Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon 04 & Chardonnay 05
Small but Exquisite Vintage from John Abbott

See Abeja Spring Release Case for Best Value

When John Abbott (at right below) made the Merlots at Canoe Ridge, they set the standard for Washington State. After three vintages of his Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon, it can be argued that he has perfected his Cab to a level that compares well to the very best of Washington (And for a considerably smaller price). His tiny production Chardonnay is called "one of the finest wines I’ve tasted from this varietal from Washington State" by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. Only offered once a year, these wines will sell out within a few days.

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Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon 04 $35.96/$39.95

Although production is tiny and Abeja does not submit wine for reviews, Abeja's Cabernet Sauvignon sells out within days of release. Word of mouth, the most reliable source of wine info, says that John Abbott's Cabs are something quite special.

The Seattle Times says: "Cabernet sauvignon is Abeja's raison d'être (perhaps we should say raisin d'être?) — it accounts for 80 to 85 percent of the total production"....."Abbott mixes his fruit sources like Van Gogh mixed his paint colors, searching for pure, bright, resonant flavors." ......"The 2004 Abeja Cab is "Smooth, almost soft, it's delicious and silky, with great balance and mouthfeel."

Wine X Magazine says this about the 2002 Abeja Cab: "Wine of the Year"...." If my bank account weren’t so slim, I’d surely fill a wading pool with this wine and die a true Irishman’s happy death."......"This juice is so juicy that it makes blackberries green with envy. But it’s not just fruit. The wine’s silky smooth and refined, and the blending of the other flavors (cassis, hints of chocolate) is absolutely seamless."

2004 Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting Notes

Avalon Manager Marcus Looze says:
"Intense aromas of black fruit and fresh ground coffee, with notes of ancho chili. Flavors of black plum and cassis, with bits of black raspberry that give way to dark and milk chocolate, graphite, tobacco leaf, and barrel spice on the finish. With super-fine tannins, great concentration, and balancing acidity, the Abeja Cab '04 should evolve excellently over the next decade."

Customer Service manager Amy says:
"On the nose it reminded me of chestnuts roasting at a cold winters day, full of deep dark coffee and a dark chocolate component on the finish. Nice complexity on the mid-palate. Cozy up with a rich Irish stew and brown bread or a more elegant cocoa nib and hazelnut crusted loin of venison. Embrace winter and stay inside with this wine."

Winemaker John Abbott says:
"I am very proud of this wine and feel it is one of our best examples of classic Washington State Cabernet. It is opulent, powerful, and full-bodied, with great balance and those signature Abeja qualities of finesse, femininity, and continuity. A complex mosaic of aromatics, rich fruit, and spice enters your palate and continues with a smooth, seamless texture throughout, with an exceptional, long finish. It has everything we look for in a Cabernet from our region. "

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Abeja Chardonay 05 $26.95/$29.95

This is a chardonnay of rich flavors, but classically made, with nice Burgundian attributes such as gentle aromas of white peach and stone fruit, floral notes, wood spice, and a classic minerality. The wine is made from a blend of several Washington vineyards' fruit.

Amy says: A great glass for the end of summer when the days are long, the harvest is bountiful and the evenings start to cool. Full of fresh apricots and a light smattering of vanilla. Not overly toasted or buttery, rather the oak is present but slight. Would go easily with a rich chicken dish such as chicken breasts baked with morels and tarragon in cream sauce.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate said this about last year's (now sold out) 2004 Abeja Chardonnay:
92 points ... "one of the finest wines I’ve tasted from this varietal from Washington State. Produced from fruit acquired from the Conner Lee, Kestrel Estate, and Celilo Vineyards, it was fermented and aged in French barrels (half new, half one year old). Its delightful aromatics reveal honeyed spices, pears, and white pepper. On the palate, this bright, focused wine is satin-textured, medium-bodied, and complex. Its concentrated, almost sappy personality offers flavors reminiscent of ripe apples and pears that are intermingled with white pepper, orange blossoms, and anise. Drink it over the next 4-5 years."

Seattle Times says: "All of Abbott's wines, chardonnay included, avoid the high extract, high alcohol, heavily oaked style in favor of a more elegant, more European approach. Many wineries ferment with custom yeasts designed to maximize the buttery microwave-popcorn flavors; Abbott uses a strain that minimizes that buttery character. The chardonnay, he explains, is "a labor of love..."

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Abeja Spring Release Combo Case
8 Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon 04 $39.95
4 Abeja Chardonnay 05 $29.95

Spring Release Price $395.00
save $43.94 from retail

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We're available by phone at 541-752-7418
from 8 AM Pacific time until 5 PM Pacific time,
Monday through Saturday, and we answer email on Sundays.Thanks for your support -
we appreciate your orders and your suggestions.

Our customers always give us our best ideas!
Jean, Amy, Kevin, and Wendy, and Marcus

Avalon Wine
201 SW 2nd Street
Corvallis OR 97333
541-752-7418
www.avalonwine.com
store@avalonwine.com

Jean Yates
Owner
jean@avalonwine.com
541-424-8004 (direct line)

Amy Paul
Customer Service
store@avalonwine.com
541-752-7418

Wendy Brown
Accounting
wendy@avalonwine.com
541-752-7418

Kevin Hanscom
Shipping Manager
store@avalonwine.com
541-752-7418

Marcus is on vacation until Thursday afternoon
Marcus Looze
General Manager, VP Sales & Marketing
marcus@avalonwine.com
541-752-7418

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