an edge on the Cabernet, with its lovely layering of black fruits, espresso, baking chocolate and toasty highlights from 22 months in 50% new French oak. Here the high alcohol shows no burn, nor does it conceal the more refined flavors. Stunningly good on the second day. 848 cases; 15.6%; $50 (Red Mountain) 94/100
Aquilini 2017 Family Blend
This is a big, tannic rock 'n' roll Red Mountain wine, principally Cabernet Sauvignon. It's packed with power, and dark fruits rule, along with tannins that have a charcoal character. This should be decanted and may be aged indefinitely. 6756 cases; 15.3%; $70 (Red Mountain) 91/100
Aquilini 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
This is right in line with Aquilini's other Cabernet Sauvignons, big and full-bodied with polished but dominating tannins. Black fruits, espresso, graphite and charcoal are in the mix, with lovely baking spices trailing out. The length and layering speaks to the overall quality, and makes this a front runner for cellaring. My favorite of the tasting. 4656 cases; 15.5%; $110 (Red Mountain) 95/100
Aquilini 2019 Family Blend
Somehow this young wine is more accessible than the 2017, at least for now. It's of a piece with Aquilini's Red Mountain portfolio – ripe, tannic, firmly rooted in dark fruits. Here the tannins are polished and balanced against the barrel and fruit components, making this a good candidate for drinking any time in the near future. 6500 cases; 15.1%; $70 (Red Mountain) 92/100
Aquilini 2017 & 2019 EROE Cabernet Sauvignons
For my palate these two wines push the tannins to the breaking point. Given the prices and the packaging, it seems clear that the winery considers them to be at the top of their offerings. I gave them each a good long look and just couldn’t justify a score. Too high and it would be a disservice to my own palate. Too low and it would be a disservice to the winemaker and the wines, which I am sure quite a few folks will find to be excellent. To my taste the high alcohol and tongue-scraping tannins obscure details and and mute the finish. You make the call. 100 cases; 15.6%; $175 (Red Mountain) No score.