2008 Cabernet Review
St. Helena, California USA
Wine Style: New World / Cabernet
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 94 points
Article Written: March 2014
Article Updated: September 2019
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Château or Vineyard Owner:
Rick Mirer
Winemaker:
Rob Lawson (pictured above)
Mirror (mir-ər) n:
1). a polished or smooth surface that forms images by reflection
2). A true representation
I first heard of Mirror Wines through the Napa Wine Company (now Ghost Block), as one of their elite wine club members, and received a bottle of the 2008 Mirror Cabernet, from the Oakville and St. Helena Vineyards. The mirror is a true cult wine that has amazing flavor-rich enough to pair with a good steak or even a nice roasted duck. The Mirror Wine Company story begins with two Cabernet vineyards in St. Helena that “mirror” each other across Napa Valley. Rob Lawson used this combination of great fruit sources to create our inaugural 2005 Mirror Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
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| Mirror Wines / 2008 Cabernet |
The Mirror (mir-ər) story is constantly evolving. The Mirer Family Foundation has continued to grow with the help of various special wine promotions. Helping children’s charities tied to health and education has always been the focus of the foundation. Their reach is expanding every day and Mirror wines are a big part of helping the foundation grow. The Mirror Wine Company continues to build on the core philosophy, to be a reflection and a true representation of artisanal Napa Valley wines that are a delight to all!
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| Mirror Wines / Cabernet tasting |
As being part of the Napa Wine Company I receive many different brand name wines from their collection of over 25 Wineries and vineyards, Mirror being among them. The Mirror is a true representation of an excellent cult Cabernet that can only get better with time. Their Oakville vineyard is in its 6th year, while their Howell Mountain is in its 2nd year, making it harder to get because of lower case production. Also as a Veteran, I am very happy and proud of the Vineyard for supporting the American military and Veteran organizations. They were the official wine sponsor of the Second Annual Fundraiser to Benefit the NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE FAMILY FOUNDATION, in 2013, supporting American war-fighters and their families while they are deployed. Based on their sense of patriotism, I will be a customer long into the future, enjoying both of their cabernet brands.
Mirer Family Foundation, Inc.
The “MFF” was established on September 20, 1996, and is a non-profit 501(c) (3). The main focus has been to help children in specific areas of health and education. They have personally contributed over $500,000 to help children and have never received outside donations. In order to reach and assist more children, we need to raise more money. The plan is to merge the business, the Mirror Wine Company, and the Foundation more closely together.
Over the past 15 years, they have provided continual support to The United Way, Boys and Girls Clubs, Make-a-Wish Foundation, The Oaklawn Foundation, Bashor Boys Home, several schools and churches and a variety of other charitable programs that benefit children. The current endowment at the University of Notre Dame provides financial assistance to multiple students each year (including the 2010 class valedictorian, Katie Washington from Gary, IN). To date, they have been able to award over 20 students with scholarship money from our original gift to Notre Dame in 1998.
Further, every year NFL Charities award $1M in grants to support the charitable work of current and former NFL players — qualification for these grants are partially based on the amount of money that is raised by foundations. Once approved, the NFL matches the annual financial contributions. It is our goal to continue teaming up with the NFL to help as many children as possible.
Click here to view the PDF version of this page.
Wine and Grape:
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Nose (Bouquet):
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Palate Experience:
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2008 Cabernet
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Winemaker Notes:
A beautiful array of roses, blackberry blossoms, tobacco, and cocoa jump out of the glass leading to the full attack on the palate
Brix: 26.0
pH: 3.76
Total acidity: 0.600g / 100ml
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Winemaker Notes:
Full with a fully ripe and concentrated core of blackberries, black cherries, and dried raspberries. Its balanced acidity delivers a seamless harmony of fruit and tannins that integrate a clean and long-lasting finish.
It will age well over the next 5-9 years
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Final notes, review basics, and observations:
*** NOTE TO THE READER ***
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about.
