The R Collection is the introductory line by Raymond Vineyards, which traces it’s roots to the immediate post-Prohibition era in Napa. The founder of Raymond Vinearyds, Roy Raymond arrived in Napa Valley in 1933 and married into the Beringer family. After working at Beringer for more than 35 years, Roy and his sons started Raymond Vineyards with the family working side by side for their first crush in 1974. Since then, Raymond Vineyards has earned a reputation for producing elegant wines. Luckily, it lives up to it’s reputation with the R Collection.
In 2009, Raymond Vineyards became part of the Boisset Family Estate collection of wineries. The Boisset Family Estates started n 1980 in Burgundy (France) with it’s roots going back 20 years further. Since 1980, the Boisset Family Estates has purchased wineries throughout France, California and even Canada. The family is committed to having their wineries express “terroir” or the sense of place where the grapes are grown and the wine vinified. Additionally, the family is committed to farming sustainably, organically and biodynamically.
The 2010 R Collection Lot No. 3 California Cabernet Sauvignon was purchased at Safeway for $9.99 (with all the Safeway discounts given). Here is the tasting note:
Appearance: Clear with a medium plus ruby core with a lighter ruby rim and viscous legs (the wine sticks to the side of the glass after swirling, showing that its alcohol content).
Aroma: Clean with a medium, developing intensity of blackberry, black cherry, plum, bramble berry, rose, licorice, vanilla and sweet spices.
Palate: Dry, medium plus alcohol, medium (soft) tannin, medium body, high alcohol, medium plus intensity of black cherry, cherry, blackberry, bramble berry, plum, rose, licorice, star anise, vanilla and sweet spices. Medium finish.
Rating: Very good. A very elegant wine that shows bright, jammy fruit with well integrated alcohol and tannins. I would serve this at a cocktail party to red-wine lovers that chose to abstain from cocktailing for the evening. It would also pair well with slow braised short ribs.
Photo courtesy of winesearcher.com
