Bottle Rocket: tasting the 2009 Simi Cabernet “Landslide Vineyard” with winemaker Susan Leuker

This is Susan Leuker, the director of winemaking at Sonoma County star winery Simi Winery. What’s Susan holding in her hands? A bottle of 2009 Simi Cabernet Sauvignon from grapes grown in the Landslide Vineyard. Why the plain label? The 2009 hasn’t been released yet. The rest of the wine is still aging in barrels deep in the Simi cellars. She brought it for me and a few other wine industry veterans to taste during a stop in Dallas today.

I loved it, too. Like the 2008, the 2009 Cab is soft and elegant, a food-freindly wine with enough acidity to make your mouth water and just enough structured tannins to enhance a big entree like roasted meats or grilled steak. There’s also a touch of spiciness and savoriness from the vineyard and aging 24 months in lightly toasted French oak. “Usually, the Landslide vineyard produces a Cabernet with bright, fresh, red fruit,” Leuker said. “The 2009 is even softer than the 2008. I’m really excited about this wine.”

Andrea Robinson, one of my favorite master sommeliers, was there, too--she has a new line of glassware out.