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Butterdragon Hill
Butterdragon Hill comprises eight acres farmed by Jim Barbour and the experts at Barbour Vineyards. Give these guys and gals a piece of Napa Valley hillside and they’ll plant it with an extremely narrow 3×5 spacing and then stingily give it water by the teaspoonful until the grapes seem to cry out for relief. The grapes may not be “happy” but those droopy faces provide sophisticated flavors from lush, succulent wines.
Butterdragon Hill is located on the western side of the Napa Valley above Highway 29, just a couple of miles north of St. Helena. This vineyard was planted in 2000 with green bench grafts of Cabernet Sauvignon clones 337, 7, and 15 plus a small amount of Merlot. Its first vintage, the 2002 was released in Spring 2005.
2010 Butterdragon Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (750ml)
MV-750-10-CS
Vintner's Notes: Since immediately after the wines finished fermentation, I've suspected that our 2010 vintage wines were going to be among the best we've ever made. Now that the 2010 Butterdragon Hill is ready for release, my suspicions have been confirmed. Lovely, delicate floral aromas compliment the sweet, lush fruit we've come to expect from this vineyard. But unlike many previous vintages, the 2010 Butterdragon possesses a tight, tannic structure that will only be unlocked in the cellar. It's not an early drinking Butterdragon but the good news is we will be enjoying its power and grace for many, many years to come. We bottled 200 cases.
$65.00
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2010 Butterdragon Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5L)
MV-1.5-10-CS
Vintner's Notes: Since immediately after the wines finished fermentation, I've suspected that our 2010 vintage wines were going to be among the best we've ever made. Now that the 2010 Butterdragon Hill is ready for release, my suspicions have been confirmed. Lovely, delicate floral aromas compliment the sweet, lush fruit we've come to expect from this vineyard. But unlike many previous vintages, the 2010 Butterdragon possesses a tight, tannic structure that will only be unlocked in the cellar. It's not an early drinking Butterdragon but the good news is we will be enjoying its power and grace for many, many years to come. We bottled 200 cases.
$135.00
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2009 Butterdragon Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (750ml)
MV-750-09-CS
I am immediately struck by the incredibly dark color hinting of the robust flavors to come. Lush fruit aromas jump from the glass. The wine has a full, sweet mouthfeel and flavors of crème de cassis, ripe juicy plums, and dark chocolate are complimented by black licorice and cedar. It’s big, but balanced. The 2009 reminds us immediately of our debut 2002 Butterdragon. Sure to be a crowd pleaser now, give it an hour in the decanter or a few years in the cellar to tame its youthfulness. We bottled 200 cases. Vintner's Notes
Read tasting notes on Cellartracker.com
$65.00
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2009 Butterdragon Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5L)
MV-1.5-09-CS
I am immediately struck by the incredibly dark color hinting of the robust flavors to come. Lush fruit aromas jump from the glass. The wine has a full, sweet mouthfeel and flavors of crème de cassis, ripe juicy plums, and dark chocolate are complimented by black licorice and cedar. It’s big, but balanced. The 2009 reminds us immediately of our debut 2002 Butterdragon. Sure to be a crowd pleaser now, give it an hour in the decanter or a few years in the cellar to tame its youthfulness. We bottled 200 cases. Vintner's Notes
Read tasting notes on Cellartracker.com
$135.00
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2007 Butterdragon Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (750ml)
MV-750-07-CS
For those who favor austerity and structure, with complexity and flavor. Tight, focused and concentrated, yet elegant, offering cedary oak, loamy earth, mineral, dried berry and currant flavors, with touches of wild berry and blueberry coming through on the finish. Plenty of ripe tannins provide traction. Best from 2012 through 2022. 93 points. Wine Spectator Magazine 11/15/10
The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Butterdragon Hill possesses attractive, fleshy black currant, crushed rock, cedar, spice box, and tobacco leaf characteristics. This broad, savory, pure, moderately tannic 2007's overall impression is one of elegance, with a Bordeaux-like framework to the tannic structure. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades. 90-92 points. Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate #186 Dec 2009
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$65.00
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2006 Butterdragon Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (750ml)
MV-750-06-CS
The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Butterdragon Hill reveals plenty of plum, spice box, floral, cedary, black cherry, and black currant notes, elegant, medium to full-bodied flavors, and well-integrated wood, acidity, and moderate tannin. This graceful Cabernet should be enjoyed over the next 15-18 years. 90 points. Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate #186 Dec 2009
Full-bodied, with dried currant, sage and a leathery edge that clamps down on the finish, but it gains complexity and once it opens it shows more depth. Drink now through 2014. Wine Spectator Magazine Web Only 2009
Read tasting notes on Cellartracker.com
$65.00 $58.00 On Sale!
