In Case You Missed It – Sloan 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

In Case You Missed It: Originally posted December 14, 2010

I was fascinated to have the opportunity to meet Seattle business magnate, Stuart Sloan, and visit his amazing vineyard, Sloan. The man clearly enjoys life from his motorcycle and art collection to his beautiful gardens and French chateau-like house come winery.  I had heard so much about this Napa Valley winery (a number of my peer wine critics gave his past vintages perfect scores). I drunk many of the first vintages – with the debut year being 2000 – and I was very impressed. The wines have so much depth of fruit and soft, velvety tannins. These are opulent and sexy, young California Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines with hints of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Walking the cirque-like mountain vineyards above Napa Valley, you know that Sloan makes serious reds. His winemaker is Martha McClelland, a standard bearer in winemaking in California. I was blown away be the opulence and exotic character of the 2008, but the 2007 and 2006 were also excellent. 

Ratings:

2008: 98

2007: 97

2006: 93

2005: 92