ATALON

Atalon is a new, top echelon wine from Jackson Family Farms (Kendall-Jackson) introduced in 2001. Four wines are produced—Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Merlot, Napa Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and Napa Mountain Merlot—all are Napa Valley appellation. For example, the 1997 Mountain Estate Cabernet is primarily from four mountain vineyards in the Napa Valley Appellation—Keyes Vineyard, Howell Mountain; Gaskins Vineyard, Atlas Peak; Veeder Peak Vineyard, Mt. Veeder and Reverie Vineyard, Diamond Mountain. The wines retail in the $40 to $80 range. The inaugural vintage is 1997. Peter Richmond is the vineyard manager and Tom Peffer, from Beringer, is the winemaker. (He must be good because he has a Bachelor’s degree in CHEMISTRY!) 7600 St. Helena Highway, Oakville, CA 94562, Tel.1-800-224-4090. Tasting notes follow.

1997 Atalon Cabernet Sauvignon, Mountain Estate, Napa Valley, $80, 95+ pts, C5-N?F4+A3T4-E4+TFR3: Wow! This is a blockbuster! Delicious, concentrated, integrated flavors; relatively smooth, and easy drinking for such a young wine; great potential to develop complexity over the next few years. Composed of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, the maceration period was 29 days and the new wine was aged for 20 months in medium-plus toast mixed French Oak barrels. Production: 1800 cases. Wait 2 years before trying. Tasted 6/10/01.

1997 Atalon Merlot, Mountain Estate, Napa Valley, $60, 91+? pts, C4+N?F4A3T4E3+?TFR3: Although possessing excellent concentration and flavors, the wine needs time to harmonize and come into balance. All the components are in place for that to happen in the next two years. Evolution and equilibrate are all that’s needed to result in a complex, powerful Merlot. Composed of 98.5% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon and 0.5% Cabernet Franc, this Atalon experienced a 37 day maceration period, and 20 months in mixed French Oak. Production: 1000 cases. Tasted 6/10/01.

1997 Atalon Cabernet Sauvignon, Beckstoffer Vineyard, Napa Valley, $?, 94+ pts, C5-N4F4+A3T4E4+TFR3: This lush, layered beauty has a slightly tannic finish. Although an excellent wine, the flavors are not as focused and intense as the Mountain estate Cab. Only sold at the winery with limited availability. Tasted 6/10/01.

NOTE ON THE 1998 ATALON NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON AND MERLOT: My tasting notes are not as complete on these wines because, quite frankly, I was overwhelmed with the 1997s. The 1998 Napa Valley vintage was a difficult one and all the wines from that vintage reflect that. However, these two offerings would merit scores in the high 80s and compare favorably with the best mid-range price 1998s I’ve tasted. The Cab retails for $50 and the Merlot, $40.

Contact: alchemist@wineperspective.com