Undeniably ripe and fleshy, with a pretty scent of cedary oak leading to a supple core of currant and red cherry flavors that are fine and persistent on the finish.
Reviews:
- Wine Advocate: The chunky-styled 2001 does not possess the charm, complexity or sweet, pure blueberry and black fruits found in Bryant’s wines since the early 1990s. It reveals a hint of new saddle leather, but the aromatics are largely restrained and need to be coaxed from the glass. The wine is full-bodied and concentrated, and by itself, is probably a better wine than my rating would suggest.
- James Suckling: Undeniably ripe and fleshy, with a pretty scent of cedary oak leading to a supple core of currant and red cherry flavors that are fine and persistent on the finish. Needs time to shed its fine-grained tannins. The flavors are long and persistent on the finish, though it shows simpler than it did from barrel.
Producer Information
Bryant Family Vineyard is a wine estate on Pritchard Hill overlooking Lake Hennessey in Napa Valley. Its wines are highly sought-after and Bryant is considered to be one of California’s cult wineries, producing small quantities of expensive wine since its first vintage in 1992. Don and Bettina Bryant bought the 13 acre (5.3 hectare) property in the late 1980s, and planted it to Cabernet Sauvignon. Since the inaugural release, Bryant Family has produced powerful Cabernet Sauvignon with excellent aging potential. The Bryants hired some of Napa’s best talents. Their vineyard manager, David Abreu, has been responsible for the vineyards producing some of Napa’s most famous wines including Harlan Estate, Screaming Eagle, Araujo, Staglin and Grace Family. Michel Rolland, their consulting enologist, is one of the most in-demand people in the wine industry. The team produces three wines; the Bryant Family Estate is a 100-percent Cabernet Sauvignon sourced completely from the property. Bettina is a companion wine, a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from three Abreu-farmed vineyards in the St Helena and Howell Mountain AVAs. Since both the Bryant Family and Bettina cuvées greatly benefit from many years in the cellar, in 2007 they released DB4, a Bordeaux blend blend from all four vineyard sites that is more approachable in its youth and at a friendlier price point.
