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2012 Altvs Cabernet Sauvignon

Removed from a subterranean, temperature and humidity controlled residential cellar; Purchased at retail

Ends Sunday, 7pm Pacific

PRODUCER

Altvs

Altvs, meaning “noble” and “profound” in Latin, is produced by Merus. Altvs has been produced in small quantities since 2005. Merus was founded in the late 1990s by the husband-and-wife team of Erika J. Gottl and Mark Herold in a two-car garage behind their house in the town of Napa. A true Napa Valley garagiste producer, the couple produced only one wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon that quickly earned acclaim as a cult Cab. In 2007 the couple sold Merus to Foley Family Wines, a conglomerate of more than 30 wineries in California and elsewhere headed by Florida businessman William Foley. Foley purchased an abandoned winery in Napa and today Merus has a state-of-the-art winery. The first Merus vintage, in 1998, earned 93 pts from Robert M. Parker Jr., and more recent vintages have earned scores in the high 90s from Parker and Wine Spectator.

REGION

United States, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

Rutherford AVA is just north of the Oakville AVA in the heart of Napa Valley, and it is equally distinguished. It is home to Beaulieu Vineyard and inglenook, arguably Napa Valley’s most historically influential wineries. Inglenook started making in wine in the late 19th century, and Beaulieu Vineyards was producing by the first years of the 20th century. BV founder Georges de Latour is particularly esteemed for having recruited Andre Tchelistcheff, a renowned research oenologist, to move from France to Napa Valley in 1938 and run BV’s winemaking. The legendary Tchelistcheff brought European winemaking techniques to Napa Valley and vastly improved wine quality. Other Rutherford winemakers followed his lead. Today there are 5,000 vineyard acres in Rutherford and many acclaimed producers. The famous Silverado Trail with its exclusive, limited production wineries, runs partly through Rutherford AVA. Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignons are characterized by supple tannins, richness, notes of cherry and plum, depth and the ability to age for several decades. Besides Cabernet Sauvignon the AVA also grows Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel. It received its AVA designation in 1994.

TYPE

Red Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.