Reviews and Press

2006 Flanagan Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Rating: (92 points, Outstanding)
Drink: 2008-2023

The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon is a lovely blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot, all from Bennett Valley’s high elevation vineyards. Its deep ruby/purple hue is followed by notes of crushed rocks, scorched earth, espresso, blackberries, and blue fruits. Deep, chewy, super-ripe, and long, it can be enjoyed over the next 15+ years.

As is often the case with top-notch wines, quantities of these cuvees made by Philippe Melka for proprietor Eric Flanagan are relatively small. There are about 500 cases of each Cabernet Sauvignon.

2006 Flanagan Family Vineyards Syrah
Rating: (94 points, Outstanding)
Drink: 2008-2016

The stunning 2006 Syrah is a killer wine. It possesses a northern Rhone-like bouquet of earth, bacon fat, black currants, pepper, and coffee aromas, along with full body, a gorgeous texture, dazzling purity, admirable length, and no hard edges. Sadly, only several barrels were produced, but it will provide lovely drinking over the next 7-8 years.


2006 Flanagan Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Rating: (91-93 points, Outstanding)

(includes 5% merlot) Saturated ruby. Pungent, high-pitched aromas of blueberry, black cherry, minerals and black pepper. Sweet, lush and perfumed in the mouth, with a tactile feel and very good ripeness to the black cherry fruit. Finishes with broad tannins and excellent length and aromatic lift. This will be the first commercial release from a rocky, south-facing vineyard planted in 1999. Bennett Valley is a fairly temperate section of Sonoma County in which a lot of syrah has been planted in recent years, but not much cabernet.

2006 Flanagan Family Vineyards Syrah
Rating: (90-93 points, Outstanding)

(100% barrel-fermented) Rather wild aromas of dark fruits, bacon fat, minerals, menthol and licorice. Distinctly musky and carnal on the palate, with supple, fine-grained black fruit flavors complicated by minerals, brown spices and truffle. Large-scaled, pliant and superripe (15.9% alcohol, with a pH of 4.0) but with firm tannic spine. A bit youthfully aggressive today, but boasts good grip. Very distinctive syrah from three-year-old vines cropped low-clearly a name to watch.

2007 Flanagan Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Rating: (91-93 points, Outstanding)
Drink: 2008-2023

Revealing more charcoal, black currant, and new oak characteristics along with the earthiness that comes from this site, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep and full-bodied with an impressive texture as well as sweet, soft, silky tannins. It, too, should drink well for 15+ years. (Not yet released)

2007 Flanagan Family Vineyards Syrah
Rating: (89-91 points, Above Average)
Drink: 2008-2016

The 2007 Syrah, which is not as good as the 2006, is double that production. It exhibits good density and ripeness, but not the complexity, weight, richness, or exuberance of the 2006. Nevertheless, it is a pretty wine made in a distinctive earthy, northern Rhone-like style. Drink it over the next 7-8 years. (Not yet released)