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Lot 40
Big Bang Theory
1 – 3 Liter 2001 Sloan Estate
“Proprietary Red”
1 – 3 Liter 2002 Sloan Estate “Proprietary Red”
1 – 3 Liter 2003 Sloan Estate “Proprietary Red”
If Stuart Sloan isn’t on your radar yet, he should be. His relatively young Napa
winery has produced near-perfect Cabernet Sauvignon vintages three years in a
row.
Still, this should not be surprising, as Stuart Sloan has always worked towards
perfection. A self-described do-it-yourselfer, he took his Seattle business
smarts to a 12-acre vineyard on the eastern ridge of California’s Napa
Valley—high on a hill above the landmark Auberge du Soleil. He then composed a
top team, beginning with renowned vineyard manager David Abreu and the brilliant
Martha McClelland Levy as winemaker.
This extraordinary winemaking team has spring-boarded the new winery leaps above
the rest, with Robert Parker, Jr. calling it “as impressive a new operation as I
have ever witnessed.” Sloan’s first four vintages are already flirting with
near-perfect scores from both Parker and Wine Spectator—remarkable, considering
that the first was released only three years ago.
That first vintage—a 2000 released in 2004— was universally considered
outstanding, and it only got better from there for the winery. Its 2001 vintage,
a rare Double Magnum of which is included in this lot, garnered 98 points, and
2002 hit the jackpot with a perfect 100-point rating. Parker said that “it is
indeed one of the greatest Cabernet Sauvignons I have ever tasted from
California,” and Wine Spectator agreed. Talk about a Big Bang!
The 2002 Sloan Cabernet, again represented by a Double Magnum, is said to be
“seemingly flawless,” with a silky texture and layers of flavor – currant, black
licorice, blackberry and wild fruit. Parker called it “stunning:” a dark, rich
and concentrated wine, with youthful aromas of currant and wild berry. Never one
to rest on its laurels, Sloan’s 2003 vintage garnered just as much praise as its
predecessors. Also in Double Magnum, this gorgeous wine is brimming with flavors
of dark fruits and smoked meat, a feast for the senses that will age
effortlessly for decades. Unfortunately for collectors, as with its other
vintages, only a few hundred cases of these beauties were produced.
Sloan’s wines are avant-garde but powerful – and certainly not to be passed up.
DONORS: Karen & Stuart
Sloan of Sloan Estate
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