To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
I refer to myself as an oenophile though, oenophilia is defined as “a disciplined devotion to wine, accompanying strict traditions of consumption and appreciation.” In a general sense, oenophilia also refers to the enjoyment of wine, often by a layman — which I am, and not qualified as a professional. I just enjoy drinking it, so my rating is based on enjoyment and the overall experience, not the science of an expert, and thus subjective, not objective. See the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ on how I arrived at the rating percentage below:
Overall Star Rating For Mirror:
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94/100:
An Extraordinary Tasting Experience
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91 points 2014 Cabernet
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Wines Produced by Mirror:
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Red: Meritage, Cabernet Sauvignon
White: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
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Grape Blends:
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Red:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, & Cabernet Franc
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Barrel Types and Aging:
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French Oak, half-new oak and half-neutral oak, for 20 months
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Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.” - David Auerbach
United States:
California:
Sub-Napa AVA’s:
Other California wines, wineries (Château’s), or food articles on Wine Dine and Play:
Napa - A Sip and Taste in Wine County A 3-day tour of wineries and fine dining restaurants in Napa County, California
Blackbird Vineyards Wine Tasting An ultra-premium terroir in Napa, California
Castello di Amorosa Tuscan inspired castle with wine — friends of the Baron - Calistoga, Napa, California
Chateau Montelena The famed Bottle Shock “Judgement of Paris” winner in Calistoga, California
Crocker and Star Wine Tasting Capturing the essence of Cabernet in St Helena, California
Emmolo Wine Tasting A merlot comparable to no other in Rutherford, California
Flying Horse Wine Tasting A spirited winery with Arabian horses in Oakville, California
Gustavo Winery Artisan winemaker whose story is tied to “The Judgement of Paris” in Napa, California
Hoopes Winery Tasting Cult cabernet winemaker with Liparita and Hoopes labels in Oakville, California
Jonata Winery Tasting Screaming Eagles sister winery, El Desafio cab, in Santa Barbara, California
Kamen Estates Low yield, high quality + film writing in Sonoma, California
Ma(i)sonry Wine Tasting An aesthetic portfolio of wines in Yountville, California
Ottimino Winery Exclusive red Zinfandel producer partnered with William Knuttel in Sonoma, California
Row 11 Santa Maria Pinot An Old World style Pinot from Santa Maria, California
Row 11 Tasting Pinot grapes using Dijon clones in Santa Maria, California
Silver Oak Cellars Near the Silverado Trail, known for high-end Cabernet in Oakville, California
Twomey Wine Tasting Napa and Sonoma wines owned by Silver Oak, Calistoga, Napa California
Volker Eisele Wine Tasting An elegant family estate in the Chiles Valley district of St Helena, California
California cuisine is a style of cuisine marked by an interest in fusion cuisine (integrating disparate cooking styles and ingredients) and in the use of freshly prepared local ingredients. The food is typically prepared with strong attention to presentation. Foods low in saturated fats and high in fresh vegetables and fruits with lean meats and seafood from the California coast often define the style.
5A5 Steak Lounge Modern Japanese steakhouse with chic design in San Francisco, California
Alioto’s Restaurant Historic restaurant serving Sicilian-infused seafood in San Francisco, California
Casita Taqueria a fast-casual taqueria serving homemade artisan Mexican food specializing especially in tacos and burritos in St. Petersburg, Florida
Casita Taqueria a fast-casual taqueria serving homemade artisan Mexican food specializing especially in tacos and burritos in St. Petersburg, Florida
Ciccio Cali inspired cuisine from California using antibiotic-free meats, organic and Non-GMO vegetables in St. Petersburg, Florida
Cowgirl Creamery Artisan Cheese Shop “aka” Cowgirl Cantina in Point Reyes Station, California
FarmTable Cucina organic, sustainable, and local with a focus on Italian and New American themes in St. Petersburg, Florida
FarmTable Kitchen Casual Cal-Italian cuisine and chef tables in St. Petersburg, Florida
Fleur de Lys Lavish French-Californian by Hubert Keller in San Francisco, California
Gaia Restaurant Organic and sustainable concept in American Canyon, California (Renamed Table 29 Bistro and Bar)
Greystone CIA Restaurant CIA School restaurant formally called Wine Spectator now GateHouse in Calistoga, California
The French Laundry French-American fine dining restaurant in Yountville, California
Wipeout Bar and Grill Surf shack theme with California and Mexican cuisine in San Francisco, California
Wolfgang Puck Celebrity Chef’s California cuisine and fine dining chain; reviewed in Orlando, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
A Few New World Favorites:
New World wines are those wines produced outside the traditional wine-growing areas of Europe and the Middle East, in particular from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, United States (California, Florida, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington State,Virginia),Thailand, and Uruguay.
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Yearly tasting event at Hyde Park
Sydney, Australia
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Wine and food tour
Cape Town, South Africa
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A tour of food and wine from a 2015 tour in Oregon wine country
Dundee, Willamette, Oregon
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Some Old World Favorites:
Old World wine refers primarily to wine made in Europe but can also include other regions of the Mediterranean basin with long histories of winemaking such as North Africa and the Near East. These countries include Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, England, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Moldova, Morocco Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Sicily, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey.
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Wine tours and restaurants
Bordeaux, France
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A tasting of the Vougeot AOC, caves, and the Hospices de Beaune
Burgundy, France
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Sancerre wines
Loire Valley, France
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See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Bottle Prices
(excluding taxes)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major wine countries and connoisseur’s**
Currency rates in the top wine-producing & wine purchasing countries:
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Price Chart :
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2008-2015 (750 ml)
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$
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Australian Dollar (AUS)
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$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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££
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€€
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New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
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$$
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South African Rand (ZAR)
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RRRRR
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Mirror Wines:
1360 Main St., Suite A
St Helena, CA
94574
Tasting Room Information:
Website:
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Tasting room:
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+01 707-968-5052
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Website contact:
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Tasting Room Hours:
Pacific Standard Time (GMT, Zulu, or UTC-8:00)
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Monday - Sunday:
10:00 am - 4:30 pm
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Social Media
And
Accolades for
Mirror Wines:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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High-end steakhouse chain with aged prime cuts
Akron, Ohio, USA
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Colorfully inspired twists on American Classics
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
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Upscale Pan Asian Fare w/sushi
Orlando, Florida, USA
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“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.”
- David Auerbach
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
