Grape
100% Cabernet
Facts
- Peggy Rowan is the visionary behind HeartSmart. This Cabernet was inspired by her love for animals, and specifically the Great Dane breed.
“They’re big, bold and beautiful—which happen to be the same qualities I love about Cabernet Sauvignon.” in Peggy’s own words.
- The 2008 Great Dane won the Gold Medal at this year’s San Francisco International Wine Competition.
- Ann Ruth, is the remarkable artist behind the HeartSmart wine labels. Suffering a spinal cord injury in a gymnastics accident at the age of five that left her paralyzed from the neck down; Ann finds time for painting, for which she uses a mouth stick (in between her full-time job as manager of a computer forensics company).
- Part of the proceeds from the sale of the Great Dane Napa Cabernet help to support the Rolling Dog Farm in New Hampshire, a rescue center for disabled animals.
- Click here to check out the HeartSmart wine website, and click here to join them on Facebook.
Place (click map for larger view)
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Talk to any Napa wine “aficionado”, and the sheer mention of "mountain-grown" or "hillside" fruit will make their ears perk up.
The grapes for the Great Dane are sourced from some of the most prized mountain vineyards in Coombsville and Godspeed, Napa. -
So what’s the big deal with “mountain grown” fruit, compared to everything else? The main reason is the soil.
Of course vines would like the perfect soil, but when they’re made to struggle, the grapes they produce have a more intense flavor and richness about them. Think of it like people. If you give someone everything they need, every comfort, every luxury, they will never produce anything of substance. Kind of like Paris Hilton. But if you make them struggle a little (as mountain grown grape do), the end result will always be greater! -
Coombsville Vineyard is located just East of Napa. The vineyard is only 65 acres in size. Due to the cooler climate in Coombsville and therefore the longer growing season, the grapes produce wines yielding a more intense and concentrated flavor.
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The Godspeed vineyard can be found in the Mount Veeder Appellation of Napa Valley, located at 1500ft above sea level. The vineyard is the project of Larry Stricker, an acclaimed architect who has created several world class resort hotels.
Grapes from the Godspeed Vineyard in Mount Veeder vineyard have been sourced by wineries such as Robert Craig, Bremmer, William Hill, and Newton.
Taste
Don’t be expecting any kind of “fruit bomb”! That’s not what the HeartSmart Great Dane Cab is about. Dark and brooding blackberry, plum and cassis, with vanilla, toasted oak, coconut and bittersweet chocolate. There’s some red fruit lurking deep in there, but it isn’t much. Plenty of tannin and acidity, leading to a lengthy finish. I aerated with my Soiree, which certainly helped, but the ‘08 Great Dane certainly needs at least another few years in the bottle to realize its full potential.
Pairing
No huge surprises on the pairing. Ribeye, rack of lamb, stew, barbecue ribs, and veal. Saying that, for some some reason whilst drinking this wine I got the most random craving for a huge slab of dark-chocolate cake with a red fruit compote…
Price
$110 – Available in very limited supply from www.heartsmartwine.com
