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North Carolina Wine TV Review:
Shelton Vineyards 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is the fourth vintage we have tasted of this varietal from Shelton (2000, 2005, 2006). There is some black fruit, toasted oak and herbs on the nose. There is also some heavy alcohol on the nose. This is very tannic wine made in an Old World Style. This is a young, big wine that you may want to set aside for five years to mellow. It is very different from other fruit-forward North Carolina wines we have tried from this hot, dry year. (Wine provided by the winery for our review)
Rating: 
according to the North Carolina Wine Ratings Scale
Price: $17
Availability: Directly from the winery and select wine shops.
About 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (from the winery):
Vintage 2007 started off with a spring freeze the first weekend in April that completely wiped out several early-budding grape varieties and reduced our total grape crop by 50%. The good news is that all of the grape varieties that survived the freeze enjoyed picture perfect weather the balance of the growing season and produced the best quality fruit that we have ever grown. Our 2007 Yadkin Valley Cabernet Sauvignon begins with rich cocoa and vanilla drizzled over huge blackberry, black cherry and cassis fruit, with floral spice and tobacco on the nose. The flavors mirror the nose in a supple mouthful of fruit with excellent structure, rich tannins and a lingering finish.
About Shelton Vineyards (from the winery)
On the estate, several varieties of grapes are grown. A few of those are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Malbec, Tannat, Petit Verdot, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Viognier. Virtually all vitis vinifera wine producing grapes are of European ancestry. Interestingly, all varieties of vitis vinifera grown at Shelton Vineyards–and throughout the world for that matter–utilize bud wood of European origin grafted onto Native American rootstocks to create a more disease resistant vine.
Shelton Vineyards’ belief is that fine wine begins in the vineyard. The location, in the heart of North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley, provides the ideal climate and soil conditions. Shelton Vineyards’ commitment to sustainable farming practices and hands-on attention enables the vineyard to produce the highest possible quality of grapes. The Shelton Vineyards’ wines are reflective of the terroir of the Yadkin Valley. Along with expert winemaking techniques, enhancing what our land has given us, Shelton Vineyards has produced many award-winning wines.
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Hello Jeff & Kipp,
Thanks for the review. I agree with your assessment that the 2007 Cabernet is young, big, and will improve with age but most are drinking better than the one you described. In fact that same wine just earned a gold medal at the Taster’s Guild International Wine Judging. I’m wondering if the bottle you sampled was in “bottle shock”. That does happen occasionally. Anyway thanks for your continued support of NC wines. You should both attend one of concerts sometime (3rd Saturday of the month May-Sept).
George Denka
Shelton Vineyards