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2006 Butterdragon Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5L)
MV-1.5-06-CS
The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Butterdragon Hill reveals plenty of plum, spice box, floral, cedary, black cherry, and black currant notes, elegant, medium to full-bodied flavors, and well-integrated wood, acidity, and moderate tannin. This graceful Cabernet should be enjoyed over the next 15-18 years. 90 points. Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate #186 Dec 2009
Full-bodied, with dried currant, sage and a leathery edge that clamps down on the finish, but it gains complexity and once it opens it shows more depth. Drink now through 2014. Wine Spectator Magazine Web Only 2009
Read tasting notes on Cellartracker.com
$135.00
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2006 Butterdragon Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (375ml)
MV-375-06-CS
The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Butterdragon Hill reveals plenty of plum, spice box, floral, cedary, black cherry, and black currant notes, elegant, medium to full-bodied flavors, and well-integrated wood, acidity, and moderate tannin. This graceful Cabernet should be enjoyed over the next 15-18 years. 90 points. Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate #186 Dec 2009
Full-bodied, with dried currant, sage and a leathery edge that clamps down on the finish, but it gains complexity and once it opens it shows more depth. Drink now through 2014. Wine Spectator Magazine Web Only 2009
Read tasting notes on Cellartracker.com
$34.00
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2006 Butterdragon Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (3 liter)
MV-3L-06-CS
Rare, etched, hand-painted, 3 liter bottle. Only 4 made.
The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Butterdragon Hill reveals plenty of plum, spice box, floral, cedary, black cherry, and black currant notes, elegant, medium to full-bodied flavors, and well-integrated wood, acidity, and moderate tannin. This graceful Cabernet should be enjoyed over the next 15-18 years. 90 points. Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate #186 Dec 2009
Full-bodied, with dried currant, sage and a leathery edge that clamps down on the finish, but it gains complexity and once it opens it shows more depth. Drink now through 2014. Wine Spectator Magazine Web Only 2009
Read tasting notes on Cellartracker.com
$370.00
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2005 Butterdragon Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (6 liter)
MV-6L-05-CS
Extremely rare, etched and hand-painted, 6 liter format bottle. Only two in existence.
An elegantly style, with subtle, complex dried currant, herb, sage and mineral notes that turn smooth and pleasantly earthy, ending with a complex finish and subtle fruit and earth notes. Drink now through 2013. 90 points. Wine Specator Magazine 10/15/08
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$925.00
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2004 Butterdragon Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (6 liter)
MV-6L-04-CS
Extremely rare, etched and hand-painted, 6 liter format bottle. Only one was made.
Ripe, fleshy, spicy red cherry and berry flavors are appealing for their elegance and suppleness, with a long, focused, persistent finish that keeps repeating the lively, ripe Cabernet flavor themes. Drink now through 2016. 90 points. Wine Spectator Magazine Web Only 2008
Read tasting notes on Cellartracker.com
$925.00
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2002 Butterdragon Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (750ml)
MV-750-02-CS
This remains a voluptuous mouthful of Cabernet, even better with age. Ripe, supple and plush, with tiers of plum, black cherry and dark berry flavors, this fairly glides along on the finish, ending with melted black licorice, road tar and mocha notes, returning to dark berry themes. Drink now through 2022. 94 points.Wine Spectator Magazine 2002 California Cabernet blind Retrospective (May 2012).
Remarkably plush and opulent, impeccably balanced, with rich, soothing layers of ripe currant, blueberry, blackberry and plum, scents of cedar, anise, herb and dusty berry. The tannins are ripe and polished and the finish sails on and on. Best from 2007 through 2014. 92 points. Wine Spectator Magazine 6/15/06
Read tasting notes on Cellartracker.com
$75.00
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2002 Butterdragon Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (6 liter)
MV-6L-02-CS
Extremely rare, etched and hand-painted format, 6 liter format bottle. Only 2 were made and this is the last one available.
This remains a voluptuous mouthful of Cabernet, even better with age. Ripe, supple and plush, with tiers of plum, black cherry and dark berry flavors, this fairly glides along on the finish, ending with melted black licorice, road tar and mocha notes, returning to dark berry themes. Drink now through 2022. 94 points.Wine Spectator Magazine 2002 California Cabernet blind Retrospective (May 2012).
Remarkably plush and opulent, impeccably balanced, with rich, soothing layers of ripe currant, blueberry, blackberry and plum, scents of cedar, anise, herb and dusty berry. The tannins are ripe and polished and the finish sails on and on. Best from 2007 through 2014. 92 points. Wine Spectator Magazine 6/15/06
Read tasting notes on Cellartracker.com
$925.00
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